United Kingdom · GB

Westminster Hall

Westminster Hall is the oldest surviving building on the Parliamentary estate in London, a vast medieval great hall whose hammerbeam roof and storied walls have witnessed nearly nine centuries of British history. Built in 1097 for William II, it has served as a royal banquet hall, the beating heart of England's legal system, and the stage for some of the nation's most solemn ceremonies—from state trials to lyings in state. Today the hall remains a working space for Parliament, hosting addresses by visiting world leaders and commemorative events. Visitors on a tour of the Palace of Westminster can step inside and look up at one of the greatest achievements of medieval timber architecture.