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

Eddie Saint-Jean Last Updated: October 26, 2023

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.

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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.

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.

The guided tour costs £32 for Adults, while Young Adults (16 – 18 years old) pay £26. Concessions (Over-6os, students, and U.K. Armed Forces) are £26. Children (5 – 15 years old), £16; Children under 5 get in free.

For the multimedia tour: Adults pay £25, Young Adults (16 – 18 years old) pay £18, Children (5 – 15 years old) pay £8, and Children Under 5 get in free. Concessions are £18.

Note: U.K. residents can book both these tours for free.

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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An Audio Tour of the Houses of Parliament

The Palace of Westminster – home to the Houses of Parliament – has been a royal palace for 1000 years, home to the Parliament for nearly 500 years, is one of London ’s best-known buildings, and forms the backdrop to so many images of the capital.

Most people will recognise its striking façade, but far less know what actually happens inside. In fact it is a bit of a mystery. The complex rituals of the British political system are enough to confuse anyone, never mind someone who hasn’t grown up in this country.

Now I am going to let you in on a secret. My grandad, Bruce Millan, was a Scottish Labour politician, European Commissionaire and Secretary of State of Scotland. He, therefore, spent a good chunk of his life in the Houses of Parliament and my stepdad has visited the building on many occasions.

Seeing the interior of the Houses of Parliament for myself has therefore unsurprisingly long been on my to-do list. Somehow I was convinced that it would bring me a little closer to my grandad, who sadly passed away three years ago.

You can probably imagine how excited I thus was to be invited to try out the new self-guided audio tour and why I took up the offer without a moment’s hesitation.

HOW TO VISIT THE HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT

There are in fact three ways to take a sneak-peak inside the Houses of Parliament. 

• You can stand as an MP and get 50,000 people to vote for you at the next general election. Granted, this is a bit too much hassle, for most people.
• If you’re a UK resident you can contact your local MP or a member of the House of Lords and ask them to give you a tour, free of charge, also known as a Member’s Tour. I assume that there’s a long waiting list for those though.
• Tourists can simply buy a ticket for an audio or guided tour. MPs generally don’t work on weekends and so the Houses of Parliament are open to the public every Saturday. You can buy your tickets online or get them the same day from the ticket office at the front of Portcullis House. Tickets sell out fast and there are a few exceptions to the opening times, so it’s probably best to check the schedule and purchase your tickets in advance. Once you buy tickets (£18.50 for adults), you have the option of printing them out. If you do, you’ll get a nice little map right on your ticket that will tell you which entrance to go to. 

To be honest, I had no idea that you could just buy a ticket for a guided tour of the Houses of Parliament. But I am glad you can. Gary and I went on a self-guided audio tour one Saturday afternoon, and it was brilliant. This is a really fun thing to do on a free weekend and we would highly recommend it.

If you are looking for other free things to do in your spare time, check out this very comprehensive list of London museums .

ENTRANCE AND SECURITY

The entrance to the Houses of Parliament is at the Cromwell Green Visitor Entrance. Here you will be asked to show your tickets to a police officer and to confirm that you don’t have any weapons or bombs on you. Tours are timed so you need to make sure to get there in time to get through the airport-style security process.  Fully scanned and searched, we were handed security badges and sent on to the courtyard below Big Ben. Note that Big Ben is actually the name of the clock tower bell – the official name for the clock tower itself is the Elizabeth Tower. We continued on into the medieval Westminster Hall to collect our audio guides and start the tour.

WESTMINSTER HALL

The cavernous Westminster Hall – dating back to 1097 – is the oldest part and one of the few original parts of the Palace of Westminster. Westminster Hall and the Jewel Tower are the only parts of the palace which survived a huge fire in 1834. A lucky change of wind direction saved the Hall, but the original Houses of Parliament had to be rebuilt in their current Victorian neo-Gothic style. Westminster Hall was completed in 1099 and was designed to impress. It was a place for feasts, entertainment and great state occasions. The Hall has played many different roles over the course of history. It was first built as a courtroom where famous names like Guy Fawkes and William Wallace were tried. Then it was used for lavish coronation banquets for new monarchs. It’s one of the largest undivided medieval spaces in the world, topped with a hammer-beam roof, and is still the back-drop for important ceremonial events and used for important visitors like Nelson Mandela and Barack Obama. Remember to check out the plaques on the floor that mark famous historic events, such as the trial of Thomas More and Charles I. I had chills run down my spine as I hovered above the spot where Nelson Mandela stood to address both Houses of Parliament in 1996. Apart from Stephen’s Hall, Westminster Hall is the only place where you are allowed to take photos.

