The Palace of Westminster
Today, the Palace of Westminster covers eight acres (3.24 hectares). It contains around 1100 rooms, 100 staircases and 4.8 km of passageways. From the Victoria Tower at the south end to the Clock Tower at the north, the building is nearly 300 metres long. The Palace also contains state apartments for the presiding officers of the two houses.
The official residence of the Speaker stands at northern end of the building. There are four acres of gardens and green lawns surrounding the Palace. Victoria Tower gardens is open as a public park along the side of the river south of the Palace. College green, opposite the House of Lords, is a small triangular green commonly used for television interviews.
The history of the Houses of Parliament spans over 900 years from the Anglo-Saxons to the present.
Architecture of the Palace
One of the most recognised buildings in the world, the Palace of Westminster owes its stunning Gothic architecture to the 19th-century architect Sir Charles Barry. Now Grade I listed, and part of an UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Palace contains a fascinating mixture of both ancient and modern buildings, and houses an iconic collection of furnishings, archives and works of art. Find out more about the history and features of this magnificent building.
The Palace’s structure
The history of the present-day Palace of Westminster is a journey which begins with its reconstruction by the architect Charles Barry after the Great Fire of 1834, through various ravages of the 20th century such as the Second World War, to the magnificent building as we know it today.
Visit Parliament
Explore the inside of the Palace:
The Robing Room
The Royal Gallery
The Lords Chamber
Central Lobby
The Members’ Lobby and Churchill arch
The Commons Chamber
The Speaker’s Chair
St Stephen’s Hall
The cloisters
Statues in the Palace
Works of art in the Palace
UK Parliament is open for visitors to take a tour, attend debates or watch committee hearings inside one of the world’s most iconic buildings.