Palace of Westminster
The Palace of Westminster, famously recognizable by the towering presence of Big Ben, serves as the majestic, neo-Gothic meeting place for the two houses of the United Kingdom’s Parliament: the House of Commons and the House of Lords. Built largely in the 19th century after a devastating fire destroyed the original medieval structure, the sprawling complex contains over 1,000 rooms, 100 staircases, and three miles of corridors, sitting prominently along the banks of the River Thames.
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Elizabeth Tower, Big Ben
Although universally known as Big Ben, that famous name actually only refers to the massive, 13-ton Great Bell hanging inside the structure, while the iconic 96-meter-tall neo-Gothic clock tower itself is officially named the Elizabeth Tower. Completed in 1859 at the north end of the Palace of Westminster, its four enormous, illuminated clock faces are renowned for their exceptional accuracy, famously keeping time through the heavy bombings of World War II.
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Tower Bridge
Tower Bridge is a magnificent Victorian-era marvel completed in 1894, featuring two soaring neo-Gothic towers designed to blend perfectly with the nearby Tower of London. It is a combined bascule and suspension bridge, meaning its massive central roadway can split and lift into the air to allow tall ships to pass through, a dramatic mechanical operation that still occurs hundreds of times a year.
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Tower of London
The Tower of London is a massive, historic fortress on the north bank of the River Thames, originally founded by William the Conqueror in 1066 to intimidate the citizens of London and protect the city from invaders. Over its bloody 900-year history, the sprawling stone complex has served as a royal palace, a notorious prison, a site of execution for queens, and a secure vault, which today proudly houses the priceless British Crown Jewels under heavy guard.
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