This
building is another one of the great English landmarks
that have become famous under a name other than its
own. Most people recognize the building it as the
seat of English government, but don't realize that
it's proper name is The Palace of Westminster. The
first palace on this site was put up sometime after
1016 by Canute the Great, the Danish king of England,
Denmark, and Norway. It was razed when Edward the
Confessor moved the royal court out of London and
to this place in the 11th century. But in spite of
its palatial title, no royal family has lived here
since 1512 when fire forced Henry VIII to move to
Whitehall. The Gothic Revival building you see today
was built after fire destroyed the palace in 1834.
If you go, the best place to take a picture of the
outside is from across the river. On the inside, there
isn't a lot to do. Both the House of Lords and the
House of Commons have visitor's galleries where you
can watch the proceedings. To get there, you must
pass through hallways covered with amazing frescoes
commissioned by Prince Albert. You'll have to wait
in line, but at least it's one of the few things in
the world that a simple commoner can do that the Queen
can't. No monarch has been allowed in since 1642 when
the King tried to have some Members of Parliament
arrested. Westminister Palace became a UNESCO World
Heritage Site in 1987.
