parliament tour mp

The site for everyone working for an MP

Tours of the houses of parliament, virtual tours, inside uk parliament tours, gallery tickets, school visits.

You can book on to a 45-minute virtual tour, with time to ask questions of the presenter.  It will take place online and you can find further details here: https://ukparliament.seetickets.com/tour/guided-online-tour-of-the-palace-of-westminster

You can also view a 360° virtual tour of Parliament here:  https://www.parliament.uk/visiting/virtualtour/

Information for members of the public wishing to visit Parliament can be found here: https://www.parliament.uk/visiting/

(formerly known as Democratic Access Tours or Members’ Tours)

Tours of Parliament take 75 minutes, are free of charge and open to UK residents only.  You can find details, including start times of tours, on ParliNet .

UK residents wishing to book a tour can do so by contacting their MP’s office and should be booked well in advance, several weeks in advance if possible, as they fill up very quickly.  Find your MP here: https://members.parliament.uk/FindYourMP

• If a group comprises over 25 guests, a second sponsoring MP is needed.  It might be worth establishing a reciprocal relationship with another friendly office to make this easier each time.Tours begin at Cromwell Green (by St Stephen’s Entrance). and take around 75 minutes.

It is strictly forbidden to offer Inside UK Parliament tours of the Visitor Route of Parliament, the Elizabeth Tower or Big Ben as raffle or auction prizes and anyone attempting to do so may be investigated for a breach of the rules by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards.

Members of Parliament and full passholders may choose to conduct private tours, with a maximum group size of six.  However, these may cause congestion on the tour route, so it is better to book your guests onto the official tours.  You can find a script for the tour here: Visitor Route Tour

More information on bringing visitors to Parliament and escorting guests along the visitor route can be found on ParliNet .

Please see our separate guide here: https://w4mp.org/w4mp/w4mp-guides/guides-to-parliament/how-to-arrange-gallery-tickets/

Please see our separate guide here: https://w4mp.org/w4mp/w4mp-guides/guides-to-parliament/how-to-organise-a-school-visit-to-westminster/

Want to Visit the Houses of Parliament on a Tour? Here’s How…

By: Author Julianna Barnaby

Posted on 14th June 2023

Categories Things to do

Planning to visit the Houses of Parliament and not sure where to start? Check out this step by step guide to the types of tours, ticket prices and what to expect before you go. 

The Houses of Parliament are more than just an iconic London landmark. They function as the heart of British power. 

Set in the Palace of Westminster, a Victorian Neo-Gothic affair on the banks of the Thames, the 1000+ rooms of the palace count among them two of the most important locations in UK politics – the House of Commons and House of Lords. 

Little wonder then that visiting the Houses of Parliament is one of the first things that people think of when visiting London. 

Who wouldn’t want to take a peek at the innards of authority, the place where decisions that shape the lives of British citizens are made on a daily basis? We certainly did for sure. 

Having taken a Houses of Parliament tour previously, we can honestly say that it is one of the most fascinating things we’ve done in London full stop. This coming from a team that spends a lot of time researching and writing about London, and who’s as reticent to give out high praise as Scrooge was to give out money before his Christmas Carol transformation. 

In other words – you should totally go. 

The difficult thing is knowing where to start. That’s why we’ve written this guide to walk you through the options for visiting with and without a tour, the different kinds of Houses of Parliament tours available, where to get tickets and what to expect when you do. 

Do I Have to Book a Tour to Visit the Houses of Parliament? 

Usually, no. But it’s best to book in advance or you risk being turned away. 

There are several ways that you can usually visit the Houses of Parliament without booking a tour – the main ones are: 

• Watch a debate or a committee

Watch Prime Minister’s Questions 

• Watch Minister’s Question Times in the House of Commons or House of Lords 
• Book onto one of Parliament’s special events or talks.

You do not have to book tickets for the first three, although it is advisable to book tickets for Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) as it is very popular and you are not guaranteed entry without a ticket. 

We will go into more detail on each of these in the section “Visiting the Houses of Parliament Without a Tour” below if you want to know more info but we thought it was worth dealing with the tours first as this is what we’ve been asked most questions about.

Choosing Which Houses of Parliament Tour to Book 

There are several different types of Houses of Parliament tour that you could go on – we’ve given you a breakdown of each of them as well as options for how to get your hands on tickets and (where relevant) lead times for each.

Houses of Parliament Guided Tour

This is a 90-minute guided tour of the Houses of Parliament for which you have to pay. 

