London - Houses of Parliament

The north exit from the Central Lobby leads to the House of Commons. The House of Commons was destroyed by bombing during the last war but was rebuilt in its original form. The seating arrangement is ideal for debate. At the north end of the chamber is the chair, of black Australian wood, occupied by the Speaker, who presides over the House of Commons. The Speaker is so called because it was originally his responsibility to speak to the monarch representing the views of the House of Commons - a responsibility which could at times be hazardous. To this day a newly elected Speaker is expected to put on a show of reluctance when he or she is conducted to the chair for the first time. The members of the government and opposition parties sit opposite one another on parallel rows of green benches. Between them is the table of the House, on which the mace is placed during sittings of the Commons. On the carpet between the front benches are two red lines, traditionally said to be two sword-lengths apart, which were originally designed to prevent members coming to blows. Nowadays party members on the front benches may throw notes across the floor and shout in agreement with fellow members' speeches. Since 1989 the proceedings in the House of Commons have been televised. At the opening of each day's sitting of the House of Commons the cry is heard: "Mr Speaker! Hats off - strangers!" This marks the passing of the Speaker's procession - the Speaker himself, wearing a wig and long black gown, preceded by a messenger and the Sergeant at Arms, wearing knee breeches and carrying the mace, and followed by his train-bearer, chaplain and secretary. (When the Speaker is a woman, she is addressed as "Madam Speaker" and continues to wear the official robes, but does not wear a wig). The proceedings begin with a prayer read by the chaplain, after which the public are admitted. Visitors are shown to their places in the gallery by frock-coated attendants wearing a large gold badge, who give them a copy of the order paper listing the day's business.

The anteroom to the House of Commons is the Commons' Lobby, a square chamber in Gothic style with statues of 20th century statesmen (including bronze figures of Sir Winston Churchill and Lloyd George). The Commons' Corridor leads back from here to the Central Lobby.

The House of Lords is a sumptuously decorated chamber, with red leather benches for the peers, the traditional "Woolsack" (recalling the importance of the English wool trade from the 14th century onwards) on which the Lord Chancellor sits, and the throne occupied by the monarch when opening Parliament. Above the throne are galleries for distinguished visitors, above the north entrance the galleries for the press and the public. In the recesses behind the galleries are frescoes depicting scenes from British history (south end) and symbolizing Justice, Religion and Chivalry (north end). In the window niches are statues of the barons who compelled King John to sign Magna Carta in 1215.

The Peers' Lobby, beyond the House of Lords, is a square chamber with a fine pavement of encaustic tiles. The Peers' Corridor leads into the Central Lobby.

The Central Lobby, lying halfway between the Lords and Commons, is an elaborately decorated octagonal vestibule with a vaulted ceiling 23m/75ft high.

The Royal Staircase leads to the Norman Porch, with statues and frescoes of the Norman period.

Adjoining is the Robing Room, used by the monarch, 16m/54ft long, decorated in the style of the early Victorian period. Notable features are the wall frescoes, the carved oak panels, with the badges of successive sovereigns, the fireplace made of a variety of marbles and a chair of state of the Victorian period.

The Royal Gallery, 34m/110ft long, has an elaborate ceiling and a frieze with the arms of English and Scottish monarchs. On the walls are two monumental frescoes by Daniel Maclise, "The Death of Nelson" and "The Meeting of Wellington and Blücher after Waterloo".

The adjoining Prince's Chamber is the anteroom to the House of Lords. On the paneled walls are portraits of the Tudor monarchs and members of their families, and below these are bas reliefs of scenes from their reigns. Opposite the entrance is a white marble statue of Queen Victoria, flanked by figures of Justice and Mercy.

The Victoria Tower, built 1858, is the largest and tallest square tower in the world (23m/75ft square, 102m/336ft high). When Parliament is sitting, the Union Jack flies from the top of the tower.

The Royal Entrance, a doorway 15m/50ft high, is used by the monarch at the annual state opening of the Parliamentary session, usually in November.

The door on the west side of the Central Lobby leads into St Stephen's Hall, on the site of the old St Stephen's Chapel, in which the House of Commons met from 1547 to 1834. This is a vaulted hall, 29m/95ft long, with mosaics depicting the founding of the chapel by King Stephen. It contains statues of Norman and Plantagenet kings and queens and British statesmen of the 17th-19th centuries.

From St Stephen's Porch, adjoining on the west, there is a view of Westminster Hall.

The State Opening of Parliament takes place annually in November. The Queen rides from Buckingham Palace to Parliament in the Irish State Coach; in the House of Lords she declares the new session of Parliament open. A gun salute is fired in Hyde Park and at the Tower of London.

Westminster Hall was spared by the fire which destroyed the old Palace of Westminster. The 79m/250ft long and 30m/90ft high hall was rebuilt by Henry Yvele during Richard II's reign. Its most impressive feature is the oak hammerbeam roof (late 14th century), restored after damage during the last war. Westminster Hall has been the scene of great historical events. From 1224 to 1882 it was the meeting place of the highest courts in the land and witnessed many famous trials, including those of Richard II (1399), Sir Thomas More (1535) and Charles I (1649). Here, too, Cromwell was installed as Lord Protector in 1653.

From Westminster Hall a staircase leads down to St Stephen's Crypt (officially the church of St Mary Undercroft), the crypt of the old St Stephen's Chapel (1327).