You’ve seen it on every postcard, every news broadcast, and probably a dozen James Bond films. That sprawling, honey-colored thicket of Gothic spires hugging the River Thames. Most people call it the Houses of Parliament, or simply point at the clock tower and yell "Big Ben." But if you want to be pedantic—and honestly, around here, everyone is—the official name is the Palace of Westminster.
It isn’t just a building where politicians argue. It’s a royal palace. It’s a graveyard of medieval secrets. And right now, in 2026, it is a Victorian masterpiece literally held together by hope, crumbling masonry, and some of the most complex engineering surveys ever attempted.
The Big Ben Lie and Other Myths
Let’s clear this up immediately. If you tell a Londoner you want to go "inside Big Ben," they might roll their eyes. Big Ben is the bell. Just the bell. The tower itself was renamed the Elizabeth Tower in 2012. Before that, it was just the Clock Tower. It’s a 315-foot stack of brick and limestone that houses a 13.7-ton bell that, quite frankly, sounds a bit out of tune because it’s actually cracked.
There’s another weird legend people love: that it’s illegal to die in the Palace of Westminster because you’d be entitled to a state funeral.
Kinda true? Not really.
While there’s an old superstition about this, there is no specific law on the books. However, the palace is technically a "Royal Palace not in the personal occupation of the Sovereign," which makes the legal jurisdiction... messy. If you did keel over in the Central Lobby, the Coroner of the King’s Household would technically be the one to handle you. But don't expect a carriage and a 21-gun salute.
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Why Westminster Palace London England is Actually a Firetrap
You might notice scaffolding. A lot of it. For years, the Palace of Westminster has been the subject of a massive "Restoration and Renewal" debate.
The reality is terrifying.
The basement is a labyrinth of Victorian steam pipes, 100-year-old telephone wires, and gas mains all tangled together like a bowl of angry spaghetti. There have been dozens of "near-miss" fires in the last decade alone. The building is essentially a tinderbox. Architects in the 1840s didn't exactly plan for high-speed fiber optics or modern air conditioning.
Early in 2026, the government is expected to finally vote on whether to "decant" (that’s the fancy word for moving out) or stay put while they fix it. If they move out, the MPs might end up in a conference center nearby, and the Lords might head to the Queen Elizabeth II Centre. It would be the first time since World War II that the chambers have been empty for a long stretch.
The 1,000-Year-Old Floor You Can Actually Walk On
If you visit, you’ll likely enter through Westminster Hall. This is the only part of the original medieval palace that survived the catastrophic fire of 1834.
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It was built in 1097. Read that again.
When William Rufus (the son of William the Conqueror) finished it, it was the largest hall in Europe. The "hammer-beam" roof, added later by Richard II, is a marvel of medieval carpentry. No pillars. Just massive oak beams held together by gravity and genius. If you look up, you’ll see carved angels. If you look down, you’re standing where Guy Fawkes was sentenced to be hanged, drawn, and quartered. It’s where King Charles I was tried for treason before losing his head.
It’s one of those rare places where history doesn't feel like a textbook. It feels heavy.
Hidden Details to Spot
If you manage to snag a tour, keep your eyes peeled for the "snuff box." It’s a small wooden box kept at the entrance of the House of Commons. Smoking has been banned in the chamber for centuries, but for some reason, the tradition of providing free snuff (smokeless tobacco) to MPs remains.
Also, look at the floors. The tiles were designed by Augustus Pugin, the guy who basically went mad trying to finish the palace’s interior. He was a Gothic obsessive. Every single inch of the 1,100 rooms is covered in his patterns. He died at 40, exhausted by the sheer scale of the project.
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The Red and Green Divide
The palace is color-coded. It’s basically a giant "Choose Your Own Adventure" map.
- Green: This is the House of Commons. It’s meant to be the "common" color (think grass or fields). The benches are green, the carpets are green, even the ribbons on the paper are green.
- Red: This is the House of Lords. Red is the color of royalty and status. It’s much more lavish—gold leaf everywhere, ornate carvings, and a massive throne where the King sits during the State Opening.
There is a line on the floor in the Commons. Two lines, actually. They are exactly two sword-lengths apart. Historically, MPs weren't allowed to cross them during a debate to prevent them from actually stabbing each other. We use microphones now, but the lines stayed.
How to Actually Get Inside
You don't have to be a dignitary to see it.
If you are a UK resident, you can contact your MP and request a free tour. It takes months to book, so don't wait. For everyone else, there are paid tours on Saturdays and during "recess" (when the politicians are on holiday).
Honestly? The best way to see the palace is to go for a "lobby." You can technically go to the Central Lobby and ask to see your MP. It’s a public building, after all. Or, you can queue for the public galleries to watch a debate for free. There is something surreal about sitting in a gallery, looking down at the very room where laws are made, while sitting on a bench designed in the 1800s.
Actionable Tips for Your Visit
- Book the "Line of Kings" route: If you can, get a guide. The audio tours are fine, but the human guides know the scandals. They’ll tell you which statues have had their toes rubbed for luck (mostly Margaret Thatcher's).
- Check the flag: If the Union Jack is flying over the Victoria Tower (the big square one), Parliament is sitting. If it’s night and the "Ayrton Light" is glowing above the clock face of Big Ben, they are still debating.
- Security is no joke: Treat it like an airport. No liquids, no sharp objects, and definitely no "protest" t-shirts. They will make you turn them inside out or leave.
- The Jewel Tower: Most people miss this. It’s across the street. It was the King’s private treasury and survived the 1834 fire. It’s small, quiet, and gives you a sense of how the palace looked before the Victorians got hold of it.
The Palace of Westminster is currently at a crossroads. By the end of this year, we might know if it’s going to be closed for a generation of repairs. If you have the chance to see it now, take it. It’s a crumbling, beautiful, chaotic mess of British history that somehow still functions as the heart of a modern state.
To start your planning, check the official Parliament website for the 2026 sitting dates, as tour availability changes weekly based on the legislative calendar. If you can't get a tour, book a slot at the Sky Garden across the river; the view of the palace's layout from above is the only way to truly appreciate the "Tudor details on a classic body" that Pugin famously obsessed over.