The tours are usually held on weekdays when Parliament is not in session and most Saturdays throughout the year. They go at a slow pace, allowing you to soak in the architecture and history of the buildings. 

These tours also held in French, Spanish, German and Italian on selected dates.

Cost: £32 for adults, £16 for kids, £26 for concessions, Disabled visitors are charged as per the above but an essential companion is free. 

How to Get Tickets: For the latest information on when these tours will return, click here .

Rather take things at your own pace instead of going on a group tour but still want to explore the Palace of Westminster? You should consider an audio tour. 

The 90-minute audio tour provides a wealth of information about the buildings and the politics that happen within Parliament’s walls – in audio and video formats. 

It’s also available in a much wider range of languages than the guided tours and there are different versions for children and adults. 

Cost: £25 for adults, £9 for kids, £18.00 for concessions, under 5s free. Disabled visitors are charged as per the above but an essential companion is free. 

How to Get Tickets: Get your tickets for Parliament before they sell out here .

Private Guided Tours 

Want to explore in a private group? Book a private guided tour. 

On the face of it, the £500 fee looks pretty steep but when you consider that it covers up to 10 people for a completely tailored tour, it doesn’t actually look so bad after all.

You’ll have to enquire about this privately as you can’t book online, but the tours generally begin first thing in the morning (Monday to Wednesday) and last around 75 minutes. 

Cost: Starts from £500 per group of up to 10 people 

How to Book: For bookings of 10 people or more, contact [email protected]

How to Take a Tour of the Houses of Parliament for Free

Did you know that UK residents can visit the Houses of Parliament for Free?

Scrap that, if you’re a UK resident, you can take a Democratic Access Tour of the Houses of Parliament for Free. 

We’ve taken one of these tours and it was riveting – 75 minutes of sights and information that had every single person fixed on every word our tour guide Sean had to say. 

The locations you cover during the tour depend on what’s happening on the day  – we were lucky enough to visit both houses (we literally squeaked into the House of Lords just in time). 

The tour is informative and educational, walking you through the daily business of MPs while they’re in the houses, the procedures that govern them and showcases the highlights of the Palace of Westminster along the way. 

We cannot recommend this enough – if you’re a UK resident and capable of getting to London, do it. 

The decisions that are made here influence every aspect of your life – not in an obscure and difficult to define fashion, but directly and with significant impact. Taking the time to understand how it works is never going to be a bad idea. 

How to Get Tickets: 

You have to be a UK resident to book one of the Houses of Parliament free tours. You’ll need to book through your local MP or a Member of the House of Lords to book up to six months in advance. 

There are often last-minute Houses of Parliament tickets available (within the next seven days) – you can email Parliament to book a space on one of them, or pop into the Ticket Office in front of Portcullis House. 

More information can be found here

Behind the Scenes Houses of Parliament Guided Tour 

This tour isn’t run by Parliament itself and is significantly more expensive than the standard guided tours we included above. 

So why are we listing it? Because it’s a much more in-depth and intimate tour that allows you to really immerse yourself in the world of Parliament past and present. 

In the course of two hours, you explore sections of the Palace of Westminster – including several places that aren’t covered by the other tours. 

This is really a tour for those who want to get down to the nitty gritty of the history and architecture of the Houses of Parliament and want to do it as part of a smaller group. 

Cost: £65 Adults, £59 Children (4-12), Infants three and under are free. 

How to get Tickets: Book online on Get Your Guide

Take a Virtual Tour

Can’t make your way to Parliament right now? Don’t stress. You can take a virtual tour of the buildings online. You’ll walk your virtual self through the corridors of power. It’s not the same as being there in person, but at least you don’t have to get off the sofa. 

Cost: Absolutely free. Hurrah.

How to get Tickets: Book online here.

Visiting the Houses of Parliament Without a Tour

Now you’ve got a good grasp of the kinds of tours that you can take of the Houses of Parliament, We’re going to walk you through the ways that you can usually visit Parliament without a tour. 

It’s probably worth noting that you’re not allowed to just walk around the Palace of Westminster unguided (unless you’re doing an audio tour), so if you want to look around the buildings and learn about their history, a guided or audio tour are the only ways to do it. 

Watch a Debate or Committee 

MPs in the House of Commons and Peers in the House of Lords debate issues and proposed legislation on a daily basis – all of which anyone is able to view from the public galleries of the respective houses. 

