(in Britain)the Parliament that consists of both the House of Commons and the House of Lords; the buildings in London where the British Parliament meetsSee related entries:ParliamentCultureThe Houses of Parliament are also known as the Palace of Westminster. The original 14th-century palace was badly damaged by fire in 1834. Between 1840 and 1867, new buildings designed by Sir Charles Barry and Augustus Pugin were put up. In 1941 the House of Commons was destroyed by bombs, but it was built again after the war in exactly the same style. The Houses of Parliament are open to the public at certain times.see alsoBig Ben
