Places to visit in London (VIII): the Houses of Parliament

Next to the cherished Big Ben, you can find the Houses of Parliament. It's the equivalent to our "Congreso de los Diputados", but, in my opinion, the building itself is much more gorgeous. It has had this function since the eleventh century, although it was from 1547 onwards that it has permanently been the site for England's government. The original structure of the building was destroyed in 1834 and the present buildings are Neogothic and were finished around 1850. Witness to many historical decisions, the Houses of Parliament survived the Gunpowder Conspiration in 1605 which was around to blow them off. It is divided into the House of Commons and the House of Lords. If you're lucky, you will be able to enter the Houses of Parliament and witness a political session as it appears on TV.