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

Eddie Saint-Jean Last Updated: October 28, 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

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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!

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Fat Tire Tours Approved

Fully-Guided Houses of Parliament Tour with Special Access & No Wait Westminster Abbey Tour

Approximately 3.75 hours

From  €156

Step into the heart of the British democracy with the only fully-guided visit through Westminster Abbey and the Houses of Parliament. Only a handful of London tour guides are allowed to lead Parliament tours, so you’re extremely fortunate to have one just for your group on this all-access visit inside London’s most exclusive building. Visiting only on Saturdays, you’ll be able to visit the House of Commons, as well as many of the other beautiful halls and chambers in which the laws of Great Britain are decided.

Your day begins with first entry into Westminster Abbey, the most serene time to see Britain’s most cherished church. With roots dating back over 1,000 years, this Gothic masterpiece is the traditional coronation site and burial ground of kings and queens, along with national heroes like Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin, and William Wilberforce. In more recent history, Wesminster Abbey hosted the somber funeral of Princess Diana, and happier events such as the wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton, now known as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

Then it’s on to Parliament. The tour begins in the oldest part, Westminster Hall, which has been hosting state functions for nearly 1,000 years and is one of the finest surviving examples of medieval timber architecture in the world. You’ll peek into the room where the King dons his crown and ermine-trimmed cape before he officially opens the sessions of each new parliament. Inside, you’ll learn how people become peers based on their expertise in fields like sports, medicine, and technology. After learning some of the highlights of the building’s history, you’ll head into two of the most unique rooms in the building: the Division Lobbies. It’s in these rooms that, according to a tradition that dates back to Ancient Rome, opposing sides gather before a parliamentary vote, the ‘Ayes’ in one room, the ‘Noes’ in another. As you stroll these halls, you are walking in the footsteps of men like Henry VIII and Winston Churchill.

History, legend, lore, and a lot of pomp and circumstance mix and mingle as you take in nearly 1,000 years of history from one of the most knowledgeable expert guides in London.

Tour Details

What’s included.

• Skip the Line entrance to Westminster Abbey
• Guided tour inside Westminster Abbey
• Exclusive entrance to Houses of Parliament
• Guided tour inside Houses of Parliament

Good to Know

• Comfortable walking shoes recommended.
• Our tours run rain or shine. We encourage guests to consult the weather forecast and dress accordingly.
• The meeting time is 15 minutes before tour departure time. We do not have the luxury of waiting for guests, or catching them up after the fact.
• There is a security checkpoint prior to entering Westminster Abbey and the Houses of Parliament.
• Photographs are not permitted inside Westminster Abbey nor the Houses of Parliament.

Please note that the Westminster Abbey is subject to closure during special celebrations/festivities, including the Easter ceremonies. If this occurs during your visit, we will run an alternative itinerary that includes and explanation of the Abbey from the outside.

• 1 Expert tour guide
• 2 Skip the Line access to Westminster Abbey
• 3 Interior tour of Houses of Parliament
• 5 River Thames
• 6 Parliament Square

Meeting Point

This tour meets at the Winston Churchill statue, Parliament Square, Westminster, London, SW1P 3JX. Please note that there are several statues within Parliament Square. The Churchill statue is the largest and located on the north east corner of the square, closest to Big Ben. The name ‘CHURCHILL’ is written on the stone base of the statue.

The closest underground station is Westminster (Jubilee, Circle, and District lines).

Frequently Asked Questions

General tour questions, what is your cancellation policy.

Activities including tickets or special entrances, such as this one, may only be rescheduled for free up to 72 hours in advance. These activities are also only refundable more than 72 hours in advance of the activity start time. Within 72 hours, we will only be able to issue a partial refund or future credit.

*See restrictions here

Where is the meeting point?

Please arrive 15 minutes prior to departure time. We do not have the luxury of waiting for guests, or catching them up after the fact.

Are reservations required?

Yes, reservations are required for all tours.

Do we go inside the museums and monuments?

Yes, this tour enters both Westminster Abbey and the Houses of Parliament. Your tour includes a fully expert guided tour of the exterior and interior of both of these buildings.

Is this tour wheelchair or stroller accessible?

Unfortunately we are unable to accommodate guests with mobility impairments, wheelchairs or strollers on this tour. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Other Questions

What does 'fat tire tours approved' mean.

We’ve been perfecting our tours since 1999, and we are always looking for new ways to improve our tour menu for our guests. We are committed to expanding the activities offered during your stay to make for an unforgettable experience. So for all of the experiences that we aren’t able to deliver on our own, we’ve hand-selected the best local providers to offer a wide-range of unique and fun activities for our guests.

With anything Fat Tire Tours Approved, you still receive our spectacular customer service ready to assist you in any way we can, 24/7, as well as the guarantee that we have hand selected the best possible partners to supplement our tour menu.

What is your weather policy?

All tours run rain or shine.

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