Houses of Parliament

The Houses of Parliament, formally known as the Palace of Westminster, is the seat of the UK Parliament, located on the north bank of the River Thames in Westminster, central London. The current Gothic Revival building was designed by Charles Barry and Augustus Pugin following the destruction of most of the medieval palace by fire in 1834. The complex contains the chambers of the House of Commons and the House of Lords, as well as hundreds of offices and committee rooms. The Elizabeth Tower at one end of the building, commonly known as Big Ben after its main bell, is one of the most recognised landmarks in the world.