Bromfords School were recently welcomed to Westminster by local MP Mark Francois after they made the journey from Essex to London for a day of political sightseeing, which included the Houses of Parliament and a climb up the 334 steps to the top of the Elizabeth Tower, which houses the giant bell known commonly as “Big Ben”.
A delegation of pupils of mixed ages arrived in the morning to take a guided tour around the Palace of Westminster, where they were able to view various well known landmarks such as the House of Lords, the Royal Gallery and Central Lobby.
The group was then met in Westminster Hall by Mr Francois, who answered various questions which arose from their morning, including the distribution of power between backbenchers and Ministers, the routine of MPs, as well as what motivated Mark particularly to become an MP.
The group were then lucky enough to take a further tour of the Clock Tower which includes a long and steep climb to the top of the Elizabeth Tower, where visitors can see Big Ben in action and learn about the fascinating history of the ancient bell as well as witness the breathtaking views across central London.
Commenting on the visit by Bromfords School, Mark said:
“It was a pleasure to welcome Bromfords School to Westminster and I was very pleased they had managed to book not only a tour of Parliament, but also one to view Big Ben as well. Westminster is a really interesting place and I hope that the pupils gained a better understanding of how Parliament works and that they enjoyed the historic surroundings”.