In addition to this, both houses also hold committee meetings examine issues in detail on subjects large and small – all of which are open to the public. 

Though the waiting times vary dependent on the popularity / contentiousness of the subject, you are normally able to just turn up and hop into the queue for both debates and committee meetings.

The visitor attendants can give you a good idea of how long you can expect to wait when you arrive. 

How to Get Tickets: Not ticketed, just turn up and queue . 

Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) happens every Wednesday at 12pm when Parliament is in session.

Even before the explosive events of the past few years, PMQs has always been the most popular event at Parliament, which is why it’s a ticketed event. 

How to Get Tickets: Contact your local MP to request a ticket. If you’re not a UK resident or you haven’t booked a ticket in advance you can turn up on the day and try your luck but the pool of seats available is small. Not currently running but keep your eyes peeled on the website.

Watch Minister’s Question Time

This happens in both the House of Commons and the House of Lords – generally at the beginning of the day Monday to Thursday and you can go and watch it from the public galleries of the respective houses. 

Cost: Free 

How to Get Tickets: You can contact your local MP to request a ticket or turn up on the day. Minister’s Question Time can be popular, but it’s generally OK to turn up on the day. Not currently running but check the website for updates.

Book a Special Event or Talk

There’s so much going on at Parliament – they really take their role of educating the public about aspects of life in Parliament, the history of the buildings and issues we face as a country.

The only problem is… only a select number of people know about them, buried as they are in an obscure section of Parliament’s website. 

Now,  you know that we’re full-on geeky (we’ve learnt to embrace it), but the subject range is fascinating. These are the kinds of talks that if you put them on TED Talks millions of people would be watching them, but when it’s Parliament… they’re hardly the talk of the town.

Don’t get us wrong – they still sell out but when’s the last time you saw them on a list of interesting things to do in London this week. It’s a shame – we want to thoroughly encourage you to go and check out the calendar and book onto any that interest you. 

At the moment, these talks are all virtual. Current ones on the calendar include The Elizabeth Tower’s Conservation and How UK Parliament Works – a great place to start if you’re looking to learn more about Parliament.

Cost: Varies – most are free

How to Get Tickets: Check the Calendar of Upcoming Events and book tickets (mostly free) online.

Houses of Parliament and the Palace of Westminster: Frequently Asked Questions

They actually refer to the same place. The Palace of Westminster, where the Houses of Parliament are based today, actually used to be a royal palace: Henry VIII was the last monarch to use it as such.  These days, it’s no longer a royal palace and serves as a meeting place for the House of Commons and House of Lords, together: the Houses of Parliament.

Yes, you can go into the Houses of Parliament – either on a tour, to go and see a debate or committee, to watch Prime Minister’s Questions or Minister’s Questions, to attend a talk or event or to go and petition your MP.  You can’t, however, just walk around and see the inside of the Palace of Westminster unguided. 

Yes, you can visit the Houses of Parliament for free by going to watch a debate, Prime Minister’s Questions or Ministers Questions in the appropriate house. You can also book a spot on one of the free Democratic Access Tours run by Parliament on a frequent basis. 

It depends on which tour you book. The free tours of the Houses of Parliament are around 75 minutes while the paid guided tours last for 90 minutes. They also recommend allowing at least 90 minutes for the self-guided audio tour. 

No, there is no formal dress code for visiting Parliament… but it is illegal to enter Parliament wearing a suit of armour, just in case you were thinking of doing that. 

You can take photos in Westminster Hall and St Stephen’s Hall in the Houses of Parliament if you’re visiting but no, you can’t take photos in the rest of the Palace of Westminster.

Yes, the buildings are old but they’ve been updated to make them accessible to everyone. From ramps to information in sign language and tours specially tailored to people that need a little more help than others, it’s all there for you.  What’s more, for the tours and such, essential companions can go free. 

You can find more information about parliament’s accessibility here

Yes, you can! Parliament’s Jubilee Cafe is open from 9:00am to 5:45pm Monday to Wednesday and 10:00am to 5:45pm Thursday to Saturday. They do a selection of refreshments, sandwiches and such in case you’re peckish.  Alternatively check out our guide to Westminster for some good food nearby.

Unlikely, but possible. Obviously whoever the Tories have chosen as our leader for the month that you happen to visit will be present at PMQs – if you can get a ticket to that – but most of the time they will be working from No. 10, around the corner – or off in a foreign country doing important diplomatic work. 

