If you are interested in politics and history, then why not combine that interest with seeing one of London’s most iconic landmarks, Westminster Palace. There are many ways to explore Parliament. Read on to find options to visit for free and to book onto a tour.
The Houses of Parliament and Big Ben are British cultural icons. The UK Parliament is housed in the Palace of Westminster. Both the House of Commons and the House of Lords are situated here and are distinguished between their separate areas by colours; green for the House of Commons and red for the House of Lords. The Palace, commonly known as just ‘Westminster’ has the Elizabeth tower attached with Big Ben, the bell, housed inside.
Visit Parliament for Free
Attend a debate
One of the best free ways to experience Parliament is by attending a debate or committee session. The UK Parliament is open to visitors from the UK and overseas when in session, allowing visitors to observe democracy in action from one of the viewing galleries. You could attend a debate which do not require a ticket. You will need to check the Parliamentary calendar to find out what is on and just turn up to wait your turn. The visitor entrance is called ‘Cromwell Green’ towards the right as you are looking from St. Margaret Street and is well sign posted.
Read more: Parliamentary calendar
Attend Prime Minister’s Questions
This is a free, but ticketed event every Wednesday at 12 noon. The tickets are only available to UK residents by contacting your MP or a member of the House of Lords in advance. You can turn up on the morning if you don’t have a ticket or are a visitor to the UK but there is no guarantee you will get a seat. You will need to ask at the Cromwell Green Entrance what the wait time is.
Watch Ministerial Question Time
Both the House of Commons and the Lords Chamber start the day with questions to government ministers. UK residents can get a ticket in advance by asking their MP but as this is not as popular as other events, there will likely be places available on the day so definitely worth turning up early to wait. Check the Parliamentary calendar for what is on a particular date.
Watch a Committee in session
The House of Commons committees look at different government departments and hold them to account. Both the House of Commons and House of Lords have ‘Select Committees’ so check out the Parliamentary calendar for what is happening and when. They are held in two different places; Palace of Westminster and Portcullis House on the Victoria Embankment so make sure you know which hearing you are going to. You do not need a ticket and it is first come, first seated.
Constituency Tour
If you are a UK resident, then you can contact your local Member of Parliament (MP) to arrange a free guided tour of Parliament. It took a bit of emailing back and forth when I contacted my local MP to get a suitable date but the aide I was in contact with arrange for my family and I to meet him at Westminster on a Friday during a school holiday. My eldest son was studying Politics at school so we were all interested to get a behind the scenes tour and see first hand what we had only seen on television. We had our tour on a Friday which was perfect for us. All MPs are back in their constituencies so Parliament is empty which meant we had free reign over where to visit. My MP’s aide met us personally in Westminster Hall and gave us an almost 2 hour tour. As it was a Friday, we were able to visit inside the House of Commons and stand at the dispatch boxes; walk through the corridors where the House of Lords sit and work before entering the House. It was truly eye opening and fascinating. I can’t recommend it highly enough.
Westminster Hall
If all these options fail, then you can just turn up to visit Westminster Hall. This is the biggest hall in Westminster Palace where MPs gather for visiting speakers sometimes. It is also where Queen Elizabeth II was laid in state. You will need to still go through security checks but you do not need a ticket.
Paid Tours of Parliament
Guided Tours of Westminster
These 90 minutes tours are with an expert guide and take you around the inside of the Parliamentary buildings. If you have arranged a tour through your MP (UK residents only) then sometimes you will join one of these tours -for free- if your MP or aides are busy.
Read more: Book a guided tour of Parliament
Self-guided Audio Tours
If you book one of these self-guided tours then you literally walk around by yourself guided by the headset. Allow yourself 90 minutes to complete the tour.
Read more: Book a Self-guided Audio Tour
Big Ben Tour
Before you contemplate this tour, be aware that you need to walk up a 334 step narrow, spiral staircase! You will walk up the Elizabeth Tower to the top where Big Ben, the bell, hangs and experience the clang of the bell striking and all the mechanisms inside. It is age restricted to 11 plus because of the stair climb. Ear defenders are available and I would definitely recommend wearing comfortable shoes! Tickets are released on the second Wednesday of every month at 10am and sell out quickly!
Read more: Booking a Ben Ben Tour
Getting to Westminster Palace
The parliament building is located on the Thames in Westminster, the heart of London.
Underground. Westminster Station is just a two minute walk across the road, opposite Big Ben.
Boat. Westminster Pier is next to Westminster Bridge just by Portcullis House.
Walk. It is a leisurely 15 minute walk down Whitehall from Trafalgar Square. If you have time, then you can pause to take in the Royal Horse Guards and Downing Street.
Read more: Best apps to plan your journey around London
Top Tips:
- When you visit, you will go through an airport style scanner and x-ray machines. Be careful what you have packed in your bag. There are multitudes of armed police which is intimidating but you do not need to worry.
- You can take photos in Westminster Hall and the lobby area at the top of the stairs but no further. Just relax and enjoy the experience.
- Any tour of Westminster does not include ‘Big Ben’. There is an separate official tour to visit the Elizabeth Tower which houses the Big Ben bell.
- If you do the ‘Big Ben’ Tour, then I would recommend the mid morning tour so you can experience the full 12 chimes at 12 o’clock!
FAQ
- Are there toilets?
Yes there are toilets available at the start and end of each tour. If you need one in the middle of a tour, just speak to the tour guide.
- Are there facilities to store luggage or pushchairs?
No, there are not. You will need to keep your pushchair with you.
- Is there a cafe or shop?
Yes, just off Westminster Hall is the Jubilee cafe and shop. You can only eat food and drink bought from the cafe.
