Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament
Among London’s most recognisable structures and must-see tourist attractions are the Houses of Parliament and Elizabeth Tower, also known as Big Ben.Technically, the big bell inside the clock tower, which weighs more than 13 tonnes, is known as “Big Ben” (13,760 kg). When the four clock faces are illuminated at night, the clock tower appears magnificent. Each dial has a diameter of seven metres. The 4.2-meter (14-foot) long and 100-kilogram minute hands (220lbs, including counterweights). The length of the numbers is roughly 60 cm (23 in). Each clock dial is made of 312 pieces of glass; when parliament is in session, a special light is illuminated above the clock faces; and the precise timing of Big Ben is controlled by a pile of pennies put on the dial.
Rarely has Big Ben been silenced. The clock tower survived and Big Ben kept ringing the hours even after a bomb during World War II demolished the Commons chamber. On December 31, 1923, the BBC transmitted Big Ben’s chimes for the first time. This custom is still practised today. The clock tower was to be renamed the Elizabeth Tower in honour of Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee, the House of Commons announced in June 2012.
Westminster Hall is one of the most fascinating aspects of the Palace of Westminster, also known as the Houses of Parliament, which served as the residence of the English monarchs from the 11th to the early 16th century. It is the oldest portion of the complex still standing, having been constructed in 1097. The magnificent hammer-beam roof, which was completed between 1393 and 1401, is the biggest mediaeval timber roof in northern Europe. The Jewel Tower, which was constructed in 1365 and used to house the monarch’s riches, is the only other portion of the ancient palace to have survived the disastrous 1834 fire. In the Middle Ages, coronation banquets were held at Westminster Hall, which also served as a courthouse until the 19th century.
There are two houses in the parliament. The 650 elected Members of Parliament (MPs) sit in the lower house, the green-hued House of Commons. The scarlet-decorated House of Lords, once the domain of hereditary blue bloods, today has peers nominated through a variety of channels. It has about 800 members. Legislation is discussed and approved by both houses, and then it is sent to the monarch for approval (in practice, this is a formality; the last time Royal Assent was denied was in 1707). Tours may be provided in conjunction with an event, subject to restrictions and a cap on numbers. For a charge, the Tours Office will supply guides for groups of up to 25 people.They can also let you know which locations are open for tours on a certain day or period.
The Natural History Museum
A wide variety of specimens from various fields of natural history are on display at the Museum The Science Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum are the other two significant institutions on Exhibition Road in South Kensington. However, Cromwell Road is where the Natural History Museum’s main entrance is located. The museum houses 80 million specimens of life and earth science organised into five primary collections: botany, entomology, minerals, palaeontology, and zoology. The museum is a hub for study with a focus on identification, conservation, and taxonomy. Given the institution’s long history, many of the collections—including those of Charles Darwin’s specimens—have significant historical and scientific worth.
The museum is renowned for its display of dinosaur skeletons and elaborate architecture, which has been referred to as a cathedral of nature. The large Diplodocus cast that once dominated the vaulted central hall was replaced in 2017 by the skeleton of a blue whale that was suspended from the ceiling.The Natural History Museum Library is only accessible by appointment and houses sizable collections of books, periodicals, manuscripts, and pieces of art related to the work and study of the scientific departments. The museum is acknowledged as the world’s foremost centre for natural history studies and related subjects. Despite being legally separated from the British Museum, the Natural History Museum was nonetheless formally known as the British Museum (Natural History) until 1992.
The Natural History Museum has a three to four hour recommended visitation time, but one could easily spend the entire day exploring all four of the museum’s coloured zones. Follow the “Museum Trails” to conduct your own self-guided tour around any of the four zones of the museum, which typically takes between one and two hours, if you’re concerned about missing anything significant.
One of London’s liveliest neighbourhoods, Camden Town is well renowned for its entertainment and shopping. It is vibrant, artistic, and filled with well-known markets and live music. Along with the most well-known landmarks and attractions in London, all of this makes Camden one of the most visited boroughs in the city. In Camden, there is something enjoyable to do around every corner. Whether it’s attending a live performance at a renowned music venue, savouring delectable dishes from throughout the world, or taking in the natural splendour of its royal park. The people are the main factor in what makes Camden such a fantastic destination.
Many of the citizens and visitors are from diverse backgrounds, and they all love the neighborhood’s stylish, hip, and welcoming atmosphere. It shouldn’t come as a surprise that Camden has served as a home and source of inspiration for several poets, writers, and painters. A few well-known residents of Camden Town include Dylan Thomas, Amy Winehouse, Virginia Woolf, and Charles Dickens.With so much history and activity, it’s not always simple to choose where to go and what to see.especially if you only have a short amount of time and are visiting Camden for the first time.
