Houses of Parliament
(Westminster)
The Houses of Parliament are the stronghold
of Britain's democracy. After a fire destroyed
the houses of Parliament in 1834, they were rebuilt
in a Gothic style which reflected England's self-image
at the time. Both Houses are in the former royal
Palace of Westminster, the king's residence until
Henry VIII moved to Whitehall. The neo-Gothic,
mid-nineteenth-century buildings of the "Palace
of Westminster" look especially grand from
the other side of the river. There are separate
chambers for the house of Commons and the House
of Lords. The buildings are closed to the public
except for limited tours outside session hours
on Friday afternoons.
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