The district's name is connected to Westminster Abbey. In the Middle Ages, the church was called West Minster to distinguish it from St Paul's Cathedral, which stood to the east in the City of London. The name Westminster later came to be associated with the entire area.
Westminster lies between St James's, Covent Garden and Victoria. The main sights are located close to one another, and a visit often combines easily with a walk around Whitehall, Trafalgar Square and Buckingham Palace. Westminster differs from many other London districts in that a large part of the area consists of government buildings, ministries and national monuments.
Things to Do in Westminster
Westminster's main attractions are concentrated around Parliament Square and the banks of the River Thames. Most visitors arrive via Westminster Underground station, which is located directly next to the Houses of Parliament.
A walk through Westminster often begins at Westminster Bridge, which offers one of London's most famous views across the river towards the Palace of Westminster and Big Ben. On the opposite bank, the London Eye stands on the South Bank.
On the edge of Parliament Square stands Westminster Abbey, where English and British monarchs have been crowned since 1066. Several historic statues surround the square, including those of Winston Churchill, Nelson Mandela and Mahatma Gandhi. Next to the Abbey, the smaller St Margaret's Church has served as the parish church of the House of Commons since 1614.
Within the Palace of Westminster complex is Westminster Hall, built in 1097 and one of the oldest surviving parts of the original palace. South of the square stands the Jewel Tower, a medieval tower built in the 14th century to store royal treasures. Both Westminster Hall and the Jewel Tower can be visited. The Hall is part of a parliamentary tour, and the Jewel Tower is a museum managed by English Heritage.
From Parliament Square, a walk often continues north along Whitehall towards Trafalgar Square, passing Downing Street and Horse Guards Parade along the way. Heading south from Parliament, Victoria Tower Gardens provides a quiet green space along the riverbank, and Westminster Pier offers riverboat services along the Thames.
Westminster History
The history of Westminster dates back to the early Middle Ages. The area developed around Westminster Abbey, which gradually became a religious and administrative centre along the River Thames. In its early stages, Westminster stood on a small island in the Thames known as Thorney Island.
The construction of the church is associated with the English king Edward the Confessor, who built a large church on the site in the 11th century. His tomb is located in Westminster Abbey, which later became the coronation and burial place of English and British monarchs. Every coronation since William the Conqueror in 1066 has taken place in the Abbey, most recently the coronation of King Charles III in 2023. The church is also the burial place of many well-known historical figures, particularly writers and cultural figures in Poets' Corner.
During the Middle Ages, Westminster was also the site of a royal palace, which later developed into the Palace of Westminster. Today, the building serves as the meeting place of the British Parliament.
The current Houses of Parliament were largely built in the 19th century, following the destruction of the old palace by fire in 1834. An architectural competition was held to design the new building, which was won by architect Charles Barry. The building's detailed Gothic decoration was designed in collaboration with the architect Augustus Pugin. The rebuilding took over 30 years, with the House of Lords completed in 1847 and the House of Commons in 1852.
Westminster Architecture
Buildings from several historical periods can be seen in Westminster. The district includes medieval churches, Victorian Gothic Revival architecture and 20th-century government and office buildings.
Westminster Abbey is predominantly Gothic in style, while nearby Westminster Cathedral features a distinctive striped Byzantine Revival exterior in red brick and Portland stone. Central Hall Westminster, directly opposite the Abbey, was completed in 1912 in a Baroque Revival style and was the venue for the first United Nations General Assembly in 1946.
Whitehall
Whitehall is Westminster's central government street and one of the most important streets in British politics. Several British ministries are located along it, as well as Downing Street, where the Prime Minister's official residence is situated. The street is also home to The Cenotaph, the United Kingdom's main war memorial, where a national remembrance ceremony is held each November.
The name Whitehall comes from the former Whitehall Palace, a royal palace that once stood in the area. The palace was destroyed by fire in 1698, and only Banqueting House remains today. Built in the early 17th century by architect Inigo Jones, it served as the palace's ceremonial hall and is one of the finest examples of Palladian architecture in England. Its ceiling features nine paintings by Peter Paul Rubens, commissioned by King Charles I. Banqueting House is open to the public as a historic attraction managed by Historic Royal Palaces.
From Whitehall, you can also see Downing Street, which was built in the 17th century on the initiative of diplomat Sir George Downing. The most famous address on the street is 10 Downing Street, the official residence and office of the Prime Minister. The street is closed to the public behind security gates, but the famous black door is visible from Whitehall.
Horse Guards Parade, a large open ground off Whitehall, is where the Changing of the Guard ceremony for the Household Cavalry takes place daily. The ceremony is smaller and often quieter than the one at Buckingham Palace and is free to watch.
Big Ben and Elizabeth Tower
Big Ben is one of the most recognised landmarks in the world and a symbol of both Westminster and London. The name officially refers to the Great Bell inside the Elizabeth Tower at the north end of the Palace of Westminster, although it is commonly used to refer to the tower itself.
The Elizabeth Tower stands 96 metres tall and was completed in 1859 as part of the rebuilt Palace of Westminster. It was renamed from the Clock Tower to the Elizabeth Tower in 2012 to mark Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee. The clock faces are 7 metres in diameter, and the bell weighs 13.7 tonnes.
Big Ben tours are available to UK residents and to overseas visitors during certain periods. The tour involves climbing 334 steps to the top of the tower, and there is no lift. Tickets become available three months in advance on the second Wednesday of the month on the parliament website, and will sell out quickly, so it's best to be prepared and ready to buy. The tour also includes a visit to the clock mechanism and a close view of the Great Bell.
Churchill War Rooms
The Churchill War Rooms is a museum and historic site located beneath the streets of Westminster, close to Parliament Square and St James's Park. The underground complex served as the British government's command centre during the Second World War, and it was here that Winston Churchill and his War Cabinet directed the Allied war effort.
The site includes the original Cabinet War Rooms, preserved largely as they were when the lights were switched off in 1945, and the Churchill Museum, which covers the life and legacy of Winston Churchill. Key rooms include the Map Room, the Cabinet Room, and Churchill's personal bedroom.
The Churchill War Rooms are managed by Imperial War Museums and are open daily. Tickets must be purchased in advance and include timed entry. The museum is located on King Charles Street, a short walk from Westminster Underground station.
Restaurants in Westminster
Westminster has several restaurants and traditional British pubs, particularly around Parliament and Whitehall. The Cinnamon Club, located in the former Westminster Library building on Great Smith Street, serves Indian cuisine in a grand setting and is popular with politicians and civil servants. The Red Lion is a historic pub on Parliament Street with a division bell that once summoned MPs for votes in the House of Commons. St Stephen's Tavern, located close to the Houses of Parliament on Bridge Street, is known for its Victorian interior and traditional ales.
Hotels in Westminster
Westminster offers hotels in various price ranges, from historic luxury hotels to modern city hotels. Raffles London at The OWO is located on Whitehall in the former Old War Office building, a landmark opened as a hotel in 2023. Near St James's Park, Conrad London St. James offers five-star accommodation in a historic building on Broadway. St Ermin's Hotel is a historic hotel near St James's Park Underground station, known for its ornate lobby and rooftop bee garden.
Near the Thames, the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge is a large modern hotel on the South Bank side of Westminster Bridge with views towards the Houses of Parliament. The area also has more affordable options, such as Hub by Premier Inn London Westminster Abbey on Tothill Street.
Walking around Westminster
It is worth allowing about 2–3 hours for a visit to the main Westminster sights, although more time may be needed if the walk is combined with nearby areas such as St James's Park, Trafalgar Square or Buckingham Palace.