ST STEPHENS HALL

From Westminster Hall the audio tour continues into Stephen’s Hall. After the 1834 fire, architect Charles Barry won the competition to redesign the Houses of Parliament, whilst Augustus Pugin designed the interior. The Houses of Parliament were rebuilt in their current splendid neo-gothic style and inspired by medieval art. The Palace of Westminster is the largest neo-gothic building in the world and is covered in symbolic details, both inside and out. St Stephen’s Hall is stunning, with its painted walls and many statues. I was so glad we were able to take at least a couple of photos in here.

THE CENTRAL LOBBY ROOM

The tour then goes on to Central Lobby. This hall is the crossroads between the House of Lords and the House of Commons. If all the doors are left open you can see all the way from the Royal Throne at one end to the Speaker’s Chair at the other. It is an octagonal room that links four hallways in total. Above each archway are mosaics of the patron saints of England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland.  The roof  is said to be the widest stone-vaulted roof in existence and its interior features many symbolic carvings and mosaics. The Central Lobby is often featured in political news stories. It is where all interviews are held and where the public can come and “lobby” (request to see) their local Member of Parliament. If you present yourself at the desk then your local MP is duty bound to speak to you, as long as your reasons is genuine of course. The House of Lords and the House of Commons are accessed from opposite sides of the lobby.

THE QUEEN’S ROBING ROOM

As the tour moves further through the building it follows the route the Queen usually takes when she visits for the State Opening of Parliament. After entering the Houses of Parliament through the ‘Sovereign’s Entrance’, shed heads to the Queen’s Robing Room, where she puts on her crown and cloak. The Queen’s Robing Room is decorated with paintings of Arthurian legends and features a grand throne of gold and purple. This throne was designed by Queen Victoria and comes with a special footstool. Did you know that Queen Victoria was less than five-foot tall. The footstool thus stopped her feet from dangling off the floor!

THE ROYAL GALLERY

The Royal Gallery is a magnificent room between the Lord’s Chamber and the Robing Room. This is one of the longest rooms in the Palace, decorated in red and gold, Palace and with two very large frescoes on each wall showing great British military victories. One depicts Nelson’s moment of triumph at the Battle of Trafalgar (at the exact same moment he got shot), whilst the other shows the Duke of Wellington’s meeting with Marshal Blucher at the Battle of Waterloo. Though in the interest of Anglo-French relations there are apparently hooks above the pictures so they can be covered up with curtains when French Heads of State pay a visit! Looking down and around the rest of the walls are portraits of our most modern monarchs, from George I to our very own Queen. The alcove contains an ornate Book of Remembrance for the many peers and their sons who died during WWII. On the floor in front of the book is a rough piece of wood, which came from a jetty used in the D-Day landings. Next to it is a box which is divided into five sections, each of which is full of sand. The sections are labelled Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno and Sword: the names of the D-Day landing beaches.

THE PRINCES CHAMBER

The next room in the tour is the Prince’s Chamber, an anteroom where the Lords can meet to discuss business. The walls are covered with paintings of 28 Tudor monarchs – including Henry VIII and all of his wives. There is also a series of paintings about the Spanish Armada.

THE HOUSE OF LORDS

Then it’s on into the House of Lords, one of the most lavishly decorated parts of the building, full of deep golds and bright reds. Having seen it so many times on TV, the biggest surprises for me were the beautiful stained glass windows, wood carvings and frescoes above the benches. That and the forest of microphones which hang down to capture every word of the debates. At the front of the room is an ornate throne where the Queen sits, partly made of solid gold. In front of it, the Woolsack – a big red cushion where the Speaker of the House of Lords sits. It gets its odd name from its 14th-century origins, when Edward III decided that his Lord Chancellor should sit on a bale of wool to show how important the wool trade was to the country. It’s still made of wool today, though unfortunately we weren’t allowed to test out how comfortable it is. In fact you are not allowed to sit on any of the benches and there are signs everywhere warning you not to do so. At this point it’s important to mention that this is a very long tour (at least 75 minutes long) and that your feet might indeed get tired.

