Day 5 Palace of Westminster ( Houses Of Parliament)

 

 I had booked tickets for the guided tour of the Houses of Parliament some months ago so it was with great excitement the the day arrived. We arrived at Westminster Tube station with plenty of time to wander across the Thames and see Big Ben from the other side.

So off we trod across Westminster Bridge in the bleak, misty morning dawn. The River Thames' strong undercurrent always strikes me as menacing and looking down this morning it is no different..It sounds corny but I am at home and at peace. Something larger than me is drawing me and that was to be the plan until well.......read the end post in January and you might just get the picture. 

Lots of photos taken, a look at St Thomas's Hospital across the way ( think Boris Johnston with COVID) and then walk back on the other side of Westminster Bridge. Lots of scaffolding around the Houses of Parliament and Elizabeth Tower ( Fun Fact: Big Ben is the bell inside the Tower!).

Back on the Westminster side, we wandered around Parliament Square Gardens which features statues of Sir Robert Peel, Sir Winston Churchill and Benjamin Disreali. The Square is in the shadow of both the Palace of Westminster ( Houses of Parliament) and Westminster Abbey. 

So nearly time to wander over to where we have to queue, wait for security checks, visitor lanyards and more waiting in Westminster Hall for our tour guide. I really wanted the family to savour Westminster Hall (and it's massive oak beams) as it is the oldest part of the medieval Palace to survive the many fires and later World War bombings that damaged some or most of the Parliament buildings. Royal family members lie in state here before their funerals and other important gatherings are held here.

Once our tour group of around 25 people is gathered, we head off in the direction of St. Stephen's Hall. This Hall is the last place on the tour we can take photos and is lined with paintings. We visit both the House of Commons ( green) and House of Lords ( red) and the The Royal Gallery where The Queen proceeds on her way through to the State Opening of Parliament in the House of Lords chamber. 

After our tour which we all loved, we had morning tea in the coffee shop and planned the next stop for today. 

Maddie and I hit the shops in Regent Street and Oxford Street. Ben & Harry collected our laundry from the hotel, caught a bus to the Eurowash laundromat in Bedfont, Feltham. No wait on a holiday with Harry is passed without a food-stop - this time the Bedfont Cafe.