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Tourist Information UK guide covering the United Kingdom and Great Britain England Wales Scotland London .  We are delighted to offer you a superb selection of the top 100 british attractions and places  to visit including Castles , Museums , Art Galleries , Stately Homes , The Royal Family , Zoos and Theme Parks

The Houses of Parliament & Big Ben

 The Houses of Parliament & Big Ben

 

Palace of Westminster
Westminster
London
SW1A 0AA
Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7219 3000
Web: www.parliament.uk

The House of Commons Information Office
House of Commons
London SW1A 2TT
Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7219 4272
Fax: +44 (0) 20 7219 5839
Email: hcinfo@parliament.uk

House of Lords Information Office
House of Lords
London SW1A 0PW
Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7219 3107
Fax: +44 (0) 20 7219 0620
Email: hlinfo@parliament.uk

 

Edward the Confessor had the original palace built in the eleventh century. The British parliament is the seat of the Government of the United Kingdom. The Palace of Westminster consists of the House of Commons (elected) and the House of Lords (not elected- hereditary and nominated). Big Ben, one of Londons famous landmarks is found at the Houses of Parliament. Big Ben is not the clock tower but the thirteenth bell which strikes the hour. It is counterweighted with old pennies!

Parliamentary government in the United Kingdom is based on a two-chamber system. The House of Lords (the upper House-not elected) and the House of Commons (the lower house-elected at least every 5 years) sit separately and are constituted on entirely different principles. The legislative process involves both Houses - the Commons and the Lords.

The main functions of Parliament are to: examine proposals for new laws, provide, by voting for taxation, the means of carrying on the work of government, scrutinise government policy and administration, including proposals for expenditure and to debate the major issues of the day.

houses of parliament and big ben on right

big ben

 

 

 

 


Rail: Charing Cross and Waterloo  Underground: Westminster Station
The sitting hours of the House of Commons are as follows:

Monday: 2.30pm - 10.30pm
Tuesday: 2.30pm - 10.30pm
Wednesday: 11.30am - 7.30pm
Thursday: 10.30am - 6.30pm
Fridays (when sitting): 9.30am - 3.00pm

The House of Commons also sits in an additional Chamber known as Westminster Hall. Sitting times for Westminster Hall are as follows:

Tuesday: 9.30am - 11.30am; 2.00pm - 4.30pm
Wednesday: 9.30am - 11.30am; 2.00pm - 4.30pm
Thursday: 2.30pm - 5.30pm

The sitting times for the House of Lords are as follows:

Monday: 2.30pm - 10pm
Tuesday: 2.30pm -10pm
Wednesday: 3pm - 10pm
Thursday: 11am - 7.30pm
Sitting Friday: from 11am - close of business

Further information is available via the Parliamentary web site at: www.parliament.uk through the 'Visiting Parliament' page.

Information for UK visitors who wish to watch a debate, attend a committee meeting, arrange a tour etc. can be found at http://www.parliament.uk/about/visiting/uk.cfm

Overseas visitors can locate information at http://www.parliament.uk/about/visiting/overseas.cfm

Maps of the Parliamentary Estate - www.parliament.uk/about/visiting/directions/maps.cfm

Finally, the House of Commons and the House of Lords do not usually sit during August, September and early October, during the two or three weeks before and after Christmas and for a week or so at Easter and at the Spring Bank Holiday.

Admission to both houses is free. Guided tours for groups, up to 16, may be available by prior arrangement.

The Houses of Parliament and Big Ben in London England UK is one of the tourist attractions in the United Kingdom

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Please note that all details including ADMISSION PRICES

Last updated July 2005

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Tourist Information UK guide covering Great Britain including England Wales Scotland . We are delighted to offer you a superb selection of the top 100 british attractions and places to visit including Castles, Museums, Art Galleries, Stately Homes, The Royal Family, Zoos and Theme Parks.

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