Map of the Houses of Parliament, London 

Visit Westminster + Central London Guides

• Unmissable Things to do in London
• A Guide to Trafalgar Square
• 2 Day London Itinerary

• Skip to main content
• Skip to primary sidebar
• Skip to footer

How To Visit the U.K. Parliament in 2024: Tickets, Hours, and Tours

Eddie Saint-Jean Last Updated: April 30, 2024

The U.K. Parliament in London has a fascinating history dating back to 1215 when disgruntled barons made King John sign the Magna Carta making him subject to the rule of law. This paved the way for the beginnings of Parliament in 1265 under Simon De Montfort. Getting into the Houses of Parliament is not straightforward, so we’ve put together this guide to help you plan. Here’s how to visit the U.K. Parliament.

Pro Tip:  Planning what to do on your trip to London? Bookmark this post in your browser so you can easily find it when you’re in the city. Check out our  guide to London  for more planning resources, our  top London tours  for a memorable trip, and the  top things to do in London .

Visiting the U.K. Parliament: What We’ll Cover

The U.K. Houses of Parliament, also known as the Palace of Westminster, has a long history with many interesting traditions that are still maintained today. The popular Guy Fawkes Day originates from events that took place here in 1605 when the Catholic zealot Guy Fawkes tried to blow up the Houses of Parliament.

While it is possible to visit the Houses of Parliament, you cannot simply walk in and wander around due to strict security. In this guide, discover what you need to know to visit the U.K. Parliament. Here’s what we’ll cover:

• Opening hours and tickets
• How much time to budget for your visit
• What to see at the U.K. Parliament
• Facts and history of the U.K. Parliament
• Places to eat nearby

U.K. Parliament Opening Hours and Tickets

Despite its high-profile politicians and tight security, visitors are allowed inside Parliament for specific purposes: guided tours, certainly, as well as Committee Room events, parliamentary debates, or Prime Minister’s Questions. But its high security means you cannot just wander around unguided or without a specific invite or ticket.

Opening Hours:

The U.K. Parliament or Palace of Westminster is open Monday to Friday from 9 am to 5 pm.

You have a choice of guided tours and multimedia tours. Multimedia tours allow you up to 90 minutes inside Parliament buildings using their audio guides. The guided tours last 75 minutes. All tours mostly take place on weekdays and Saturdays.

There are 3 tours you can pick from:

Speaker’s House Tour

If you’re curious about the role of the Speaker of the House, the highest authority of the House of Commons, , this tour is for you. . You’ll have the opportunity to visit the State Apartments of Speaker’s House, where official business is conducted and the Speaker resides.

Ticket Prices: The Speaker’s House Tour costs £20 for Adults, while Young Adults (16 – 18 years old) pay £12. Concessions (Over-6os, students, and U.K. Armed Forces) are £12.

Self-Guided Audio Tour of the Palace of Westminster

Ideal for independent explorers, this tour offers a self-paced experience. With the multimedia device as your guide, you’ll navigate renowned areas like medieval Westminster Hall, the renowned House of Commons Chamber, majestic House of Lords Chamber, and other iconic spaces.

Ticket Prices: Adults £26 (£28 on the day), Young adults (16-24) £19 (£21 on the day), Children (5-15) free (£9* on the day), Concessions (UK Armed Forces) £19 (£21 on the day), and free tickets available for visitors with disabilities and their essential companions

Guided Tours of the Palace of Westminster

Explore the rich history and function of the UK Parliament with an expert guide. You’ll explore the House of Commons, House of Lords, and Westminster Hall and learn about the captivating history, art, and architecture, as well as gaining insights into the current workings of the Houses of Commons and Lords.

Ticket Prices: The guided tour costs £33 for adults (£35 on the day), £27 (£29 on the day) for young adults (16-24), £17 (£19 on the day) for children. Concessions (UK Armed Forces) £27 (£29 on the day), and visitors with a disability can book a free ticket for their essential companion.

Also, access is more likely during Easter, summer, and Christmas, when Parliament is not in session. Still, visits are allowed at selected times even when Parliament is in session. You can book time slots for either multimedia or guided tours as long as they are between 9 am and 4:15 pm.

Contact the ticket offices at Portcullis House, Victoria Embankment for further information on guided tours in French, Spanish, Italian, and German, all of which are available on selected dates. 

Visits Without Tours:

There are three options. Firstly, you can watch the Prime Minister’s Questions or Minister’s Questions without a guide. These take place in the House of Commons and House of Lords.

