Editing Palace of Westminster (section)

== Culture and tourism ==

{{Multiple image
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| header            = Claude Monet's [[Houses of Parliament (Monet series)|''Houses of Parliament'' series]]
| footer            = During three trips to London between 1899 and 1901, [[Impressionist]] painter [[Claude Monet]] worked on [[Houses of Parliament series (Monet)|a series of canvasses]] that depicted the Palace of Westminster under various lighting conditions; the building was often shrouded in the [[Pea soup fog|smog]] prevalent in the city in Victorian times. The paintings share the same vantage point{{mdash}}a terrace at [[St Thomas's Hospital]], across the river from the Palace{{mdash}}and many of the works were finished in Monet's studio in France over the following years.<ref>{{cite news |title=Paintings reveal pollution clues |work=BBC News |date=9 August 2006 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/5256950.stm |access-date=30 October 2010}}</ref>
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| image1            = Claude Monet - The Houses of Parliament, Sunset.jpg
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| caption1          = ''The Houses of Parliament, sunset'' (1903), [[National Gallery of Art]], Washington, D.C.
| image2            = London, the Houses of Parliament, Sunlight Opening in Fog, by Claude Monet.jpg
| alt2              = 
| caption2          = ''London, Houses of Parliament. The Sun Shining through the Fog'' (1904), [[Musée d'Orsay]], Paris
}}

The exterior of the Palace of Westminster{{mdash}}especially the [[Elizabeth Tower]] which houses the bell known as [[Big Ben]], and its setting on the bank of the [[River Thames]]—is recognised worldwide, and is one of the most visited tourist attractions in London. [[Tsar Nicholas I]] called it "a dream in stone".<ref name="helmguardian">{{Cite news |last=Helm |first=Toby |date=14 January 2017 |title=Parliament burned down 183 years ago. Only 24-hour patrols are stopping another fire |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/jan/14/secret-report-palace-westminster-grave-risk-fire-saftey |access-date=22 December 2018 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> The [[United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization]] (UNESCO) classifies the Palace of Westminster, along with neighbouring [[Westminster Abbey]] and [[St Margaret's, Westminster|St Margaret's]], as a [[World Heritage Site]]. It is also a [[Grade I listed building]].<ref>{{NHLE|num=1226284|desc=Houses of Parliament and The Palace of Westminster|access-date=4 October 2021}}</ref>

Although there is no casual access to the interior of the palace, there are several ways to gain admittance. UK residents may obtain tickets from an MP for a place in the viewing ("strangers") gallery of the House of Commons, or from a Lord for a seat in the gallery of the House of Lords. It is also possible for both UK residents and overseas visitors to queue for admission to them at any time of the day or night when either House is in session, but capacity is limited and there is no guarantee of admission. Either House may exclude "strangers" if it desires to sit in private.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.parliament.uk/visiting/visiting-and-tours/watch-committees-and-debates/debates/ |title=Attend debates |publisher=UK Parliament |access-date=3 April 2017}}</ref> Members of the public can also queue for a seat in a committee session, where admission is free and places cannot be booked,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.parliament.uk/visiting/visiting-and-tours/watch-committees-and-debates/committees/ |title=Watch committees |publisher=UK Parliament |access-date=3 April 2017}}</ref> or they may visit the Parliamentary Archives for research purposes. Booking an appointment is necessary in the latter case, along with a proof of identity.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/parliamentary-archives/visiting-and-services/archives-planning-your-visit/ |title=Visit the Parliamentary Archives |publisher=UK Parliament |access-date=3 April 2017}}</ref>

{{external media | width = 210px | float = right | headerimage= [[File:North Front detail, Palace of Westminster.jpg|210px]] | video1 = [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7oBUIo5R5qg Charles Barry and A. W. N. Pugin, Palace of Westminster (Houses of Parliament), 1840–70], [[Smarthistory]], 6:27
}}
Free guided tours of the palace are held throughout the parliamentary session for UK residents, who can apply through their MP or a member of the House of Lords. The tours last about 75&nbsp;minutes and include the state rooms, the chambers of the two Houses and Westminster Hall. Paid-for tours are available to both UK and overseas visitors during the summer recess and Saturdays throughout the year.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.parliament.uk/visiting/visiting-and-tours/tours-of-parliament/guided-tours-of-parliament/|title=Houses of Parliament guided tours|website=UK Parliament|language=en |access-date=19 April 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.parliament.uk/visiting/visiting-and-tours/tours-of-parliament/tours/|title=Arrange a tour through your MP|publisher=UK Parliament|access-date=18 April 2019}}</ref> Tours of the Elizabeth Tower were suspended until 2021 while the tower underwent refurbishment.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.parliament.uk/visiting/visiting-and-tours/tours-of-parliament/bigben/ |title=Big Ben and the Elizabeth Tower tours |publisher=UK Parliament |access-date=5 November 2019 }}</ref>
<!-- Filming is forbidden in the Palace of Westminster; for representations of the building's interior in films, [[Manchester Town Hall]] has been used on a number of occasions. [needs source] -->

Architectural historian [[Dan Cruickshank]] selected the palace as one of his five choices for the 2006 [[BBC]] television documentary series ''[[Britain's Best Buildings]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcfour/documentaries/features/bbb-parliament.shtml |title=Britain's Best Buildings: Palace of Westminster |publisher=BBC Four |location=UK |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070525052453/http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcfour/documentaries/features/bbb-parliament.shtml |archive-date=25 May 2007}}</ref>

The nearest London Underground station is [[Westminster tube station|Westminster]], on the [[District line|District]], [[Circle line (London Underground)|Circle]] and [[Jubilee line]]s.

In 2015, Parliament organised a year-long programme of events called "[[Parliament in the Making]]" to celebrate the 800th anniversary of the sealing of [[Magna Carta]] on 15 June, and the 750th anniversary of the [[Montfort's Parliament|first representative parliament]] on 20 January.<ref>{{cite web|title=Parliament in the Making: 2015 Historic Anniversaries programme |url=http://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/evolutionofparliament/2015-parliament-in-the-making/2015-historic-anniversaries/an-introduction-to-parliament-in-the-making/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150114060642/http://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/evolutionofparliament/2015-parliament-in-the-making/2015-historic-anniversaries/an-introduction-to-parliament-in-the-making/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=14 January 2015 |publisher=UK Parliament |access-date=18 January 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=2015 Anniversaries: An Update|url=http://www.parliament.uk/documents/lords-committees/house/Papers/2013-14/180613/M2-13-14-06-2015-Anniversaries.pdf|publisher=UK Parliament|access-date=18 January 2015|date=11 June 2013|archive-date=18 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150118104332/http://www.parliament.uk/documents/lords-committees/house/Papers/2013-14/180613/M2-13-14-06-2015-Anniversaries.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> Events were coordinated with [[Parliament Week]]. The BBC held events throughout the year including a "Democracy Day" on 20 January consisting of live discussions and debate in partnership with the [[Speaker of the House of Commons (United Kingdom)|Speaker's Office]] of the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]], including broadcasts from inside the Palace of Westminster.<ref>{{cite web|title=BBC marks the 800th anniversary of the Magna Carta with 'Taking Liberties' season|url=http://magnacarta800th.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/BBC-Taking-Liberties-Press-Release.pdf|publisher=BBC|access-date=18 January 2015}}</ref>