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The Palace of Westminster, also known as the Houses of Parliament or Westminster Palace, in London, is where the two Houses of the Parliament of the United Kingdom meet.
| Palace of Westminster | |
|---|---|
 The Palace of Westminster with Elizabeth Tower and Westminster Bridge, viewed from across the River Thames | |
| Location | City of Westminster, London, England |
| Coordinates | 51°29′57″N 00°07′29″W |
| Area | 112,476 m2 (1,210,680 sq ft) [1] (internal) |
| Built | 1016 |
| Demolished | 1834 (due to fire) |
| Rebuilt | 1840–70 |
| Architectural style(s) | Perpendicular Gothic Revival |
| Owner | King Charles III in right of the Crown[2] |
| Official name: Palace of Westminster, Westminster Abbey, and St Margaret's Church | |
| Type | Cultural |
| Criteria | i, ii, iv |
| Designated | 1987 (11th session) |
| Reference no. | 426 |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Region | Europe |
| Extensions | 2008 |
Listed Building – Grade I | |
| Official name: Houses of Parliament / The Palace of Westminster | |
| Designated | 5 February 1970 |
| Reference no. | 1226284[3] |
  Location of the Palace of Westminster in central London | |
In 1605, Guy Fawkes attempted to blow the Palace up. He was caught and later executed. This was called the Gunpowder Plot, and is celebrated on 5 November every year.
The original building was used as a palace and home to the Parliament of England. After a fire in 1834, the building was used as a Parliament building.
Westminster Palace, Westminster Abbey and Saint Margaret's Church make up a UNESCO World Heritage Site.[4] Westminster Palace is an example of Gothic Revival architecture.[4]
The building is in bad shape. There have been falling stonework, 10 fires, and an incident of potential asbestos exposure since 2020. There are leaking pipes and a serious risk of fire. The water, electric, sewage and gas pipes need to be replaced. To do this work the politicians would have to move to somewhere else.[5]
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