I confess that as I woke up today, I wondered how on earth my true-loved husband would manage to fulfill today's Christmas gift. Not the foggiest or the slightest idea. He'd surprisingly set the alarm for 8am, a mystical time we have not managed to attain thus far this Christmas holiday. As I got out of bed, he told me to dress warmly and smartly but quickly. I obeyed of course.
45 minutes later, we were driving towards our local station and he was particularly harassed saying that we HAD to be somewhere at a certain time. As we rode the train to London and changed to the Circle line at Liverpool Street, I asked if I was allowed to know where we were going. He replied that I must wait and see so I buried my nose into my book and read quietly.
At Westminster station, he suddenly stood up and said we were getting off here. The doors opened and he sped out of the door and up the silvery coloured stairs to the station main concourse. As we exited the station, straight ahead, I saw Big Ben showing it was 9.40am. My husband hastened his pace and we made our way into the Cromwell Green visitor entrance to Parliament!!!! Aha, so now I knew what is game was- partially! Firstly, we had to submit to a security scan and bag search. Luckily, neither of us were smuggling, so we got out of that fairly quickly and went into Westminster Hall and climbed the stairs where we had to wait.
I asked my husband what was happening and he said that we were going to have a guided tour of the House of Lords. Apparently, since it was parliamentary recess, we were allowed to take a guided tour during a week day, whereas usually you are only allowed to go on a Saturday and what luck it was that we could go today of all days!
At 10, on the dot, the tour leader, who had been gathering his group of followers, began our tour. Just at this moment, my husband held me back and whispered in my ear that it was mandatory for each of us to leap into each new room we got to.
"What?" I replied, aghast.
"That's the condition!" he smirked back at me.
I understood why of course.
We began in the Queen’s Robing Room (apparently following the route she takes for the opening of parliament)into which my husband and I leaped. Since we were at the back, nobody noticed although a lady in grey did glance back curiously at the thump she heard. Our faces were all innocence . Soon after, we continued through the Royal Gallery and Prince’s Chamber, leaping each time and the lady in grey became more confuzzled as we did so.
Finally, we leaped into the impressive Lords Chamber and I am afraid to say that the lady in grey caught us! "Are you ok, dears? she whispered nervously as we went in. "Er- fine, sorry.." I mumbled looking at my toes ruefully.
The Lords chamber was amazing- so strange to see it in real life with its rows of red leather seats. I walked demurely up to the top of the stairs and leapt down 2 stairs at a time to sit down at the bottom in the first row, laughing! At this point, the tour-guide asked us if we wouldn't mind walking as he noticed my little energetic movement!
The decoration is truly amazing with The Throne, a golden place where the Queen sits at the opening of parliament, as a particularly impressive sight with a painting of Queen Victoria beside it. We looked up at the press gallery, where visitors can sit, learnt about the Crossbenches, where any peers who don't belong to a political party can sit (apparently, it's because of these that often you don't know how the House of Lords is going to vote)
We continued leaping through to the Central Lobby, Members’ Lobby and one of the voting lobbies (not my favourite parts, hence no information) before entering the Commons Chamber with its distinctive green seats which was sadly empty of its sparring politicians which might have proved entertaining!
The tour finally ended through the St Stephens hall in the Westminster hall which is 900 years old apparently! I think the most brilliant thing about this tour is getting up close to such historical and intricate architecture. The ceilings alone were extraordinary in terms of detail! I certainly recommend visiting here!
At the end, we leapt into the Jubilee cafe to drink Earl Grey tea and eat Victoria Sponge cake which was just what we needed after 75 minutes of talk and er-leaping!
My trip to the House of Lords had certainly been interesting, educational and definitely something I wouldn't have done otherwise. I can't believe how fortunate we were that it was open to the public for tours today!
Should you wish to, you can visit the House of Lords virtually here.
45 minutes later, we were driving towards our local station and he was particularly harassed saying that we HAD to be somewhere at a certain time. As we rode the train to London and changed to the Circle line at Liverpool Street, I asked if I was allowed to know where we were going. He replied that I must wait and see so I buried my nose into my book and read quietly.
At Westminster station, he suddenly stood up and said we were getting off here. The doors opened and he sped out of the door and up the silvery coloured stairs to the station main concourse. As we exited the station, straight ahead, I saw Big Ben showing it was 9.40am. My husband hastened his pace and we made our way into the Cromwell Green visitor entrance to Parliament!!!! Aha, so now I knew what is game was- partially! Firstly, we had to submit to a security scan and bag search. Luckily, neither of us were smuggling, so we got out of that fairly quickly and went into Westminster Hall and climbed the stairs where we had to wait.
I asked my husband what was happening and he said that we were going to have a guided tour of the House of Lords. Apparently, since it was parliamentary recess, we were allowed to take a guided tour during a week day, whereas usually you are only allowed to go on a Saturday and what luck it was that we could go today of all days!
At 10, on the dot, the tour leader, who had been gathering his group of followers, began our tour. Just at this moment, my husband held me back and whispered in my ear that it was mandatory for each of us to leap into each new room we got to.
"What?" I replied, aghast.
"That's the condition!" he smirked back at me.
I understood why of course.
We began in the Queen’s Robing Room (apparently following the route she takes for the opening of parliament)into which my husband and I leaped. Since we were at the back, nobody noticed although a lady in grey did glance back curiously at the thump she heard. Our faces were all innocence . Soon after, we continued through the Royal Gallery and Prince’s Chamber, leaping each time and the lady in grey became more confuzzled as we did so.
Finally, we leaped into the impressive Lords Chamber and I am afraid to say that the lady in grey caught us! "Are you ok, dears? she whispered nervously as we went in. "Er- fine, sorry.." I mumbled looking at my toes ruefully.
The Lords chamber was amazing- so strange to see it in real life with its rows of red leather seats. I walked demurely up to the top of the stairs and leapt down 2 stairs at a time to sit down at the bottom in the first row, laughing! At this point, the tour-guide asked us if we wouldn't mind walking as he noticed my little energetic movement!
The decoration is truly amazing with The Throne, a golden place where the Queen sits at the opening of parliament, as a particularly impressive sight with a painting of Queen Victoria beside it. We looked up at the press gallery, where visitors can sit, learnt about the Crossbenches, where any peers who don't belong to a political party can sit (apparently, it's because of these that often you don't know how the House of Lords is going to vote)
We continued leaping through to the Central Lobby, Members’ Lobby and one of the voting lobbies (not my favourite parts, hence no information) before entering the Commons Chamber with its distinctive green seats which was sadly empty of its sparring politicians which might have proved entertaining!
The tour finally ended through the St Stephens hall in the Westminster hall which is 900 years old apparently! I think the most brilliant thing about this tour is getting up close to such historical and intricate architecture. The ceilings alone were extraordinary in terms of detail! I certainly recommend visiting here!
At the end, we leapt into the Jubilee cafe to drink Earl Grey tea and eat Victoria Sponge cake which was just what we needed after 75 minutes of talk and er-leaping!
My trip to the House of Lords had certainly been interesting, educational and definitely something I wouldn't have done otherwise. I can't believe how fortunate we were that it was open to the public for tours today!
Should you wish to, you can visit the House of Lords virtually here.