Walking through Westminster in London, you can’t help but notice the towers and spires of the Houses of Parliament. For most locals and even tourists piling off the tube at Westminster station, it’s a daily backdrop. But when was the last time you actually looked past Big Ben and thought about what’s behind those walls?
The Houses of Parliament aren’t just a tourist photo op. They’re packed with stories about London’s past, changing tastes, and the real lives of people who built and shaped this city. Even if you’ve stood in Parliament Square during a protest or queued for the London Eye, it’s easy to miss the unique mix of history and creativity in the Parliament buildings right next door.
Plenty of Londoners will tell you about the famous Gothic look, but fewer know that everything—from the gold leaf on the ceilings to the tiles on the floor—was made with a purpose. It’s not just about good looks. There are hidden messages, recycled fragments from old palaces, and even small jokes tucked between the gargoyles and ornate woodwork. These design choices reflect what London has gone through over the centuries, right up to modern-day scares over pollution and restoration work, which means there’s always something new going on behind those black railings on Bridge Street.
The Houses of Parliament sit right on the north bank of the Thames, smack in the centre of Westminster. You can't miss it—straight across from Westminster Bridge and just a stone’s throw from Embankment. This spot isn’t random; the area has been a power base in London since way before the Underground was even a thing. Back in the day, it was chosen for easy access by boat, which probably saved a lot of arguments about London traffic centuries ago.
The current building is actually called the Palace of Westminster. It replaced the original medieval palace after a huge fire tore through in 1834. That disaster reshaped what we see today, giving the architects a fresh slate. These days, you’ve got the City of London to the east, the government offices of Whitehall just behind, and a flock of tourists outside nearly every morning. Spot the London Eye across the water and you’ll see how this area connects the old with the new in the most classic London way.
Here are some details that put the location into perspective:
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Official Name | Palace of Westminster |
| Postal Code | SW1A 0AA |
| Riverside Length | approx. 265 metres |
| Closest Tube | Westminster (District, Jubilee, Circle lines) |
| Neighbouring Landmarks | Big Ben, St Margaret's Church, Westminster Abbey, London Eye (across the river) |
One quirky tip for Londoners: if you cycle along the Embankment, you get totally unique views of Parliament at sunrise, especially in summer. And if you work nearby, grab a Pret or Leon from Westminster Underground and take it over to Victoria Tower Gardens for a spot of lunch with a world-famous backdrop.
The building still affects how London moves. Motorists get stuck in traffic near Parliament Square every single day, and protestors fill the pavements whenever something big is happening in government. For London’s runners, walkers, and anyone heading to the South Bank, the Palace of Westminster is an unavoidable—and totally classic—part of the daily scenery.
The Houses of Parliament, also called the Palace of Westminster, are maybe the best-known example of the Gothic Revival style in London. Forget bland old blocks—here, every window and spire is about making a statement. The design is the work of Charles Barry and Augustus Pugin. Barry tackled the layout, while Pugin focused on the details. They wanted something dramatic—think pointed arches, bold spires, and a kind of medieval look that could compete with the biggest cathedrals in Europe. Their plan paid off. Even today, you just can’t mistake this place for anything else on the Thames.
The Gothic Revival style isn’t just about looks. Pugin thought the style showed off honesty, order, and Britain’s deep roots in history. There’s a practical side too: arches make strong structures and tall windows bring in more daylight (which was a big deal before all those modern LED floods).
Some of the most iconic features you’ll notice as you walk by:
To really show how Gothic Revival stacks up, compare it to the bits of the old palace that survived the 1834 fire. Places like Westminster Hall, with its giant oak roof, still rock a medieval feel, but the new stuff around really leans hard into the Gothic style—on purpose, to make Parliament feel ancient and important even if it’s actually Victorian underneath.
| Feature | Original Medieval Gothic | Parliament’s Revival Style |
|---|---|---|
| Towers | Short, practical | Tall, decorative |
| Windows | Simple, stained glass | Elaborate, pointed arches |
| Stonework | Plain or rough | Heavily carved |
Fun tip if you’re doing a walking tour: bring binoculars or borrow one of those tourist telescopes on the Thames walkway. You’ll catch tiny carvings most people never notice just by snapping a phone pic. If you ever get the chance to go inside, look for patterns repeated again and again in the carpet, ceiling, and doors. It’s all part of Parliament showing off both its history and a bit of London’s not-so-subtle love for style.
