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.

Situated on Millbank by the Thames is the Tate Britain - the National Gallery of British Art. Eponymously named for the sugar magnate Sir Henry Tate, who was its generous benefactor, the Tate features and displays mainly British art, although the gallery changes its exhibitions each year. Works by Hogarth, Reynolds, Stubbs and Gainsborough depict life in Britain in the 18th and 19th Centuries.Viewers can enjoy scenes from the debauched ‘gin lane’ world of Hogarth or the elegance of Gainsborough's graceful female images. Also featured are temporary works by Bacon, Freud and Hockney.
Its sister gallery – the Tate Modern can be found further East and on the south side of the river.

In the same area, an attraction which is often overlooked on a tour around London is the Jewel Tower. Located in Abingdon Street directly opposite the Houses of Parliament, this 14th century remnant of the great Palace of Westminster (one of only two buildings to survive the fire of 1834) boasts a stunning, original and intact ribbed vault. Built in 1365 by King Edward III, the tower was used to store his treasures and wardrobe, many of which were obtained in the military campaigns against the French and Scots.
The Jewel Tower today houses various items including the robes used by the Speaker of the House of Commons and includes videos depicting the development of the British parliamentary system. The remains of the moat and quay which served the original medieval Palace of Westminster can still be seen.