Tours of the Houses of Parliament

UKParliament

Acc72 wrote: »

Dear All,

Update further to my earlier posts.

I wrote to the Tower of London and within a few days received my tickets - thanks for the tip P00hsticks !

However, I am not having the same luck arranging the tours of the House of Commons and Big Ben ....

I e-mailed my MP on the 9th April, as I did not hear anything I e-mailed him again a week later.

It is now another 2 weeks - 3 weeks in total - and I still haven't heard anything back.

Not sure what / if I should do something next ? I am probably being impatient, but I understand that the tours are quite popular and I would like to confirm a booking.

I also understand that my MP will have more important things to sort out, however I am sure that in reality it would be one of their assistants who would make the arrangements.


Any advice on what to do next ? - any tips from House of Commons Rep (DOT) ?

Hi Acc72

We can only apologise for the problems you are having. MPs do receive hundreds of emails every day so it could simply have fallen through the cracks or it could have been put aside for them to deal with alongside other constituents also requesting tours. Obviously we don't know the reason for sure, but a quick phone call to their Westminster Office might help?

You can find your MP's contact details at http://findyourmp.parliament.uk/ or if you having difficulties getting the information you can contact us via our email in our profile page here on MSE.

Once again, we are sorry for your experiences and hope you manage to sort out a tour soon. It is a very lovely building to visit - if we can say so ourselves

Hope this helps?
DOT

Acc72

Since my last post over a month ago, I am still no closer to arranging a tour.


I have now been trying to get dates for over 7 weeks - is this typical ?


I am not sure what is causing the delay - I have been told by my MP's office that the Tours Office had a problem with their booking system in April ?

essex_boy

Acc72 wrote: »

Since my last post over a month ago, I am still no closer to arranging a tour.


I have now been trying to get dates for over 7 weeks - is this typical ?


I am not sure what is causing the delay - I have been told by my MP's office that the Tours Office had a problem with their booking system in April ?

LOL Kind of ironic that that's the people supposed to be in charge of running the country:(

UKParliament

Acc72 wrote: »

Since my last post over a month ago, I am still no closer to arranging a tour.


I have now been trying to get dates for over 7 weeks - is this typical ?


I am not sure what is causing the delay - I have been told by my MP's office that the Tours Office had a problem with their booking system in April ?

Hi Acc72,

sorry for the delay in getting back to you, we have contacted the booking office and they did have a backlog which is now more or less cleared so wheels should begin to turn in terms of booking a tour.

If you haven't heard anything from your MPs office over the next 48 hours, contact us via our email address in our public profile. We will see if we can chase this up.

Hope that helps?
DOT

allybee101

yangptangkipperbang wrote: »

They are coming over again in December - I am struggling to find something to "follow that" !!

I visited the Rooftop Gardens on Kensington High Street last year during Open Squares Weekend. They're now owned by the Virgin Group but the building was once Derry and Toms department store.
They are beautiful and there are flamingos! They arrange viewings, not sure what it'll be like in December! You can phone to find out when they're open (maybe one for a summer/spring visit).
http://www.roofgardens.virgin.com/en/the_roof_gardens/location


What about the Tower of London Ceremony of the Keys? This is something I definitely want to do one day! Not a very long visit, but free, and a bit special.

Acc72

House_of_Commons_Rep_(DOT) wrote: »

Hi Acc72,

sorry for the delay in getting back to you, we have contacted the booking office and they did have a backlog which is now more or less cleared so wheels should begin to turn in terms of booking a tour.

If you haven't heard anything from your MPs office over the next 48 hours, contact us via our email address in our public profile. We will see if we can chase this up.

Hope that helps?
DOT

Apologies for posting again .... I don't think that it is possible to send a PM ?


9 weeks on I am still no closer to getting dates. Could you please let me know which would be the best e-mail address to use ?

UKParliament

Acc72 wrote: »

Apologies for posting again .... I don't think that it is possible to send a PM ?


9 weeks on I am still no closer to getting dates. Could you please let me know which would be the best e-mail address to use ?

Hi Acc72 - we don't have PM set up on our profile, but you can contact us via the email address in our member profile (under 'biography'): http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/member.php?u=2174809

thanks!
DOT

UKParliament

just to say Acc72 - your email has been received and we are dealing with it as we speak!

Hope to get back to you within 24-48 hours!
Best wishes
DOT

criboo

I went on a tour arranged by the course organisers of one of my University courses last November. It was a very enjoyable trip to London and great to see one of the world's finest political institutions in operation

I'd recommend it to anyone in/around London or who is going to London this Summer.

UKParliament

criboo wrote: »

I went on a tour arranged by the course organisers of one of my University courses last November. It was a very enjoyable trip to London and great to see one of the world's finest political institutions in operation

I'd recommend it to anyone in/around London or who is going to London this Summer.

thank you criboo!!

We're glad you enjoyed your visit to Parliament! Did you watch the debates while you were here?

Just to point out to others - during the Summer we may not have debates (watching the debates are always free as it is your democratic right to see what is taking place in the Chamber).

To know what will or won't be taking place on the day you would like to visit - see our calender: Parliamentary Calendar

Thanks!
DOT