The moment you step inside London’s Houses of Parliament, it’s clear this isn’t just another old building. Every corner feels like someone put in real work, right down to the tiny carvings and stained glass that people easily walk past. It’s almost like London’s best artisans of the 1800s wanted to show off what they could do, and they absolutely did.
Let’s start with the woodwork. The hammer-beam roof over Westminster Hall is a local legend—it’s over 600 years old and built from oak trees from Surrey and Sussex. Most Londoners might not know this, but it’s one of the largest medieval timber roofs left in England, put together without a single nail. A team of skilled joiners made sure it would outlast generations, and with a bit of luck, they were right.
Then there’s the stonework. Parliament isn’t just a mix of bricks and mortar. See those pale yellow walls? That’s Anston limestone, shipped over 160 miles from Yorkshire in the 1800s because London’s local stone just couldn’t handle the pollution. Turns out, even imported stone had problems—especially when London’s smog hit hard. Fast forward to now and you’ll see some newer repairs done in Clipsham limestone from Rutland because it’s tougher and less likely to crumble in the city’s air.
When it comes to art, no section stands out more than the House of Lords. Its walls have murals painted by Britain’s biggest names of the Victorian era—think William Dyce and Daniel Maclise. They wanted these rooms to look like history lessons in living colour. There’s the “Spirit of Justice” looming above, and the walls of the Royal Gallery tell the stories of Britain in a way no textbook can.
If data is your thing, here’s what goes into the Parliament’s interiors:
| Feature | Material | Origin | Key Facts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Westminster Hall Roof | Oak | Surrey & Sussex | No nails, built in 1393 |
| Walls | Anston/Clipsham Limestone | Yorkshire/Rutland | Regular maintenance required |
| Tiling | Minton encaustic tiles | Stoke-on-Trent | Individually hand-laid patterns |
| Murals | Paint | UK artists | 1830s-1850s, historical scenes |
So if you’re looking for a bit of design inspiration or just want to impress mates at the Pub, next time someone brings up Parliament, mention the hand-carved hammer-beam roof or the Yorkshire stone. Not only do these details tell us where London’s builders sourced their stuff, but they also show what really lasts in this city.
If you ever get inside the Houses of Parliament, forget just looking up at the big chandeliers—there’s way more to notice at ground level. You’ll find little reminders of London’s quirkiness in places most folks never think to check.
Start with the famous division lobbies, used every day by MPs. The tiles under their feet are in a special chessboard pattern, and some of those are original Victorian tiles—worn smooth by all the voting. Look at the doorknobs and brass letterboxes, and you’ll see the Royal cypher (that’s the monarch’s initials), all hand-done. These bits are replaced by local craftspeople, often using the same old techniques passed down since Queen Victoria’s time.
Take a peek at the carvings around the entranceways. Among the stern-looking lions and crowns, you’ll spot a tiny figure of a medieval stonemason with a hammer. It’s basically the builder’s version of signing his work, hidden in plain sight. Some carvings even show the faces of real-life workers who helped build the place in the 1800s—kind of like sneaky selfies before Instagram existed!
You might have heard Big Ben chime, but did you know there’s a tiny prison hidden inside the building? Called the ‘Serjeant at Arms’ lockup, it was actually used to hold misbehaving MPs or people found in contempt of Parliament. It’s hardly a five-star cell—the last MP who spent the night there was in the 1880s, but the cell’s still there, waiting.
A fun oddity: every time a new session of Parliament begins, Black Rod (the official who knocks on the Commons door) has the door slammed in their face as part of tradition. The dents and dings in the heavy oak doors from all those yearly knocks still show, and staff leave them as proof of the centuries-old tradition.
Look out for the ‘Aye’ and ‘No’ carpets. They literally guide MPs to vote—green for “yes,” red for “no.” It’s a running joke that the carpets wear out fastest on the “no” side, especially during wild debates.
