A Royal Palace has existed at Westminster since the reign of Edward the Confessor in the eleventh century. When William the Conqueror's son, William Rufus, came to the throne in 1087 he decided to build a new Palace which would rival the size and splendour of Westminster Abbey.

Unfortunately much of the new building was never finished, however Westminster Hall was and by the end of the thirteenth century it was regularly used by the Courts of Kings Bench, Chancery, and Common Pleas.

For hotels and short breaks - plan your visit

At the end of the fourteenth century King Richard II made some major structural changes to the Great Hall resulting in the magnificent ceiling and despite a major fire in October 1834, Westminster Hall survived.

A competition was soon announced to design the New Palace of Westminster in the Gothic style. The winner, architect Charles Barry, was ably assisted by Pugin who was largely responsible for the intricate gothic details. Little has changed over the years to the building that has 1100 rooms, 100 staircases and over 3 miles of corridor and passageway.

Of the many towers and turrets that decorate the main palace, most famous of all is The Clock Tower, known the world over as Big Ben. Standing over 315ft tall, the bell that tolls the hour was cast in nearby Whitechapel and weighs in at a hefty 13.5 tonnes.

Of all the Kings & Queens, Prime Ministers and First Lords that have held office at the Palace of Westminster, the most widely known figure is Guy Fawkes, minor nobleman and Roman Catholic who, in 1605, schemed to blow up the Palace of Westminster. The infamous Gunpowder Plot failed and Guy Fawkes was found guilty of treason and hung, drawn and quartered.

Plan your visit

• Hotels convenient for the Houses of Parliament - a comprehensive list of hotels in the area
  
  
• Houses of Parliament - find out more about our seat of Government