Victoria Tower
Tower Prominent Palace of Westminster tower housing parliamentary archives
Forming the southwest corner of the Palace of Westminster, Victoria Tower houses parliamentary archives and faces the Thames; visitors photograph its Gothic façade from Parliament Square.
Victoria Tower is the square, stone tower at the south-west corner of the Palace of Westminster in London, completed in the mid 19th century as part of the rebuilt Houses of Parliament. It was designed by Charles Barry with detailing by Augustus Pugin and completed around 1860.
The tower is best known for its scale and function rather than public access - it rises to about 98.5 m and houses the Parliamentary Archives and record stores. Its location at the palace corner makes it a prominent element of the riverside silhouette of Westminster.
The tower was built as part of Charles Barry’s reconstruction of the Palace after the 1834 fire, intended to provide a secure repository for parliamentary records and a ceremonial royal entrance. Construction of the Palace and its tower took place through the 1840s and 1850s under Barry with Pugin supplying Gothic detailing.
Sitting at the southwest corner of the Palace of Westminster, the tower overlooks the Victoria Embankment and the River Thames in the City of Westminster, central London, immediately adjacent to Westminster Bridge and the Houses of Parliament.
- Height: 98.5 m (323 ft) tall; forms the south-western tower of the Palace of Westminster and contains the Parliamentary Archives.
- Flags: A flag is normally flown from the tower when Parliament is sitting; the Royal Standard is used when the sovereign is present at the Palace.
How to Get to Victoria Tower #
Victoria Tower is at the Palace of Westminster in central London. The site is a very short walk from Westminster Underground station (Circle, District and Jubilee lines) - exit the station and you will be at the Palace within about 3-5 minutes on foot.
Victoria railway and coach station is also within walking distance (roughly 10-15 minutes) and numerous central London bus routes stop nearby.
Tips for Visiting Victoria Tower #
- If you want interior access to Victoria Tower, book a guided tour of the Palace of Westminster in advance and aim for dates when Parliament is in recess-public tours are restricted when the Houses are sitting.
- Allow extra time for security checks and bring accepted photo ID; entry procedures into the Parliamentary estate are strict and queues at the visitor entrance can add significant delay.
- Visit around dusk for classic views of the tower and the riverfront lighting-seeing the tower illuminated from the Victoria Embankment or Westminster Bridge gives a stronger photographic impression than a quick daytime pass-by.
Best Time to Visit Victoria Tower #
For fewer crowds, visit outside the summer peak (June-August); shoulder seasons offer milder weather and a better balance of crowd levels.
Weather & Climate near Victoria Tower #
Victoria Tower's climate is classified as Oceanic - Oceanic climate with mild summers (peaking in July) and cold winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from 2°C to 23°C. Moderate rainfall (632 mm/year), distributed fairly evenly throughout the year.
January
January is the coolest month with highs of 8°C and lows of 2°C. The wettest month with 63 mm of rain and mostly overcast skies.
Comfort
Weather
February
February is cold with highs of 8°C and lows of 2°C. Moderate rainfall (40 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
Comfort
Weather
March
March is cold with highs of 11°C and lows of 3°C. Moderate rainfall (49 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
Comfort
Weather
April
April is cold with highs of 14°C and lows of 5°C. Moderate rainfall (45 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
Comfort
Weather
May
May is cool with highs of 18°C and lows of 8°C. Moderate rainfall (48 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
Comfort
Weather
June
June is cool with highs of 21°C and lows of 11°C. Moderate rainfall (54 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
Comfort
Weather
July
July is the warmest month with highs of 23°C and lows of 13°C. Moderate rainfall (42 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
Comfort
Weather
August
August is cool with highs of 23°C and lows of 13°C. Moderate rainfall (50 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
Comfort
Weather
September
September is cool with highs of 19°C and lows of 10°C. Moderate rainfall (58 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
Comfort
Weather
October
October is cool with highs of 15°C and lows of 8°C. Moderate rainfall (61 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
Comfort
Weather
November
November is cold with highs of 11°C and lows of 4°C. Moderate rainfall (62 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
Comfort
Weather
December
December is cold with highs of 9°C and lows of 3°C. Moderate rainfall (60 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
.jpg?width=600)
.jpg?width=600)