TIL 24 November 2017

4
CHRISTMAS TOURS AT THE HOUSES
OF PARLIAMENT
Christmas Tours at the Houses of
Parliament offer visitors an opportunity to
take a glimpse into a busy 21st century
working building, steeped in history and
filled with an array of stunning art and
architecture. Admire the exquisite
craftsmanship of the finest British artists
who designed the sumptuous interiors
that are waiting to be explored and absorb
the atmosphere of the season with the
scent of pine from the enormous tree in
medieval Westminster Hall.
Choose between a popular Blue
Badge Guide-led tour which takes 90
minutes or the flexible self-guided audio
option which takes approximately 60 to
75 minutes. There is also a family
version of the audio tour, produced for
children aged 7 to 12, in English as well
as a fun, hour-long guided tour led by
one of the Visitor Assistant guides.
All tours include the majestic Lords
Chamber, the Commons Chamber with
its famous green benches and Central
Lobby, the scene of many news
broadcasts.
Houses of Parliament Tours are
available every Saturday and Tuesday to
Friday between 22 December and
5 January (except 26 December).
Advanced booking is recommended but
not essential. Bookings can be made by
calling 020 7219 4114 or online at
www.parliament.uk/visit
© Virgin Money London Marathon.
SIR MO FARAH AND CALLUM
HAWKINS AT THE BIG HALF
Britain’s two fastest half marathon
runners of all time, Sir Mo Farah and
Callum Hawkins, will face each other at
The Big Half, London’s brand new half
marathon, on Sunday 4 March.
Farah – the multi-Olympic and World
Championship gold medallist over
5,000m and 10,000m – will begin the
new road racing chapter of his career at
The Big Half as he prepares for the
Virgin Money London Marathon in April.
Scotland’s Hawkins, who was fourth
in this year’s World Championships
marathon in London, will be looking for
further success on the streets of the
capital.
The Big Half will feature the number
one and two in the all-time British
rankings for the 13.1-mile distance.
Farah’s UK record of 59 minutes 32
seconds was set in March 2015 while
Hawkins ran a personal best (PB) of
60:00 in Japan this February.
Hugh Brasher, Event Director of The
Big Half, said: ‘It is great for British
distance running that we now have an
athlete of the calibre of Callum Hawkins
who can provide a very real domestic
competition for Sir Mo. I can’t wait for
the race on Sunday 4 March.’
The Big Half is a one-day festival
centred around the half-marathon
distance which aims to be ‘truly global
and uniquely local’. This aspect reflects
the event’s commitment to working with
community groups from the four host
boroughs of Lewisham, Southwark,
Tower Hamlets and Greenwich and
encouraging residents to take part in a
mass-participation running event for the
first time.
The Big Half has been created by
London Marathon Events Ltd, in
partnership with Sported.
t h i s i s l o n d o n m a g a z i n e • t h i s i s l o n d o n o n l i n e