If you book a guided tour (available for Londoners with proof of address), ask a staffer about the original gas lamps—many have been electrified, but a few hidden ones still work on gas, a neat throwback to old-school London. Next time you’re rambling beneath those towers, just remember: Parliament isn’t just marble and gold. It’s a building full of surprises, odd habits, and real, everyday stories.
Keeping the Houses of Parliament in top shape is no small feat, and most Londoners know the buildings have been wrapped in scaffolding for what feels like ages. The need for restoration is nothing new. After the 1834 fire, Charles Barry and Augustus Pugin rebuilt Westminster with one eye on history and another on safety. Fast forward to today, the stakes are even higher—think dangerous crumbling stone, leaky pipes, and electrical systems that would have modern health-and-safety officers running scared.
The Restoration and Renewal project, discussed in Westminster circles since at least the 2010s, is the biggest facelift yet. The bill? The last official estimate put it at several billion pounds—yep, billions. And it’s not just for show. Fixing the stonework on Victoria Tower and sorting ancient heating means everything from stone masons to engineers are chipping in, trying to keep Parliament functioning while works happen around MPs and Lords still doing their jobs. Local firms and craftspeople are getting involved, too, which means some of those specialist jobs stay right here in London or use regional skills from across the UK.
Regular open days, like those run by Open House London, have let people sneak peeks at the work behind the scenes. Conservation tours include everything from replaced stained glass to stories about original York stone slabs on the Central Lobby floor. For students, work experience schemes run by Parliament have let young Londoners get hands-on experience in technical conservation and heritage crafts.
| Year | Main Work | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Big Ben restoration starts | Restoration started on Elizabeth Tower's clock face and bells |
| 2020 | Major electrical maintenance | Old wiring nearly caused fires – upgrades made building safer |
| 2023 | Stonework cleaning & repairs | Sections of Victoria Tower scaffolded for conservation |
If you want to get involved, check out Parliament’s "Restoration and Renewal" site. They sometimes call for local service providers or advertise job opportunities—from skilled trades to digital mapping. And if you’re just curious, keep an eye on South Bank festivals and local museums like the Museum of London Docklands, which often host talks and displays showing off the stories behind the Parliament facelift.
If you want to see the real character of the Houses of Parliament, you’ve got options—whether you’re a local looking for something new or showing mates around for the weekend. Getting inside isn’t as hard as people think, especially if you’re prepared. Start with one of the guided tours (they run regularly when Parliament isn’t sitting) which take you straight into the heart of the action. You’ll walk the same halls MPs and Lords use, and see details tourists rarely spot from the outside.
The best part of a tour? Getting up close with the art and design features you only glimpse from Westminster Bridge. The Members’ Lobby is packed with statues and brass-work, and the Central Lobby’s mosaic floors are worth a slow look. Guides love sharing fun facts—like how the tiles in St Stephen’s Hall were laid by hand during the Victorian era, or how every chair and lamp in the Lords Chamber was custom-made for the space.
You don’t even have to go inside to learn something. The Victoria Tower Gardens right beside Westminster offers good views of the outside detailing. Spot hidden animal carvings and the mix of old and new stone repairs. On certain dates, you can even see restoration work as it happens—it’s a chance to see UK craftspeople at work using the same skills as Londoners from the 1800s.
| Option | What You'll See | Cost | Booking Needed? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guided Tour | Halls, chambers, art, statues | £ | Yes |
| Attend a Debate | View galleries, soak up atmosphere | Free | Recommended |
| Open House London | Special rooms, behind-the-scenes | Free | Yes |
| Victoria Tower Gardens | Exterior stonework, sculpture | Free | No |
One winning tip: try grabbing a coffee from a local café on Abingdon Street, and just watch the comings and goings—it’s a reminder the Parliament is not just an icon, but part of the daily mix of London life. If you’re a photographer or sketcher, the public spaces outside are packed with details you’ll miss on a quick stroll. Even small signage nearby tells stories about repairs and famous debates that took place right inside those walls.
