Palace of Westminster | Factsheet The Palace of Westminster is one of the most iconic and significant buildings in the world. It is home to one of the busiest parliaments, with more than a million people, including 100,000 schoolchildren, passing through its doors each year. The Palace is part of a UNESCO World Heritage The Palace is on four main levels and was Site which also incorporates Westminster designed so the surviving medieval buildings – Key Facts Abbey, the Jewel Tower and St Margaret’s Westminster Hall, the Cloisters of St Stephen’s Church. College, and the Chapel of St Mary Undercroft • Grade I listed building and part of – formed an integral part of the whole. UNESCO Westminster World Heritage The Palace contains a combination of ancient Site and modern structures and is home to a The ground floor river front houses offices, significant collection of works of art, archives catering facilities and meeting rooms, the • Total ground area of Palace: 8 acres and furnishings. It houses royal ceremonial first or principal floor includes the Chambers, (32,375m2) – includes all courtyards, rooms for the State Opening of Parliament, the libraries, and dining rooms, the second gardens and 5 acres of buildings Chambers for both Houses and their attendant or Committee floor on the river front has spaces, offices for members of both Houses Committee rooms, as does the third or Upper • Total internal area of the Palace: and their staff, together with staff working for Committee floor. 2 112,476m – includes all floors, internal the administrations. walls, plant rooms, hallways, storage The Palace was damaged by air raids on 14 spaces, and underground car park Designed by the architect Charles Barry to different occasions during the Second World be the purpose-built home of Parliament, it War. The most notable damage was caused • Nearly 300m in length replaced the old Palace which burned down in 1941, when the Commons Chamber in a major fire in 1834, and is now considered was entirely destroyed. A replacement was • More than 1,100 rooms, 100 staircases to be one of the finest examples of neo-gothic constructed to the designs of Sir Giles Gilbert and 31 lifts in the Palace precincts architecture in the world. Augustus Welby Scott and opened in 1950. • More than 3km of passages set over Pugin assisted Barry by designing most of the seven levels Palace’s ornate Gothic interiors, including carvings, gilt work, panelling and furniture. Westminster Hall Elizabeth Tower Victoria Tower Central Tower • Oldest structure on the estate, • Formerly called the Clock Tower • Designed as a royal entrance • Only Palace tower to have a completed in 1099 • Commonly known as Big Ben • Gateways built wide enough to stone spire • One of very few parts of the after its main bell allow Queen’s Coach to drive • Contains largest known ancient Palace which survives • Houses turret clock designed through for State Openings of octagonal gothic vault without in almost its original form by E.B. Denison Parliament a central pillar • Probably the largest hall of its • Height: 96.3m • Home to Parliamentary • Originally designed to serve as time in Europe Archives a ventilating chimney for stale • Steps to the belfry: 334 • Used mainly for state occasions • Iron flagstaff flies Royal air and smoke from fireplaces • Steps to the lantern (Ayrton and ceremonies Standard if monarch is present Light): 399 • Largest medieval timber roof or Union flag at all other times • Weight of the Great Bell (Big in Northern Europe, measuring • Height: 98.5m Ben): 13.8 tonnes Main Image: The Palace of Westminster 20.7m by 73.2m © UK Parliament Find out more about the Programme at: www.restorationandrenewal.parliament.uk.