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London Attractions - Houses of
Parliament (Palace of Westminster)
The Houses of Parliament
Since 1512
the Palace of Westminster has been the home of the two Houses of
Parliament, called the House of Commons and the House of Lords. The
House of Commons is made up of 649 elected Members of Parliament (known
as MPs) of different political parties. The party that has the most
number of MPs forms the Government and its leader becomes Prime
Minister. The Opposition is made up of the MPs from the other parties
not in power. The MPs meet in the House of Commons to propose and
discuss new legislation. The meetings are impartially chaired by an MP
known as the Speaker.
The Palace
of Westminster was once the seat of the English monarchy from the 11th
to the early 16th century. Work started on the palace in 1042 for Edward
the Confessor (king of England from 1042 to 1066). Westminster Hall was
completed completed in 1099. The Hall's stunning hammerbeam roof was
added between 1394 and 1401. The Palace only became the permanent home
of Parliament after 1512 when Henry VIII abandoned the palace in favour
of the nearby Palace of Whitehall following a fire. In 1834 another fire
destroyed a large part of the palace. However, Westminster Hall and the
Jewel Tower survived intact and can still be seen today. The remaining
part of the present building was designed by Victorian architect Charles
Barry and built between 1840 and 1870 in a mock-Gothic style. The
chamber of the House of Commons was destroyed by a World War II bomb in
1941. The current chamber was designed by Giles Gilbert Scott.
Visiting the Houses of Parliament
UK residents and overseas visitors may watch debates
for free on current issues or proposed new laws in both Houses by
visiting the public galleries.
The galleries are open to the public when the Houses are sitting (see
sitting times below), with differing times for each House . The
galleries are not open during recess, when neither House is sitting.
Question Time
In both Houses, the busiest time is during Question Time. In the Commons
it is Prime Minister's Question Time. Free tickets are necessary to
ensure entrance, and are only issued to UK residents who contact your MP
or a Lord to request them. Overseas visitors and UK residents without
tickets can queue but will only gain entrance if there is space after
ticket-holders.
Other debates
Tickets are not required at other periods and there is a public queue
for both UK residents and foreign visitors - outside the Cromwell Green
visitor entrance. A wait of one or two hours is common (although it's
usually less for the House of Lords).
Lords public gallery
Visitors to the Lords public gallery will be directed to a separate
queue by the Cromwell Green visitor entrance. No tickets are issued,
although be aware that Question Time in the Lords is the busiest period.
Sitting times:
House of Commons - main Chamber
Monday: 2.30pm-10.30pm
Tuesday: 2.30pm-10.30pm
Wednesday: 11.30am-7.30pm
Thursday: 10.30am-6.30pm
Sitting Friday: 9.30am-3pm
House of Lords
Monday: 2.30pm-10pm
Tuesday: 2.30pm-10pm
Wednesday: 3pm-10pm
Thursday: 11am-7.30pm
Sitting Friday: from 10am-close of business
NB: Please note that all finishing times are approximate. These times do
not apply during recess, when neither House is sitting.
Related Links
www.parliament.uk/ - Official website, excellent source of
information, sitting times, recess dates
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