On Friday, 28 April, Tranby students travelled to London to join former student Elise Kitching for a tour of the Palace of Westminster. Now a student of Hull University’s Law with Legislative Studies course, Elise has been spending this year on a placement in Parliament, working for a member of the House of Lords. Joining us was Elise’s fellow intern, Emily, who is studying Politics at the University of Leeds, and is currently working in the House of Commons. Our tour was treated not only to a thorough tour of the Palace itself, but a detailed account of how both chambers operate in the 21^st century, and how young people can best exercise their democratic rights.

Students got to take in the neogothic splendour of Charles Barry’s building, and the intricate interiors of Augustus Pugin, while also gaining a thorough appreciation of Parliament’s history as an institution, which stretches a further seven centuries before the contemporary palace was constructed. With the chance to stand within both chambers – the gold-lined, red-seated Lords with its throne and wool-sack, and the sombre, green-seated Commons, with its familiar dispatch boxes – and a question and answer session a committee room, our students left as informed experts on Parliament, but also with ideas and recommendations on their own future studies.

Following Parliament, Tranby’s tour took in the much more recently created Supreme Court, which has sat in the old Middlesex Guildhall since 2009. Students had the chance to roleplay as the judges, each taking a seat at the solemn desks reserved for the top judges of the United Kingdom. They also had the chance to check out the preparations along Whitehall for the forthcoming coronation, before sneaking a peek through the gates of Downing Street to see Number 10. With the legislature, judiciary, and executive all covered, the trip to the apex of British affairs was complete.