Secondly, you can see a parliamentary debate or a committee at work. Thirdly, there are parliamentary talks, events, petitions, and Private Members’ Bills where visitors are permitted.

Address: Palace of Westminster

Our Best Day Trips from London

Top-Rated Tour

The Magic of Harry Potter: Warner Bros Studios & Walking Tour of London

On this full-day Harry Potter experience, immerse yourself in the world of witchcraft and wizardry. With your expert, Harry Potter loving guide, explore the filming sights in London before heading to Warner Bros Studios by Private Coach. See the real Hogwarts, Sorting Hat and more on this memorable experience.

Starting at €149

Windsor Castle, Stonehenge and Bath Day Trip from London

Join this full-day trip from London for the ultimate day through British history and culture with an expert guide. At Windsor Castle, skip the lines and see how the English Royals live. At Stonehenge, immerse yourself in the mystery of the 4000-year-old Neolithic structures. Lastly in Bath, take in the Roman Baths from the first century AD, the best symbol of Roman Britain.

Not ready to book a tour? Check out the best London tours to take and why .

How Long To Spend at the U.K. Parliament

Short answer: 75 minutes for a guided tour; 90 minutes for the multimedia tour.

Your tour includes visits to the House of Commons, the House of Lords, and Westminster Hall. This talk covers the history of the building, the creation of Parliament, and the democratic and legislative processes within Parliament today. Since both tours are for set times, you’re unlikely to run over.

However, if you’re attending a separate ticketed parliamentary event, it all depends on the times for the event itself.

What To See in and Near the U.K. Parliament 

• Commons Chamber: Prime Minister’s Question Time, Parliamentary debates
• The Lords Chamber: Question Time, Debates, and Legislation Work
• The House of Lords Committee Rooms: Select Committee work
• The Parliamentary Archives 
• The Churchill Arch
• Statues in the Palace
• The Speaker’s Chair
• The Royal Gallery
• Central Lobby
• The Cloisters
• Parliament Square (includes statues of Nelson Mandela, Ghandi, and Winston Churchill)
• Auguste Rodin’s sculpture The Burghers of Calais (in Victoria Tower Gardens, next to Parliament)

Facts and History of the U.K. Parliament

• The Houses of Parliament are also known as the Palace of Westminster. 
• Westminster Hall was built in 1097 by William II, son of William the Conqueror. It was the biggest and grandest hall in Europe at that time. It’s the oldest building in the Houses of Parliament.
• The first English Parliament was held in 1265, when French nobleman Simon de Montfort, Earl of Leicester, led a group of rebellious barons seeking representational democracy and the curbing of Henry III’s absolute power. 
• The medieval parliament burned down in 1834. The fire destroyed most of the Palace of Westminster. 
• Oliver Cromwell was sworn in as Lord Protector in Westminster Hall. He was anti-royal but was sworn in wearing regal-looking robes. 
• In 1605, a zealot Catholic called Guy Fawkes tried to blow up the Houses of Parliament. He was caught in the House of Lords basement with barrels of gunpowder.
• The Queen is banned from the House of Commons. This convention was introduced in 1642 after King Charles I entered the Commons with soldiers to try and arrest five MPs for treason.
• A parliamentary official with the title Black Rod has the Commons door ceremoniously slammed in his face before the Queen’s Speech. After this ritual, he bangs on the door three times with his rod. This traditional act occurs when he summons MPs from the Commons Chambers to hear the Queen’s Speech. The slamming of the door represents the independence of the Commons.

Places To Eat Nearby

There’s a café in the Palace of Westminster. But you’re just as likely to find healthy, filling snacks and meals—and perhaps rub shoulders with politicians—in the nearby cafés and restaurants. For more options, check out the full list of best restaurants nearby .

Jubilee Café : £££ | Coffee Shop —This café in Westminster Hall has a selection of snacks, paninis, and sandwiches, plus pastries, sweets, and cakes. The quaint English Jubilee cream tea is a visitor favourite, but there’s also barista coffee and other beverages.

Riverside Café : ££ | River Views —This is a short but soul-lifting walk through parklands known as Victory Tower Gardens, and then over Lambeth Bridge. The café has the best views of Parliament and the Thames river compared to other eateries in the area. It serves a full English Breakfast, of course, as well as pizza, burgers, baguettes, salads, and hot and cold beverages.

