If you spend time in London, it’s easy to think you know the Houses of Parliament. You’ve seen the sweeping Gothic towers, heard Big Ben’s chime echo over the Thames, maybe dodged a few selfie sticks outside. But behind those familiar clock faces and black cabs circling Westminster lies a maze of stories, history, and a few quirky traditions that many Londoners don’t even know about.
A Tale of Two Palaces: Old Meets New at Westminster
The first surprise about the Houses of Parliament is that what you see today is only part-old, part-new. Most visitors don’t realise this famous building is officially called the Palace of Westminster. Its roots stretch way back to the medieval period—think kings, jousts, and the odd beheading. But the sprawling Gothic façade that tourists queue up for? It’s not old at all by London standards. The "new" Palace rose from the ashes of a catastrophic fire in 1834 (yes, parliament buildings do catch fire—who knew?).
The original palace was a royal residence as early as the 11th century. King Edward the Confessor lived there in the 1050s, long before any Prime Ministers or People’s Vote drama played out on its steps. If you look close, hidden inside are little bits that survived the fire, like Westminster Hall, which dates back to 1097. Imagine, back when Oxford Street was just muddy fields, people already gathered in this hall—kings were judged, famous trials happened, and even Henry VIII held banquets under its hammer-beam roof.
That famous riverside view—dubbed by cabbies and riverboat guides as the ‘Mother of Parliaments’—is a Victorian masterpiece designed by Charles Barry with interiors by Augustus Pugin. Their vision was pure grandeur: 1,100 rooms, 100 staircases, and two main towers. The seamless blend of old Westminster Hall and the new maze of corridors is why the Palace feels both antique and modern—sort of like walking between Borough Market’s glassy renewal and the surviving market nooks. You get lost, but you love it.
When touring the building or watching the State Opening of Parliament on the BBC, you’re witnessing this living blend of old and new. It gives Westminster that special London vibe: always adapting, never losing sight of tradition. And just to up the trivia ante, here’s a fun tidbit Londoners love to share—the Palace covers about eight acres! That’s roughly four times the size of Leicester Square. Good luck running from the Commons to the Lords and not getting lost at least once.
Big Ben Isn’t the Name You Think It Is
Ask someone on the Circle Line about Big Ben, and you’ll get a range of answers—some point at the tower, others at the clock, others at the chimes. The real fact? Big Ben is technically just the bell inside the clock tower, not the clock or the tower itself. The tower’s original name was simply the Clock Tower, but it was renamed Elizabeth Tower in 2012 for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.
Big Ben weighs a whopping 13.5 tonnes—the biggest of the five bells—and first rang across Westminster in July 1859. Workers had to haul the bell up 334 steps, which even Luna (my cat) would think twice about climbing. During bombings in World War II, Big Ben kept chiming, so Londoners saw it as the city’s literal heartbeat. You could hear it all the way up to Camden and even faintly in Marylebone on a crisp winter night.
If you walk along Westminster Bridge at the top of the hour, you’ll notice the bells ring fifteen minutes apart—the Quarter Bells chime every quarter hour, leading up to Big Ben’s deep, unmistakable boom. For Londoners, it's the sound of running late, meeting mates by the river, or hurrying to catch the last Thames Clipper home.
Check this out: The clock was designed by Edmund Beckett Denison and installed by clockmaker Frederick Dent. They set a standard for accuracy using pennies placed on the pendulum—a classic bit of British problem-solving. Even today, caretakers swap coins to keep time precise, which is probably the least digital, most British hack imaginable.
If you want to visit, UK residents can book a tour to go up the tower, but tourists have to make do with the photos outside—kind of like eyeing up a Chelsea flower show garden from the pavement. Still, the view from the base (ideally at dusk, when the lamps glow gold) feels just as magical as any rooftop bar in Shoreditch.
Traditions, Secrets, and a Few Peculiar Rules
Nothing sums up Britishness quite like keeping hold of traditions that seem, frankly, a little mad. The Houses of Parliament is a goldmine for these. Want to see a centuries-old sword swishing past security? Head to the State Opening, where the royal procession includes a ceremonial sword carried inches from the monarch. The tradition traces back to Richard the Lionheart’s time. It’s not just for show—Parliament takes its history very seriously, right down to the funny red lines on the floor of the House of Commons. They're set exactly two sword-lengths apart, to ensure MPs don’t physically duel (though, honestly, some debates still come close).
