The Houses of Parliament LIVE

Thirty-three years ago today the first live broadcast was made from the House of Commons. The broadcast was the first of a four week trial. Three years later radio coverage from Parliament began on a permanent basis. In these days of saturation news coverage we are used to seeing broadcasts from both the Upper and Lower Houses.

The chimes of Big Ben, the famous bell in St Stephen's Clock Tower, still mark the start of some BBC radio news broadcasts.

Independent travellers in London can hear about the history of the New Palace of Westminster on the Walk Talk Tour Palace Trail audio walking tour. Many fine speeches have been made in Parliament's two chambers since live broadcasts have become a part of our regular broadcast media diet. Arguably, the most inspiring orator to grace the House of Commons was Sir Winston Churchill, who served his country with such distinction in the days before radio broadcasts from the Houses of Parliament. He is best remembered for his rousing speeches during World War Two. Churchill also had a lighter side as the following audio sample from the Palace Trail London travel guide illustrates.

Listeners to the Palace Trail mp3 guided tour can hear about some of the momentous events to take place in Westminster Hall. The oldest surviving building on the site. The remainder were destroyed by a fire in 1834. The majority of the buildings date from the nineteenth century. The new Palace of Westminster was completed in 1870, but sadly the two men responsible for it, Charles Barry and Augustus Pugin did not live to see their plans bear fruit.

Discover which royal first established the Palace of Westminster in the eleventh century and which famous king vacated the Palace in the sixteenth century with the Palace Trail London city guide. The most celebrated incident to occur was the discovery of the Gunpowder Plot in 1605 which, if successful, would have seen King James I blown to pieces.

There are five Walk Talk Tours of London. All five audio walking tours are available in English, French, German and Spanish.

Each tour comes complete with a downloadable map, so you won't miss a thing. With a Walk Talk Tour podcast guided tour you're in charge. No need to feel conspicuous with a guidebook in hand, follow a man with an umbrella, or struggle to hear a tour guide. With a Walk Talk Tour you're in charge.

Each Walk Talk Tour London downloadable travel guide costs £5.95. Customers purchasing two tours simultaneously will receive a twenty per cent discount. Walk Talk Tours represent excellent value for people exploring the capital in groups and parties. For more information please click here.

Tourists going walk about with the Palace Trail iPod travel guide can make the most of their tour by checking out the opening times of attractions en route on the Where & When pages.