The Cinnamon Club : £££+ | Former Victorian Library —There’s an elegant and exclusive atmosphere to this classy Indian restaurant. The curry, seafood, and soup dishes have a gourmet touch. Traditional English game such as venison is served in an artisanal Indian culinary style. There are a few menu surprises, too, like snake!

Find the best places to stay

Where To Stay in London

Deciding where to stay at a great hotel in London can take some effort since it’s a massive city. Make your decision easier with our list of the best neighborhoods and hotels in London.

Reader Interactions

Leave a comment cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

• Travel Blog
• In The Press

POLICY & TERMS

• Cancellation Policy
• Terms & Conditions
• Privacy Policy

Rebecca Harris

Inside uk parliament free guided tours.

Explore the House of Commons, House of Lords and Westminster Hall during an Inside UK Parliament tour, led by expert tour guides. You’ll get a sneak peek behind the scenes at Westminster, in what is not only a stunning historical site but also a fast-paced modern workplace.

UK Parliament is open to visitors again, and Castle Point residents can book a free 'Inside UK Parliament' guided tour by contacting Rebecca Harris.

What does the tour cover.

During this 75-minute tour, your guide will:

• explain the work of the UK Parliament and its relevance today
• outline how the working spaces you visit on the tour are used
• set out ways you can get involved and engage with the democratic process
• highlight some of the dramatic history of the Palace of Westminster

You will get to see:

• Westminster Hall, the ancient hall at the heart of the Palace where Parliament first sat and where many historic events have taken place
• The House of Commons, including the Speaker's Chair and the famous green benches and the 'lobbies' where MPs actually vote
• The House of Lords, including the Royal Throne
• The Queen's Robing Room, Royal Gallery and many other fascinating parts of the Palace of Westminster

When can I go on a tour?

During parliamentary sessions  Find out what's on when UK Parliament is sitting

• Monday: 9.00am to 12.00 noon
• Tuesday & Wednesday : 9.00am to 10.00am, 10.15am to 12 noon*
• Friday: 3.30pm to 5.00pm
• These free guided tours are not available on Thursdays, Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.

*Slightly shorter tours which include the House of Lords, Central Lobby, St Stephen’s Hall and Westminster Hall, but not the House of Commons.

• During Recess:  Tuesday: 10.30 am to 5.00 pm ( Find out dates when UK Parliament is in recess )

How to Book

Please note that tours are very popular and places are limited so generally have to be booked in advance.

If you are interested in arranging a tour of the Houses of Parliament,  and live in Castle Point , please contact Rebecca by emailing:  [email protected]  

If you are unsure if Rebecca is your local MP, please check here: FIND MY MP . If you don't live in Castle Point, you can email your own local MP and they will arrange a tour for you.

You will need to provide:

• Your Full Name
• Your Castle Point Address 
• The Number of Visitors (how many are children & how many are adults)
• Which dates/times you'd like to visit (it's always helpful to give a couple of options.

Other Guided Tours

Tour prices online for:  Guided tours of the Palace of Westminster / Multimedia tours of the Palace of Westminster  - Available to all visitors. Go at your own pace using a multimedia guide, discover the history and heritage of the building, and find out about the work of UK Parliament.

You can book  online , by telephone or via the ticket office. 

Houses of Parliament – Palace of Westminster

Craig’s review… I love this place. I even love the politicians inside it (well, most of them). If you come to London and don’t try a tour of Parliament then you’re basically mad. It will have been a totally wasted trip. It’s like going to Rome and not seeing the Pope. Or going to Amsterdam and not getting stoned. Trust me, a tour of this place will make your holiday. This is the place you’ll be talking about when you go back to work.

A lot of people think that Parliament is out of bounds but there are actually four different ways of sneaking a peek inside. The first way is to stand as an MP and get 50,000 people to vote for you at the next General Election, but, granted, that is probably too much hassle if you’re only here on holiday. The second way is to write a letter to your local MP and ask him for an invite. He or she is then duty bound to stick your name down for a free guided tour (it’s called a Member’s Tour , because it’s sponsored by a Member of Parliament). But, once again, that’s not much use if you live abroad because you won’t have a local MP. The third way is to turn up during the summer when they open it up from Monday to Saturday. And the fourth way, and definitely the easiest way, is to just go along on any old Saturday, because the Saturday tours operate all-year round.

