Tours of the Houses of Parliament

UKParliament

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Tours of the Palace of Westminster

Member’s tours are available to UK residents free of charge and must be sponsored by a Member of Parliament (MP) or a Member of the House of Lords.

UK residents should contact their local MP or a Member of the House of Lords whom they know to arrange a tour. There is no charge for tours booked in this way.

To find out who your MP is, go to find your MP (all you need is your postcode to find out who your MP is).

Tours must be booked in advance with bookings open up to four months ahead. Demand is high so early booking and flexibility regarding dates and times are an advantage.

Times and availability
Tours start every 5 minutes and last approximately 75 minutes.
Tours start at the following times:

Tour times in session

Monday: 9am-12noon (full tour)

Tuesday and Wednesday: 9am-9.55am (full tour) and 10.00am-12noon (partial tour of Lords only)

Thursday: no tours

Friday: 3.30pm-5pm (full tour)

Non-sitting days and recesses

Non-sitting Fridays: 9.30am-5pm

Christmas / New Year: Closed

Easter and Spring Weekdays: 9.30am-5pm

Whitsun Recess Weekdays: 9.30am-5pm

Please note - Members sponsored tours are not available on Saturdays.

For further information on facilities and access arrangements please visit our access and security page: When you arrive


Tours of Big Ben

The Elizabeth Tower is the name of the famous tower of Parliament - more popularly known as Big Ben. Although often referred to as Big Ben, this is actually the nickname of the bell housed within the Elizabeth Tower - and Big Ben's official name is the Great Bell.

What does the tour cover?
A tour will take you up the 334 stone spiral steps to the top of the 154 year old Elizabeth Tower to hear Big Ben strike the hour. As well as seeing a spectacular view of London from 62 meters up the tower, you will also go behind the clock faces and have the opportunity to visit the mechanism room to learn about how the clock works in the 21st Century.

Times and availability
Tours are at set times of 9.15am, 11.15am and 2.15pm Monday – Friday, (except Bank Holidays).

Due to the exceptional demand for these tours we are currently offering an additional time slot of 4.15pm, July – Oct on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Booking
Elizabeth Tower tours are currently free of charge. UK residents should contact their local MP or a Member of the House of Lords whom they know to arrange a tour.

Tours must be arranged ahead of your visit with bookings being taken up to four months in advance. Demand is high so early booking and flexibility regarding dates and times is strongly recommended. Children under 11 are not permitted on Elizabeth Tower tours. Groups of 14 students must be accompanied by two adults.

Please note:

No children aged under 11 years

Open to UK permanent residents only

Tours must be arranged through your local MP or a Member of the House of Lords

Tours are free of charge

BobQ

The above does not mention the availability of paid tours of Parliament that are available during the recesses, also suitable for non-UK residents.

I did one a few years ago and thought they were good value. However, they now seem to cost £16.50 which makes them much more expensive than I recall them being.

UKParliament

Hi BobQ!

There are indeed commercial tours which run on Saturdays and during the Summer recess - more information on those tours can be found at Saturday and Summer Opening Tours.

These tours can be booked ahead through the TicketMaster website - which is recommended to avoid disappointment on the day.

We did not mention them explicitly as there is a cost involved compared to the tours arranged through MPs but thank you for alerting people that there is an alternative should you wish to visit on a Saturday or at short notice during the Summer holidays.

Thanks
DOT

mtp123

I went on a WI trip 2 years ago. We contacted our MP and his secretary, we chose to go on a day when PMQ's was on. We had to be there quite early and his Secretary who is also his wife, greeted us and then we did the official tour. Afterwards we all went to the cafe for a coffee etc at which she joined us then we were escorted to an impressive room to meet our MP and his aide. He did a Q & A session then his wife took us to the lobby to watch some of the MP's going in and the Speakers Procession. Our MP then went in for the session but as a big surprise he had arranged for us to go to a room with huge TV showing the session and joined us near the end. It was a wonderful experience and even if you just do the tour well worth it.

monyman

In a previous life as a teacher I was fortunate enough to go on the tour 4 or 5 times.

Absolutely loved it - the HOL is just beautiful

poppasmurf_bewdley

I used to work in the House for a Member of Parliament, and one of my favourite parts of the job was to take small parties from the Constituency around the Palace. They always enjoyed finishing up at the shop where they could buy everything from HoC After Dinner Mints to HoC Monogrammed Coffee Sets.

UKParliament

Hello monyman ,mpt123 and poppasmurf_bewdley!

Its great to hear from people who have visited the Palace of Westminster!

We're glad you enjoyed it.

Best wishes
DOT

Philycheesesteak

I went on September the 11th 2001.

Admittedly it was only £3 (you just had to book it the day before), but I have to say it was the best thing we did in London on our visit. Maybe because it was only £3 but I highly recommend it. (Ideally not on the day of a global terror alert, we only found out just as we were leaving about the attacks on the World Trade Centre).

It was informative, with lots of anecdotes, you got to see so much including going into both houses. We went to Buckingham Palace the day before and This tour was loads better.

I just hope it is as good now for those who make the effort to go.

KMK

I have booked a guided tour in French for myself and a French friend visiting London after many years. It is on a Saturday at the end of October. We have a practical issue about which I would welcome advice.

We have to book out of the hotel late morning as it is our last day in London. Can you take small cases into the House? I realize they will be scanned etc, but just wondered if we will have to take them to a station Left Luggage (quite expensive for just such a short time) or whether we can leave them in the House before the tour begins.

Any advice would be welcome!

poppasmurf_bewdley

As far as I'm aware, there are no facilities for leaving anything in the Palace of Westminster.

Buzby

Try Left Luggage at one of the main stations - security do not like large items arriving.