the Palace of Westminster
/ðə ˌpæləs əv ˈwestmɪnstə(r)/
/ðə ˌpæləs əv ˈwestmɪnstər/
- the official name of the British Houses of Parliament. Its full name is the New Palace of Westminster, since it was built after the Old Palace of Westminster was destroyed in a fire in 1834. Parliament used to meet in the Old Palace, which was first built for Edward the Confessor in the 11th century. The Palace of Westminster was made a World Heritage Site in 1987.