Where has Jimmy been?

[slimjim]

Here's a few clues....

a) I could stand on the floor because no-one was sitting (no questions asked)
b) Parts of it looks a lot bigger on TV
c) Nice view from the terrace.
d) I sat on a green bench I was not allowed to sit on.
e) I sat on a red bench I have absolutely no entitlement to sit on!
f) Thanks to someone who is entitled I got to go on the exclusive blue carpet.

 

[gorgik9]

I haven't got a clue...

 

[slimjim]

I haven't got a clue...

Here's another...

An iconic London landmark

 

[dargelos]

Houses of Parliament.

 

[slimjim]

Houses of Parliament.

Correct!

Yeah. I got an invite to visit the Palace Of Westminster via the guy who used to be my local MP. He has now ceased to be an MP because he has been elevated to a Lord and so now sits in the House Of Lords.

So the day began by taking one of the standard guided tours ( the guide has a microphone and we wear headphones so get the commentary that way). That tour starts in Westminster Hall - a rather plain medieval structure (built around 1078) compared to what it to come later but memorable last year for the lying in state of the late Queen and the impressive Hammerbeam Roof from 397 - no nails and still going strong.



Then on through the rather more ornate St Stephens Hall



and into the House of Commons & House of Lords - green benches for the MPs & red for the Lords. Visitors are not supposed to sit on them but if your quick you don't get screamed at by the authorities. The Commons was in recess so was not "sitting" and so no Prime Ministers Questions which are at 12:00 noon on a Wednesday



the standard tours also take you through the Members Lobby and the voting lobbies and then you go back to Westminster hall. However we had been invited by a Lord and he was waiting for us at the end of the tour and took us to a few places others don't always get, such as the medieval St Marys Chapel, aka The Crypt - although it is at ground level not underground.



and then onto the Royal Gallery and the King's Robing Room. On state occasions the monarch puts the robes on here, then walks through the Gallery with those absolutely huge paintings depicting Waterloo & Trafalgar and into the House Of Lords. Green carpet means commoners; red means the Lords and Blue is for royals


then to finish we went out onto the Terrace which overlooks The Thames and Westminster Bridge



None of these photos were taken by me as (apart from Westminster Hall) no photography is allowed. One visitor tried a sneaky photo early on in the tour and was screamed at by a very annoyed policeman - a very annoyed policeman with a sub-machine gun. At that point I decided to leave the phone in the pocket.

 

[Shelter]

Correct!

Yeah. I got an invite to visit the Palace Of Westminster via the guy who used to be my local MP. He has now ceased to be an MP because he has been elevated to a Lord and so now sits in the House Of Lords.

So the day began by taking one of the standard guided tours ( the guide has a microphone and we wear headphones so get the commentary that way). That tour starts in Westminster Hall - a rather plain medieval structure (built around 1078) compared to what it to come later but memorable last year for the lying in state of the late Queen and the impressive Hammerbeam Roof from 397 - no nails and still going strong.



Then on through the rather more ornate St Stephens Hall



and into the House of Commons & House of Lords - green benches for the MPs & red for the Lords. Visitors are not supposed to sit on them but if your quick you don't get screamed at by the authorities. The Commons was in recess so was not "sitting" and so no Prime Ministers Questions which are at 12:00 noon on a Wednesday



the standard tours also take you through the Members Lobby and the voting lobbies and then you go back to Westminster hall. However we had been invited by a Lord and he was waiting for us at the end of the tour and took us to a few places others don't always get, such as the medieval St Marys Chapel, aka The Crypt - although it is at ground level not underground.



and then onto the Royal Gallery and the King's Robing Room. On state occasions the monarch puts the robes on here, then walks through the Gallery with those absolutely huge paintings depicting Waterloo & Trafalgar and into the House Of Lords. Green carpet means commoners; red means the Lords and Blue is for royals


then to finish we went out onto the Terrace which overlooks The Thames and Westminster Bridge



None of these photos were taken by me as (apart from Westminster Hall) no photography is allowed. One visitor tried a sneaky photo early on in the tour and was screamed at by a very annoyed policeman - a very annoyed policeman with a sub-machine gun. At that point I decided to leave the phone in the pocket.

Nevertheless a very, very interesting tour I think, wasn't it?!

 

[slimjim]

Nevertheless a very, very interesting tour I think, wasn't it?!

Oh yeah, very interesting.