MEMBER’S LOBBY

The Member’s Lobby features some of the best paintings of the Houses of Parliament. Here you will also find very imposing statues of Churchill, Lloyd George, Atlee and Thatcher, as well of smaller busts of all the prime ministers (apart from Tony Blair and Gordon Brown). If you look closer at the entrance arch, you will notice some bomb damage to the stone, dating back to the Second World War.

THE HOUSE OF COMMONS

The final room to visit on the tour is the House of Commons. Whilst the public is allowed to visit this space, the Queen, according to tradition, isn’t. What struck me most as I moved from the House of Lords to the House of Commons was how patently different the two rooms were. The House of Lords glows in hues of gold, red, and blue, and is floodlit by ornate stained glass windows. In contrast, the House of Commons is simple and subdued, with green leather benches and a brown carpet. This part of the building was, in fact, completely rebuilt in the 1950s, after having been completely destroyed by bombs during the Blitz. It was built by architect Giles Gilbert Scott, who also designed Waterloo Bridge, Battersea Power Station and the red Telephone Box. The room retains its original proportions and is thus deceptively small. This creates a very intense atmosphere during debates. In fact the green benches only seat about two-thirds of the MPs so during busy debates the room is overflowing with people. The Speaker’s chair is at the end of the room, with the Government to their right and the Opposition to their left. I never felt closer to my grandad than in that moment picturing him sitting there, on of the Government’s benches and calmly but passionately getting involved in the heated debates at hand.

THE AUDIO TOUR OF THE HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT

There are two ways to see the interior of the Houses of Parliament, either with a guided tour or with the new self-guided audio tour that was launched earlier this year.

We really enjoyed walking around the Houses of Parliament unaccompanied, whilst everyone else was shepherded around by a tour guide. Audio-Guide in hand it is very easy to avoid big tour groups (that have a tendency to obstruct your view), groups if you don’t mind varying your walking pace a bit.

We made sure to listen to every chapter of the audio-guide (there are a couple of additional ones that you can skip should you so choose) and were impressed by the amount of detail, some of which, I believe, is not included on the guided tour.

It was wonderful learning about some of the processes of Parliament whilst actually standing in the space. I didn’t realise for example that if there is a ‘vote’ in Parliament a bell rings throughout the building (and in certain local pubs). MP’s then have 8 minutes to cast their vote. If they don’t make it, the door is slammed in their face! The audio tour really brought the Houses of Parliament to life.

Opting for the self-guided audio tour also means that you don’t need to worry about standing at the front of the group, in order to hear your guide, nor are you rushed to keep to a schedule. Instead, you can walk through the Houses of parliament at a much more leisurely pace.

The audio guides are easy to use, and there are adult and family versions available, both of which follow the same route.  It’s in the style of a live news broadcast, with time travelling reporters reporting on stories associated with the Houses of Parliament, such as Magna Carta in 1215 and the Gunpowder Plot in 1605. Both the family and the adult audio tours take about an hour – but you can spend longer if you like, starting and stopping the audio guide as you go along.

From the Commons it’s back to Westminster Hall and the end of the tour. The Palace of Westminster is a fascinating place to visit, and we definitely learnt a huge amount about the history and traditions that lie at the heart of British politics. But having learnt the theory I now want to go back and see it in practice – to experience the Houses of Parliament as they should be, packed full of people with the shouts of politicians heckling each other across the benches. So next time I’ll be joining the queue for the public gallery to see how it’s really done!

I found the tour fascinating and would definitely recommend it. There’s a real sense of living history as you walk around the Palace buildings.

Given its architecture, historical significance, and current significance, I would recommend visiting the Houses of Parliament over the Tower of London and even Windsor Castle. I think there’s more to see at the Houses of Parliament and the building is large enough that you definitely get a ‘castle’ feel when you walk through it. It’s also right smack dab in the centre of London, unlike Windsor. The Tower of London is a little more accessible, but can’t compete with the Houses of Parliament when it comes to its interiors.

THE DETAILS

The Houses of Parliament are open to the public most Saturdays and selected weekdays during the summer, Easter and Christmas Parliamentary recesses –  Visit Parliament  have a list of the latest dates.

You can choose between a guided or audio tour, both available in a range of languages. Audio tours take about an hour and cost £18.50 per adult (concessions £16 and free entry for one child under 15 per adult). Guided tours take about 100 minutes and cost £25.50 per adult (concessions £21 and children £11).

If you’re a UK resident you can also arrange a free guided tour via your Member of Parliament, which is the only way you can get up into the Big Ben clocktower too, though you need to book about six months in advance.

