We live a short walk from Westminster Palace, the home of Parliament, so it we took advantage of the opportunity for a guided tour of these historic buildings. It is right across the street from Westminster Abbey, which we toured two weeks ago, and the Jewel Tower, which I explored a week ago. The palace, which now houses the government of the United Kingdom – including the House of Lords and the House of Commons – dates back more than 900 years and is one of the most significant buildings in London.
After passing through strict airport-like security screening, we waited for our guide in the impressive Westminster Hall. This massive hall “was built in 1097 for William II, and at that time was one of the largest halls in Europe.” [Yes, that is 1097, not 1907!] “The hall survived the fire of 1834 and bombing in World War II and, in spite of various restorations, has maintained its medieval structure and many of its features” [Wikipedia]. This famous hall turned up in one of my other recent blogs (about Lord’s Cricket Ground, where the guide mentioned Obama’s speech in this hall), and has been the site of many other historic events for a thousand years.
The guide walked us through an elaborately decorated hallway, into the King’s waiting room, a central hall where temporary seating was being installed for the King’s annual speech to Parliament next month, and finally into the House of Lords and House of Commons. We were able to sit in the stalls where the MPs sit, and to learn both about the operation of Parliament and some tidbits about its history. Fascinating!
After our tour, we stopped for a pint in a nearby pub – aptly named The Speaker.
The gallery includes just a few more photos, because photography was not permitted in most of the rooms – especially any of the rooms actually used by Parliament. The official Parliament website provides more info about the building’s history and links to tours.
David Kotz 