Palace of Westminster

The Palace of Westminster, informally known as the Houses of Parliament, is one of London’s – and the UK’s – best known sights. The majestic building on the banks of the Thames is not only the subject of countless tourist photos, but also an important historic and contemporary location, as it has served as the centre of British political life for centuries.

The ornate Neo-Gothic building is a stunning, immediately recognisable part of the capital’s landscape, with its spiky turrets jutting into the sky. The Grade I listed building is the meeting place of the two houses of the UK Parliament, the House of Commons and the House of Lords. You can even attend their sessions free of charge, observing the vigorous debates and committees that shape life in the UK from the public galleries.

If you’d like to know more about the building itself and the millennium of history contained therein, you can sign up for one of the guided tours (free for UK residents). Expert guides will take you around the public parts of the palace, pointing out intricate decorative details and telling you about the building’s heritage and the work of the UK Parliament.

The most famous part of the Palace of Westminster is arguably Big Ben, the clock tower at the north end of the building. The cultural icon is features heavily in all sorts of pop culture media and underwent renovation between 2017 and 2022.