The Palace is famous for its black rod—no, that’s not a moody rock band, but an official who knocks on the Commons’ door during State Openings. Why? That’s a throwback to 1642 when Charles I stormed in to arrest five MPs. Ever since, the Commons has made it a show of independence by slamming the door in the Black Rod’s face. The Black Rod then knocks three times to be let in. This is must-watch TV, sort of like waiting for a shock goal on Match of the Day, only with more hats and less shouting.
There’s more: MPs aren’t allowed to call each other “liar” at any point (it’s called “unparliamentary language,” and the Speaker can actually kick offenders out). The phrase “to the other place” is used instead of directly naming the House of Lords or Commons during debates—a bit of insider code as old as pie-and-mash shops along The Cut. And, here’s one for the quizzers: There’s a resident colony of bats in the bell tower, which are protected under UK law and given their tiny ‘bat passports’ during tower repairs. Only in Britain.
Want to catch all this ceremony live? Visitor galleries in both chambers are open to the public, though you’ll need to queue early if you want a good spot to watch PMQs (Prime Minister’s Questions). The energy is electric—crowds buzz, cameras click, and debates are usually a true London spectacle: passionate, a bit rowdy, and rarely predictable.
Hidden Details: Art, Architecture, and Stories You’ll Miss on a Quick Tour
The Palace looks stunning from the embankment, but poke your head inside on a tour and you’ll find a treasure trove of details. Westminster Hall has a carved angel above its high table that survived centuries of smoke, fire, and the Blitz. Walk in the Central Lobby and you’ll spot four mosaic panels—England’s rose, Scotland’s thistle, Wales’s leek, and Ireland’s shamrock—each packed with symbolism. Meanwhile, the walls are covered with intricate stencilling and more gold leaf than you’ll see at Fortnum’s in December.
It’s not just about the visuals, either. The Library of the House of Commons houses rare volumes including Charles Dickens’ signed first edition. In the Peers’ corridor, gigantic murals recount royal and parliament history, like a walk through old issues of The Times. Hundreds of statues line the corridors. There’s Churchill, arms folded; Thatcher, poised; even Oliver Cromwell gets his own spot outside (though you’ll never spot a royal laying a wreath there).
Want a geeky stat for your next pub quiz at The Red Lion? The clock tower has 334 steps to the top. The lamps outside the Commons chamber burn with gas, a nod to older traditions. There’s even a shooting range in the basement and a hair salon, so MPs never have to step out with messy hair before a BBC interview. Not that it’s stopped a few questionable haircuts through the decades.
The Palace’s location on the Thames isn’t random: The river helped cool the buildings and move materials in and out. Fun fact—the oldest part of the estate, Westminster Hall, withstood the 1834 fire because it was separated by thick stone walls. Even now, periodic repairs and cleaning mean you might spot scaffolding next to the towers more often than not—Londoners have gotten used to it, like delays on the Jubilee line.
If you’re a local and the mood strikes for a deeper look, book a guided tour for a Saturday morning. Westminster is busiest during term-time, but off-peak slots guarantee quieter corridors and plenty of Insta-worthy moments. Or, try popping into the gift shop by St Stephen’s Hall for Parliament-themed mugs and fudge—the Britishness never ends.
| Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Total Rooms | Over 1,100 |
| Original Construction | 1097 (Westminster Hall) |
| Big Ben’s Weight | 13.5 tonnes |
| Clock Tower Steps | 334 |
| Survived the 1834 Fire | Westminster Hall, Jewel Tower |
| Total Area | 8 acres |
The Houses of Parliament are more than just another London attraction. They’re the city’s memory bank, debate stage, and the backdrop for some of the strangest and most wonderful traditions you’ll ever come across. Next time you cross Westminster Bridge, pause for a second, listen for the *Big Ben* chime, and remember—you’re brushing past centuries of stories that have shaped not just London, but the UK, and sometimes the whole world.
