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Summer Opening of the Houses of Parliament
Palace of Westminster Tour Information

By Laura Porter, About.com Guide

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Big Ben and the Palace of Westminster

UK Parliament Introduction

The UK Parliament is one of the oldest representative assemblies in the world. The site of the Houses of Parliament is the Palace of Westminster, a royal palace and former residence of kings. Edward the Confessor had the original palace built in the eleventh century. The layout of the Palace is intricate, with its existing buildings containing nearly 1,200 rooms, 100 staircases, and well over 3 kilometers (2 miles) of passages. Among the original historic buildings is Westminster Hall, used nowadays for major public ceremonial events.

Address:
Palace of Westminster
Westminster
London
SW1A 0AA

Nearest Tube Station:
Westminster

Directions:
The Palace of Westminster (also commonly known as the Houses of Parliament) is directly opposite the station exit (look out for Big Ben!)

Parliament Summer Opening

During the Summer Opening, UK residents and overseas visitors can buy tickets to tour Parliament. It is arranged during the summer recess, when Parliament does not sit and Members work away from Westminster. Tours run from Monday to Saturday inclusive, but not on Sunday or Bank Holidays. Tours take about 75 minutes (1 hour and 15 minutes). Groups of 25 people are taken by Blue Badge qualified guides. The tours are usually busiest in the afternoon so aim for a morning tour if you would like more opportunities to ask your Guide questions. Read a description of the Houses of Parliament Tour.

2009 Summer Opening Dates

Monday 3 August to Saturday 3 October 2009 and tickets are on sale from 28 April.
(Please note: no tours available on 1 October 2009)
Tours run every 15 minutes.

Ticket Information

Online:Ticketmaster
Telephone: 0844 847 1672

The Ticket Office is next to the Jewel Tower, opposite the Houses of Parliament.
Note, you need to collect your tickets at least 30 minutes before the tour start time.
Also note, the ticket office closes at 4pm (if you've booked the 4.30pm tour then get to the ticket office by 3.45pm.)

2009 Ticket Prices

Adults: £11.70
Concessions: £7.80
(over 60s, students with a NUS card)
Children 5-16 years: £4.80
Family ticket: £29.20 (2 adults and 2 children under 16)
Free admission (but must have a zero value ticket):
- children under five years (though the tour is not really suitable for small children)
- those assisting wheelchair users and carers of people with disabilities.

Small Children and the Parliament Tour

When booking online, it is stressed that the Summer Opening of Parliament tour is not recommended for small children as there is a lot of walking. It also states:

Pushchair/strollers cannot be taken on the tour and must be left at and collected from the tour starting point.

I contacted the Palace of Westminster about this and have been told:

Although people are not encouraged to bring children in pushchairs into the Palace during the Summer Opening (the tour is not really suitable for young children) it is allowed. Double buggies and strollers are not permitted as they are too wide to pass through a number of areas along the tour route. There is no need to make mention of pushchairs when booking.

I took my daughter in her buggy when she was a few months old and everyone was really helpful. Be aware, there are steps throughout the tour so try and have two adults and one buggy.

Tour Route

Tours include the chambers of both the House of Commons and the House of Lords. The tour starts at the Sovereign's Entrance and includes:

Norman Porch
Queen's Robing Room
Royal Gallery
Prince's Chamber
House of Lords Chamber
Peers' Lobby and Corridor
Central Lobby
Commons Corridor and "No" lobby
House of Commons Chamber
St Stephen's Hall

Visitor Facilities

There is a gift shop in St Stephen's Hall.

Disabled Access

All tours are fully wheelchair accessible.

No Left Luggage/Cloakroom

Bags or luggage larger than those permitted in aircraft cabins may be refused entry. Parliament has no facilities for leaving items; commercial outlets are available nearby at Victoria and Charing Cross stations.

Tour Conditions

arrive 20 minutes before start of the tour
no photography
switch off all mobile phones (cell phones)
for security reasons, you are not able to leave the tour once it has started
no eating or drinking in the Palace
no large or bulky hand baggage
no personal defense items are permitted

Further Information

Find out about the history of the UK Parliament before you go on the tour:

Looking For A Nearby Cafe?

The Methodist Central Hall is two minutes walk from the Houses of Parliament and has a peaceful cafe for up to 200 on the lower ground floor. The cafe is open from Monday to Friday 8am-4pm and Saturday to Sunday 9am-4pm. The cafe has reasonable prices for the area and serves full English Breakfast, sandwiches, salads plus hot lunches, desserts, cakes, etc. Groups are welcome although pre-booking is requested.