Visiting on a guided tour

There are two different tours to choose from: a self-guided audio tour , which is basically just you and some headphones (only available on Saturdays), and a guided tour , where you get led around by an expert (Mon-Sat during the summer).

You’ll find the visitor entrance halfway along the front face of the building, roughly opposite the back-end of Westminster Abbey .

Once you’ve made it past the gun cops at the gate armed with sub-machine guns, grenades and rocket launchers (I exaggerate only slightly) you have to negotiate another layer of security inside. As you’d expect, they don’t mess around at the Houses of Parliament. They take your photo, buzz you with a handheld metal detector, x-ray your bones, peer into your handbag, make you take your belt off… if they could make you take all your teeth out and shake them then I think they would. The frisk that I received today was probably the most thorough that I’ve ever experienced in my entire life – it felt like he was counting my ribs with his fingertips.

The historic Westminster Hall

After that you head inside the 1,000-year old Westminster Hall, which is without a doubt the best waiting room in London. If you choose the self-guided audio tour then you’ll pick up a map and some headphones at this point and then you’re totally on your own – you can walk around Parliament unaccompanied. Obviously you can only stick to a pre-defined route so it’s not a complete free-for-all (if you jump over the ropes then the police will probably pump a hundred bullets into you). But it does make you feel quite important wandering around the corridors whilst everyone else is being shepherded through by a tour guide.

If you choose the guided tour then this is where you’ll meet your guide. My guy today turned out to be a bloke called Colin who not only looked like a Colin, but also had the encyclopaedic knowledge of a Colin. He decided to give us a little test whilst he was counting up the heads and asked us who our local MP was. Luckily I knew who mine was (because he’s totally useless) – but you could see some of the people squirming in their seats whilst they tried to dredge the name out of the depths of their head. After that little bit of fun he took us on a five-minute trek through the heart of the palace, past all of the rooms and down all of the halls without saying a single word. You literally pass through the whole lot without learning a thing. This can be a little disconcerting if you’ve never been on the tour before, but don’t worry, because he’s just taking you to the very far end of the building where the tour begins.

He huddles everyone up in a quiet corner of the Norman Porch and for the next hour he walks you from room to room pointing out all the best paintings and statues, describing all of the important historical events, etc., but it’s the decor that will impress you the most. If you’ve never been to Parliament before then you’re in for a treat. The rooms in this building rival the best ones at Buckingham Palace , and that’s not an exaggeration.

Robing Room and Royal Gallery

After the Norman Porch comes the Robing Room with its murals of King Arthur, Lancelot and Camelot. Then you head into the Royal Gallery with its two huge murals of Nelson’s death scene and Wellington’s victory at the Battle of Waterloo. After that comes the Prince’s Chamber with its battle scenes of the Spanish Armada.

Inside the House of Lords

You won’t believe the amount of gold when you finally get inside the House of Lords. You walk right down the centre of the room and stop five feet from the monarch’s throne. Just remember not to sit down on the red leather benches because one of our ladies decided to take the weight off her feet and got a real roasting from the tour guide. Apparently she hadn’t “earned the right” to sit there, and her crimson cheeks went the same shade as the seat. In fact, that’s something that I should warn you about on the tour: it’s very heavy on your feet. The whole thing lasts for 75 minutes and you can only sit down twice (for about two minutes each). So if you’ve got dodgy knees like me then be prepared for some aching legs at the end.

After the House of Lords you leave the Royal half of the palace and head towards the Commons, and this is where the decor starts to change. The Royal half of the palace is all reds, golds and chestnut browns, whereas the Commons is light brown and green.

Peers’ Lobby and the House of Commons

First up is Peers’ Lobby and the Peers’ Corridor, and then you enter that room you always see on the Ten O’Clock News (where the journalists doorstop the politicians). The last room before the House of Commons is full of busts of famous PMs. Lloyd George, Churchill, Thatcher and Attlee get the plum spots, whilst the less famous faces get lumbered with the dusty ones.

I’ve probably traipsed through this building five or six times now but I still get a little thrill whenever I walk into the House of Commons – there can’t be a single Brit who isn’t secretly thinking wow when they enter this chamber for the very first time. You see this room on the news every night and now you’re standing five feet from where the Prime Minister sits – how can you not get a thrill from that?

After you exit the Commons you head through St. Stephen’s Hall and back into Westminster Hall where the tour began.

