Parliament’s Heritage Collections are home to more than 26,000 objects that help us to understand the history of Parliament and tell its many stories. The unique collections are held within the Palace of Westminster, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and across the wider Parliamentary estate.
About our Collections
Parliament’s Heritage Collections contain three distinct collections:
- Parliamentary Art Collection
- Historic Furniture and Decorative Arts Collection
- Architectural Fabric Collection
Find out more about each collection by following the links above.
These collections are living and working, meaning that many of our objects are in daily use across Parliament’s buildings and spaces, including in the House of Commons and House of Lords Chambers.
The Heritage Collections team care for the collections, looking after items that date from the 14th century to the present day. Our expert team also works with specialist freelancers and contractors who support us with our projects.
Our work includes:
- Conservation and preservation
- Interpretation and public engagement
- Developing collections through commissions and acquisitions
- Loans, object moves and storage
- Research
- Documentation
- Curating displays and exhibitions
- Supporting major capital projects such as the Palace of Westminster Restoration and Renewal programme
You can read about Parliament’s Collections’ policy relating to sensitive objects here.