Booking and further info:  www.parliament.uk/visiting

Note: photography is not allowed on the tour, so some of the images used are Parliamentary copyright and are reproduced with the permission of Parliament under Creative Commons.

Disclaimer: As is common in the travel industry, I was provided with a complimentary tour for the purpose of the review. While it has not influenced this review, I believe in full disclosure of all potential conflicts of interest.

Have you ever been inside the Houses of Parliament? Comment below and let us know!

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ABOUT KATHARINA

Katharina is the founder, editor, photographer and the main travel writer at A Life Beautifully Travelled. She created this British family travel blog in 2017 to document her adventures around the globe with her husband. Born in Munich, Germany she has since lived in Dusseldorf, Paris, Glasgow, and London. She currently resides in Yorkshire with her family.

Katharina started travelling in her early teens and has explored over 4 continents, 16 countries, and 87 cities. Growing up trilingual and having graduated from an international school, she has a strong interest in other cultures. When she isn’t gallivanting around the globe or busy in her 9-to-5 job as an architect, she can be found exploring the UK (the country she currently calls home). There isn’t much Katharina, her husband and their son Finn love more than a fun family weekend getaway.

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14 thoughts on “An Audio Tour of the Houses of Parliament”

An excellent visit thanks to David. And thank you to the police security for not arresting me for having a pocket knife! The audio system was excellent too please adopt it permenantly. I did not like Mrs Thatcher but her bronze staute is quite unfairly grotesque.

Wow, this looks interesting. I’m always so fascinated by the Houses Of Parliament when I to London but being inside and viewing all the different rooms must be incredible. I think I’d rather go for the audio tour rather than the guided tour as you can go at your own pace and really take everything in. I can imagine the guided tours do bring it to life a little though!

What a fascinating tour! I had no idea that it was available and like so many have been mystified about what was inside those grand buildings. Wonderful pictures too.

Now you know. And next time you get a chance you can visit inside.

Aaah, this is one experience that I would personally love to undergo! It looks so cool and unique as well. Thank you for sharing your experience with us 😀 I’ll surely be keeping this in mind.

Well, you don’t live too far away. You could hop on the Eurostar and come visit London. Then pop into the Houses of Parliament

Wow! This place looks like time has not passed it! I always wonder how they looked from the inside. I visited this while I was in UK but really never had the chance to see the insides.

I don’t think a lot of people realise that you can visit inside. It’s really easy to get a ticket though. you should do it next time

I love your personal connection – I can absolutely see why you wanted to go! We went on a tour last year to tie in with the Suffragette film and that was fascinating – not too different from your audio tour. We thought it was great.

Yes they had a short section on the suffragettes. Maybe a left-over? It was really interesting

I just had to comment on how great the photos are!! Looks like definitely something to do when in London!

Oh thank you, Valter. that’s so nice of you to say. Yes it should definitely feature on your to-do list in London

That is so cool! I want to go and see it. I bet it was very informational and fun!

It really was. I was so excited to go and we learned so much. Definitely a must see in London.

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Explore the palace of westminster this summer.

This summer explore the Palace of Westminster and discover its rich history. Book now for tours of UK Parliament 

The Palace of Westminster is home to the House of Commons and the House of Lords, where Members of Parliament meet.

Discover the heritage of the Palace of Westminster and choose between a guided tour accompanied by an expert tour guide or go at your own pace using a multimedia guide.

Both tours include the Chambers of the House of Commons and the House of Lords. You will also follow in the footsteps of the Queen at State Opening, take in the ornate decor of the Royal Gallery, and explore medieval Westminster Hall with its connections to Guy Fawkes and King Charles I.

During the fun and informative 90-minute guided tour in English, you will find out about the history and work of UK Parliament. Alternatively, discover the heart of UK politics at your own pace using the video and audio stories on the multimedia device. Immerse yourself in the history, art, and architecture of the building, and find out what happens today at UK Parliament.

Offered in ten languages, the self-guided tour is suitable for children of all ages, with specially designed content for younger visitors.

Booking Information

All tours can be booked online . We recommend that you book in advance as places are limited.

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Multimedia Tour - Houses of Parliament

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Multimedia Tour

This place really is a 5, but here's why I dinged it. First, I'm an American with a political science degree, so to visit the Palace of Westminster was on my bucket-list. We went on a Saturday, and did the multi-media tour (self-paced with audioguide). Okay, the 4: St. Stephen's Hall was being restored, so the statues, the paintings, the glass windows - yea, couldn't see any of it. You're only allowed to take photos in St. Stephen's Hall and Westminster Hall, so that was really a bummer. And even though on a Saturday nothing is in session, no photos where you really want to take them: the House of Lords and the House of Commons. But what a fantastic place to visit. Price was 45 GBP for 2 adults, 2 young teens, so a bit pricey too.