Colin’s monologue was very thorough throughout but I think you probably need a decent knowledge of British history to get the most out of it because the names, dates and events are fired at you thick and fast. You’ll have no trouble recognising famous names like Guy Fawkes and Oliver Cromwell, but he scatters in bits about Simon de Montfort and the Glorious Revolution and everything in-between. You get 1,000 years of British history condensed into 75 minutes.

Guided tour, or self-guided audio tour?

So here’s the big question: which one is better, the guided tour or self-guided audio tour? You’ll see exactly the same rooms whichever one you choose, but if you’re a tourist then I’d probably go for the guided tour because it’s a lot simpler having a guide point out all the highlights. But if you’re a local with a bit more time on your hands then I’d go for the self-guided audio tour instead, because it’s quite nice being able to walk around the building at your own pace.

The only difference I noticed between the two is that you get quite a lot of extra detail on the audio-guide that isn’t included on the guided tour. There’s a section about the State trials in Westminster Hall and some interesting information about the 1834 fire, for example, but not everybody is going to enjoy a five-minute monologue about court cases in the 17th-century. But at least it gives you a reason to sit down and look around the rooms for a while, which is something you don’t have time for on a guided tour. That’s what the audio tour gives you: time . Time to admire everything.

Worth a visit? ★ ★ ★ Value for money? ★ ★ ★ Good for kids? ★ ☆ ☆ Easy to get to? ★ ★ ★

I also recommend… If you enjoy this then try Big Ben (you can walk it in less than 2 mins) ; Downing Street (you can walk it in 6 mins) and Parliament Square (you can walk it in less than 3 mins)

Related articles and events

Visit the House of Commons Public Gallery at the Houses of Parliament

Scavenger hunt - Self-guided tour of London’s landmarks

Watch Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) in the House of Commons

Houses of Parliament & House of Commons Guided Tour

Skip the line at Houses of Parliament & Westminster Abbey

Palaces & Parliament Tour - 20 of London’s Top Sights

Visit the Palace of Westminster

Date Selection

Big Ben Tour Dates and Times

More information about big ben tour, big ben tour.

Big Ben needs little introduction. The famous bell is a cultural icon around the world and these popular tours offer visitors the chance to see (and hear) how Big Ben works, up close. This fully guided tour takes you up the narrow 334-step spiral stairwell of the Elizabeth Tower to the Belfry where Big Ben hangs. As you ascend, you will stop in the exhibition spaces, which use AV technology to bring to life the story of Big Ben and The Elizabeth Tower. You will see the inner workings of the clock mechanism, stand next to the world-famous Big Ben bell as it strikes the hour, and step behind the dials each spanning 6.9m in diameter. Visitors will be able to book a maximum of eight tickets per person, depending on availability and children must be aged 11 years and older. Visitors must be comfortable climbing 334 steps and experiencing high noise levels from the clock mechanism and bells - earplugs will be provided. After your tour you can also explore medieval Westminster Hall, and enjoy a refreshment at the Jubilee Café. Next door is the Jubilee Shop which sells official Big Ben merchandise. Your visit will last 1 hour and 45 minutes. If the dates below are greyed out or you are prompted to enter a code to book, it means that the date selected is not available. Tickets are released on the second Wednesday of every month at 10:00. Please be advised the UK Parliament is a working building and tours may be cancelled at short notice due to parliamentary business and access restrictions.

Important Information

Tour duration  • Visitors should arrive at the Cromwell Green entrance no later than 30 minutes before the start of their tour. If you arrive after this time we are unable to provide a refund or exchange and you will not be able to join your tour. • Your visit will last 1 hour and 45 minutes. This includes the 90-minute tour and time at the start and end of the tour to lock away and retrieve your belongings. When tours run  • Monday to Saturday. Suitability • These tours are not suitable for everyone. • Children must be aged 11 and over. • All visitors must be comfortable climbing 334 steps and experiencing high noise levels from the clock mechanism and bells - earplugs will be provided.  • Please read more details about tour suitability .  Language options • These tours are offered in English only. Accessibility • Due to the constraints of the Tower, accessible tours including step-free access are not currently available. Sign up to our newsletter to hear about accessible tour options in due course.   Planning your visit • Visit the website for more information on planning your visit to Big Ben . 

We and selected third parties use cookies in order to run this website. We also use analytical cookies to improve the website and marketing cookies to provide you with personalised content. By clicking "Accept", you consent to this and to the sharing of your data with our partners. If you choose to decline, we will only use the necessary, functional cookies. Please read our cookies policy for more information.

Accept Reject