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The Palace of Westminster is the meeting place of the Parliament of the United Kingdom and is located in London, England. It is commonly called the Houses of Parliament after the House of Commons and the House of Lords, the two legislative chambers which occupy the building.
The Palace of Westminster was the monarch's principal residence in the late Medieval period. The predecessor of Parliament, the Curia Regis (Royal Council), met in Westminster Hall (although it followed the King when he moved to other palaces).
The history of the Houses of Parliament spans over 900 years from the Anglo-Saxons to the present. Read about the current Palace of Westminster as designed by architect Sir Charles Barry. The early history of the Palace of Westminster from the 11th century to the fire of 1834.
The Palace of Westminster, Westminster Abbey and St Margaret’s Church lie next to the River Thames in the heart of London. With their intricate silhouettes, they have symbolised monarchy, religion and power since Edward the Confessor built his palace and church on Thorney Island in the 11th century AD.
The Palace of Westminster functioned as the English monarchs' principal residence in the late Medieval period. The predecessors of Parliament, the Witenagemot and the Curia Regis, met in Westminster Hall (although they followed the King when he moved to other palaces).
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.
Take a look inside the chambers of the House of Commons and House of Lords, as well as many other parts of the Palace of Westminster. Discover Big Ben's historic story in words and images. It's a rich tale of drama, intrigue and politics.
