Parliament Square has a political history dating back to the Victorian era when, in 1868 the square was developed and laid out to improve the traffic flow. The roads around the square (George and Bridge Street intersection) became the first roadway in the world to be controlled by J P Knight's invention - the traffic light. Knight was a railway signalman who adapted gas railway signalling lamps for the purpose of controlling traffic outside the Houses of Parliament by way of a red and a green gas lamp coupled with a pair of semaphore arms. A policeman had to be in attendance at all times and it was he who would control the lights manually. Knight’s lights however were only in place for a year before being removed on safety grounds as one of the lamps exploded causing injury to the policeman!
There are statues of politicians from many different countries including Winston Churchill, Abraham Lincoln, Sir Robert Peel, Jan Christian Smuts, Benjamin Disraeli and more recently Nelson Mandela the former leader of South Africa.

Sculpture of Sir Winston Churchill in Parliament Square.

Perhaps one of the most famous house addresses in the western world, 10 Downing street has been the official residence of the serving prime minister and headquarters of Britain's government for over 200 years, but the house has an earlier history and was known as 'the house at the back' when it was at first a small house in the grounds of Whitehall palace that was used by the keeper of the Palace.

Continually added to and refurbished the house has looked the same externally with its Georgian Style and small six panelled oak door since the mid 1700's, however the inside is as vast as would befit a house that carries the seat of government.

Throughout history there have been notable prime ministers who chose not to live at the address, Arthur Wellesley, The First Duke Of Wellington, is one who chose to live elsewhere during his time in office as the house was considered by him to be too small. After being used however for some 250 years as an official government office, the house and its neighbour Number 11 Downing street are now so interjoined that it is difficult to determine where one ends and the other begins. Officially Number 10 is the residence of the serving Prime Minister, while Number 11 is the residence of the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

Leaving your London bus tour at this stop will enable you to walk to Downing street where despite heavy railings you will still be able to see the famous black painted door and the uniformed policeman who stands guard outside. Opposite Downing street across whitehall is the huge Ministry Of Defence building where along the front you will be able to see statues and memorials dedicated to proud defenders of Britain during times of peril.

The Houses of Parliament, or Palace of Westminster, has been the seat of the United Kingdom’s political system since the 16th century. It uses a parliamentary system of political debate which has become the model for parliaments around the world.
Originally the Palace of Westminster was the residence of the English monarch, but by the end of the 14th century principal judicial and parliamentary procedure had become established here. It was here that the Lords, acting on the King’s behalf, created policy and law to govern the land. The Lords were not an elected body of parliamentarians but hereditary peers of the realm.
The ‘common’ elected parliamentarians were not permitted to use the Palace at Westminster Abbey until 1547 when the private chapel of St Stephen, which was within the Palace of Westminster was handed over to the ‘common’ elected parliamentarians, and the House of Commons was born. The Commons assembled in St Stephen's until 1834 when fire destroyed most of the palace leaving only Westminster Hall, St Stephen's crypt, the Jewel tower and some nearby cloisters standing. The present day buildings were designed in the Neo-Gothic style by Charles Barry and Augustus Pugin. Building work took some thirty years and when complete the new Palace of Westminster with its clock tower Big Ben changed London’s skyline forever.

The clock tower is often referred to as Big Ben, however the name refers to the main bell. Known officially as the Great Bell, at 13.5 tonnes, it is the largest of the five bells that the tower houses.
The Clock tower rises some 316 feet above Westminster and is fronted by  the world’s largest four faced chiming clock. Each clock face is 23 feet in diameter and is constructed from iron and 312 pieces of opaque opal glass. The hour hand is 9 feet and the minute hand is 14 feet long.
It is undoubtedly one of London’s (indeed the world’s) most easily recognisable landmarks and the best views of it can be obtained from our very own London bus tour!

Continuing your walking tour along Whitehall you will see the Cenotaph, a large white stone monument set in the middle of the thoroughfare that honours those that died during both world wars. There are no religious symbols attached to this monument, the Cenotaph honours those that died from all the far reaches of Empire, no matter what race or creed they belonged to.
During November of each year, a specially held memorial service at the monument will take place on the sunday closest to November 11th, which is designated remembrance sunday. Members of the Royal Family will attend along with cross party parliamentary representation, visiting dignitaries of the Commonwealth, members of the Armed Forces and the Churches to pay their respects to those that fell. The ceremony itself is a short dedication which is always preceded by a two minute silence and the laying down of a wreath.