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All UNESCO SitesUnited Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Palace of Westminster and Westminster Abbey including Saint Margaret’s Church

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Background

World Heritage since
1987
Type of site
Cultural
Palace rebuilt
1840–1870

Westminster Palace, rebuilt from 1840 on the site of important medieval remains, is a fine example of neo-Gothic architecture. UNESCO says the site, which also takes in the small medieval church of St Margaret in Perpendicular Gothic and Westminster Abbey, where all the sovereigns since the 11th century have been crowned, is of great historic and symbolic significance.

The palace was the main residence of the kings of England until a fire in 1512, and Parliament has met here since the 13th century. A second fire in 1834 destroyed most of it, sparing the 11th-century Westminster Hall; Charles Barry won the competition to rebuild in Gothic Revival style, with Augustus Pugin, and the work took 30 years. The Elizabeth Tower houses the bell called Big Ben. Wikivoyage says Westminster has been the seat of royal and then parliamentary power for 900 years.

More on the UNESCO listing More on Wikipedia

  1. 11th c.A royal palace is built; Westminster Hall survives from this time
  2. 13th c.Parliament begins meeting at Westminster
  3. 1512Fire ends the palace's days as a royal residence
  4. 1834A second fire destroys most of the palace
  5. 1840Charles Barry's Gothic Revival rebuilding begins
  6. 1987Inscribed as World Heritage

Find Your Way Around

The main parts of the site, in the order most visitors see them

  1. 1
    Westminster Abbey
    The coronation church; the GoGo guide gives it two hours.
  2. 2
    Big Ben
    The bell in the Elizabeth Tower, a landmark of the whole country.
  3. 3
    Westminster Hall
    The 11th-century hall saved from the 1834 fire.
  4. 4
    The Chambers
    The Commons and the Lords; the Commons chamber was rebuilt after the Second World War.
  5. 5
    St Margaret's Church
    The small Perpendicular Gothic church beside the abbey.
  6. 6
    Parliament Square
    Between the abbey and the palace.

Know Before You Go

From Wikivoyage and the GoGo guides

Watch a Debate for Free
Wikivoyage: while the House sits, visitors can sit in the Strangers' Gallery; queue at St Stephen's Entrance opposite the abbey, and avoid Wednesday lunchtime, when the Prime Minister takes questions.
Evensong Is Free
Choral Evensong at the abbey is a service, not a tour: no ticket, no booking, turn up at the North Door.
Closed to Sightseers on Sundays
The GoGo guide notes the abbey is closed to sightseers on Sundays.
Westminster Tube
Westminster station on the Circle, District and Jubilee lines, all in Zone 1.

Abbey, Parliament and the Parks

From the GoGo London guide · Open the London Guide ›

  1. 09:30
    Westminster Abbey2 hrs
    The abbey of coronations.
  2. 11:45
    Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament30 min
    The clock tower and the palace from Parliament Square.
  3. 14:30
    St James's Park to Buckingham Palace90 min
    Through the park to the palace.
  4. 16:30
    Hyde Park90 min
    The big royal park.
  5. 19:30
    A West End Show2.5 hrs
    A musical or play in theatreland.

Best Time to Visit

Best months: Jun–Sep.

Typical highs

Best monthsRain: wettest Nov (74 mm), driest Apr (42 mm)

Climate: NASA POWER

Pair It With

Other World Heritage sites nearby, by distance

WORTH A NIGHTDAY TRIPSAME DAYDistance not to scale · tap a site
Do These Together
The Tower of London is 4 km downriver, Maritime Greenwich 9 km and Kew Gardens 12 km, all World Heritage sites.
Sources
UNESCO World Heritage Centre, listing 426 · Wikipedia: Palace of Westminster · Wikivoyage: London/Westminster (CC BY-SA 4.0) · GoGo London guide · UNESCO listing