We begin March with a visit to one of the most important places in the UK: the Parliament.
The Palace
of Westminster is the meeting place of the House of Commons and the House
of Lords, the two houses of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Commonly
known as the Houses of Parliament after its tenants, the Palace lies on
the Middlesex bank of the River Thames in the City of Westminster, in central
London. Its name, which derives from the neighbouring Westminster Abbey, may
refer to either of two structures: the Old Palace, a medieval building
complex that was destroyed by fire in 1834, and its replacement New Palace
that stands today. For ceremonial purposes, the palace retains its original
style and status as a royal residence.
The Palace is one of the centres of political life in the United Kingdom;
"Westminster" has become a metonym for the UK Parliament, and the
Westminster system of government has taken its name after it. The Elizabeth
Tower, in particular, which is often referred to by the name of its main bell,
"Big Ben", is an iconic landmark of London and the United Kingdom in
general, one of the most popular tourist attractions in the city and an emblem
of parliamentary democracy. The Palace of Westminster has been a Grade I listed
building since 1970 and part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987.
For further info go to www.parliament.uk
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