Westminster, Big Ben & Houses of Parliament

The Palace of Westminster — seat of the British Parliament — is one of the most iconic buildings in the world. The neo-Gothic masterpiece on the banks of the Thames, built from 1840–1876 by Charles Barry and Augustus Pugin, stretches over 300 meters of riverfront and contains over 1,100 rooms. At the north end, the Elizabeth Tower rises — commonly known as Big Ben (although "Big Ben" actually refers only to the 13.5-ton bell inside).

The clock tower is 96 meters high, and the four clock faces have a diameter of seven meters — each minute, the minute hand moves 30 centimeters further. The sound of Big Ben is world-famous: the deep, resonant chime on the hour is the sound of London for millions.

Right next door stands Westminster Abbey — the coronation church since 1066, burial place of kings, poets, and scientists. All British monarchs since William the Conqueror have been crowned here, William and Kate were married here, and Newton, Darwin, Dickens, and Chaucer are buried here. The Gothic architecture with its fan vaulting is breathtaking. The Poets' Corner honors England's literary giants.

On the other side of the Thames, the Westminster Bridge offers the classic London view: Big Ben on the left, the London Eye on the right, with the Thames in between. At night, when everything is lit up in gold, this is the spot where every visitor to London must stand at least once.