Response to a call from the UK Parliament’s Restoration and Renewal programme: Restoration of the Palace of Westminster

University of Cumbria researchers Dr Demos Parapanos (Lecturer in Tourism Management), Tim Heap (Senior Lecturer in Tourism, Institute of Business, Industry and Leadership), and Ellie Evans (Postgraduate Researcher, Institute of Science and Environment) shared their expertise in tourism and cultural heritage in response to a call from the UK Parliament’s Restoration and Renewal programme. The call appealed for expertise in cultural, heritage, and/or tourism research. The programme aims to support the restoration of the Palace of Westminster - one of the most iconic buildings in the world and part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Ellie, Demos, and Tim submitted several evidence-based suggestions to help the programme better understand the value of cultural and heritage institutions. Their recommendations included using photogrammetry to assess the condition of the Palace and digitally preserve its assets before restoration begins. They also proposed developing a destination image for the Palace to support inclusive branding, helping people both locally and nationally feel connected to the site. Their final suggestion focused on digitising the Palace using Augmented and Virtual Reality platforms to recreate its history and enhance visitor engagement and experience.