The Palace of Westminster, also known as the houses of Parliament - the Palace, where the meeting of both houses of the British Parliament, the house of Commons and the house of lords.

The house of Commons is elected for five years by universal, equal and secret ballot, and the House of lords is not elected and consists of the two archbishops, 26 bishops of the Anglican Church ("lords spiritual") and 706 members panstwa ("secular lords"). Spiritual lords are present, while they occupy a Church office, and secular members of the house of lords serve for life.

The Palace of Westminster lies on the North Bank of the river Thames in the heart of London. The first Royal Palace was built on this site in the XI century. Probably the first king who settled here, was Knut the Great. Edward the Confessor founded here Westminster Abbey, but buildings of that period have not survived. The earliest extant buildings were built under king Wilhelm II. The Palace was considered to be the primary residence of the kings of England, and here were held the meetings of the Royal Council - the predecessor of the British Parliament.

In 1530 king Henry VIII moved his official residence in Whitehall and Westminster, though, and continued to be Royal Palace, was given to the needs of Parliament. In the eighteenth century Parliament building was reconstructed and rebuilt in neo-Gothic style by the architect James Wyatt.

In 1834 the houses of Parliament caught fire. The cause was escalivada stove, which burned wooden tag of the Treasury. Survived the Tower of Jewels, partially - Church of St. Stephen, and by heroic efforts managed to defend from the Westminster fire hall (1097). For reconstruction was appointed special Royal Commission, having considered the 97 projects, chose Charles Barry in the Gothic revival style. Construction was substantially completed in 1860. For his work, Charles Barry was awarded the rank of knight.

The clock tower of the Palace of Westminster - big Ben became the hallmark of London, and by that clock Londoners is not the first century reconcile their time. The second tower of the Palace is called Victoria and serves as the parliamentary archive. It stores three million documents, the total length of shelving for them - 8.8 km, including stores the original of the bill of rights and the death penalty to Karl I, as well as all acts of Parliament since 1497.

Tourists in the houses of Parliament is practically not allowed. And if the citizens of United Kingdom can get inside in consultation with your
a member of Parliament, foreign tourists remain only guided tours during the summer parliamentary recess. You can try to enter the building during office hours deputies, but the number of visitors and asylum is limited, and there is no guarantee that you will get them.