Westminster Palace (Houses of Parliament)

Black and White pictures by QT Luong

Westminster Palace, known also as the Houses of Parliament, is the seat of the two Houses of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, the House of Lords and the House of Commons. Although the oldest part of the Palace dates from 1097, most of it was rebuilt in neo-Gothic architecture from the year 1840, following a major fire in 1834. One of the Palace's most famous features is the clock tower, often named after the famous bell Big Ben that is housed within.

As a center of political and religious power for over a millennium, the whole area consisting of Westminster Palace and adjacent Westminster Abbey is of considerable historic and symbolic significance. It presents a remarkable architectural cohesion and an impressive display of gravitas. The Westminster Palace and Westminster Abbey are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

[CLICK on any picture to see a larger image and details, to add to selection, to order, and to download wallpaper.]

All text and photos © QT Luong. See conditions for use of images. There are 16 black and white pictures of Westminster Palace (Houses of Parliament) on this page