The Houses of Parliament

If you are in London we recommend the tour of the Palace of Westminster, the meeting place of the two Houses of Parliament. The tours which are run on Saturdays throughout the year between the hours of 9.15am and 4.30pm take in the chambers of the House of Commons and the House of Lords, the Queen's Robing Room and St Stephen's Hall as well as a number of others.

The House of Lords

The House of Commons

 Much of the palace, despite its Gothic splendor, is less than 200 years old. Although the Lords' Chamber dates from the rebuilding in the middle years of the nineteenth century and is a positive delight for those who like Gothic design and the work of Augustus Pugin, the Commons is more recent, having been restored after extensive damage from bombing during the Second World War. Although the House of Commons is somewhat "minimalist," the House of Lords with all of its beautiful workmanship would undoubtedly have to be described as "maximalist."

One of the jewels in the crown is Westminster Hall, built in 1097, and which survived the great fire of 1834 which practically destroyed the old Palace. It is here that visiting heads of state address the Parliament and where the Monarch or other persons of significance may lie in state after death.  The most recent of these was the Queen Mother who died in May of 2002 at the age of 101 years.

Westminster Hall

Window in Westminster Hall

Jubilee Window

A special window, to mark the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth's reign is soon to be installed in Westminster Hall.
Sixty years ago, in February 1952, Virginia and her mother came to London from Bristol to pay homage to King George VI whose body lay in state in Westminster Hall.

Westminster Hall is one of the largest medieval halls in Europe with an unsupported roof.  The "modern" hammer beam roof is made of oak and dates from the 14th Century.

There is an odd sense of deja vu as one visits some of the rooms.  We have all seen them on TV and in the movies and for this reason feel that we are visiting a place we have been before.

Our visit concluded with lunch in the Jubilee Dining Room then, in freezing sleet and high winds, we retreated to our hotel for warmth and a quiet afternoon.