The Houses of Parliament, or else known as The Palace of Westminster, stands on the site where Edward the Confessor had the originally built his palace in the eleventh century. In the mid 15th century the royal residence was shifted to the Whitehall Palace, but the Lords continued their meetings at Westminster, while the commons started meeting at St. Stephen's Chapel. The Palace of Westminster thus became home to the English Parliament.

In 1834 a violent fire broke out which almost destroyed much of the old palace, all that it left behind was the chapel crypt, The Jewel Tower and Westminster Hall. Lord Melbourne, the Prime Minister at that time was the one who saved the great hall by allowing for the fire engines to be brought right into the hall and personally supervising the fire fighting operations.

The Palace of Westminster consists of two houses the House of Commons or the elected and the House of Lords or not elected- hereditary and nominated. Big Ben, also one of London’s most famous landmarks is found at the Houses of Parliament. It’s a common mistake the Big Ben to be the clock tower, but it is actually the bell which strikes the hour. It is one of the largest bells in the world weighing to about 13 tons.

The trip thought this place takes you to the upper and lower houses through the massive wooden doors into St. Stephen's hall. The arched ceiling and murals were ingenuously designed by Barry to make a replica of the medieval chapel where the commons used to meet until 1834.

From here you are escorted into the well known octagonal Central Lobby, whose tiled walls are emblazoned with Latin mottos. From here you will be shown directions to either to the House of Lords or that of the Commons.

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