I visited this place for a champagne reception. It was grand. Didn’t get a tour of it just visited the terrace bar. Very powsh

Visited Speakers House which was fantastic, Phil was the guide and it was his first one. He was outstanding and so incredibly knowledgeable! Would definitely visit again!

My favourite part of the experience was the guide ( Phil ) he is brilliant. He made the experience funny and interesting and the same time . I loved the building and his history . I was with my classmates and teachers. All of us happy and satisfied about the visit . Many thanks

UK residents can book a free tour of the Houses of Parliament through their MP. Highly recommend doing so as we all really enjoyed the tour with our fantastic tour guide Phil who made it extremely interesting and entertaining. My husband and two children (12 and 10) also really enjoyed it. Definitely organise this when planning your trip to London!

Phil, our excellent guide, showed us the marvel that is the Houses of Parliament. To be able to walk through the House of Commons and House of Lords was incredible. This is a must visit if you’re in London: especially if you’re a UK citizen. It’s free too!

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Ticket Alert: Tour Speaker's House Inside UK Parliament This Summer

This is a sponsored article on behalf of UK Parliament .

Love going behind the scenes in places that the public don’t usually get to go? Us too — and we've got a treat for you: tours of Speaker's House at UK Parliament.

It's a rare chance to see inside the magnificent State Apartments of Speaker’s House , where the Speaker resides and conducts official business, a space that has been hosting royalty and heads of state for over 160 years. The Grand Staircase, the Crimson Drawing Room, the State Dining Room, and the State Bedroom all feature on the 75-minute guided tour — which is fully accessible.

The tour begins and ends in Westminster Hall, where you can see and take photos of the impressive Speaker’s State Coach, currently on display. It was historically used in Coronation ceremonies, and Westminster Hall was the site where Coronation banquets were held until the 19th century, making 2023 the perfect time to visit.

Not entirely sure who the Speaker is, or what they do? Fear not, you'll hear all about the history and traditions of the role of the Speaker as part of your tour — and get a chance to see a unique set of 46 portraits of Speakers through the years.

These tours only launched last year, and only take place at certain times of year, during parliamentary recesses, so it’s a fantastic opportunity to see a unique space within UK Parliament that rarely gets seen by the public.

Everyone's welcome on the Speaker's House tours — and fans of history, art and politics in particular will love it — though they're best suited to age 16+. Got little ones in tow? Why not book a family-friendly guided tour or multimedia tour of the Palace of Westminster instead?

Alternatively, why not make a day of it and do both? You can book guided or multimedia tours of the Palace of Westminster before or after your tour of Speaker's House — and there's a cafe on site where you can head in between tours to refresh and really take in your surroundings. The multimedia tour of UK Parliament is ideal for taking things at your own pace, and focusing on the aspects of the world-famous building that really interest you.

All profits from these tours go to the Speaker’s Art Fund, (registered charity number 1105968) which supports arts and educational projects with a focus on increasing understanding of Parliamentary democracy across the UK.

Speaker's House tours are only available 24 July-2 September 2023, and are likely to sell out, so book soon. Tickets are £20 per person/£12 for 16-24 year olds. On selected dates, you can add on a multimedia tour of UK Parliament for £25 per person/£18 for 16-24 year olds.

Last Updated 23 June 2023

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Event celebrates opening of Elizabeth Tower multimedia tour

Words:  Rebecca Hardy

| 2 min read

Guided tour explores the history and significance of the iconic landmark with archival material, artefacts and models

Event, the  experience design agency , is celebrating the opening of the Elizabeth Tower tour at the Palace of Westminster. The new exhibition spaces were officially revealed by Sir Lindsay Hoyle , Speaker of the House of Commons, on 4 September.

The tour, designed by Event, consists of four new spaces which provide an insight into the political, cultural and social significance of the Elizabeth Tower. This experience also offers visitors the opportunity to take a close look at the famous clock’s mechanism and bells, including Big Ben.

The Elizabeth Tower conservation programme took place from 2017 to 2022 and is the most extensive restoration programme in the building’s history. The launch of these exhibition spaces marks the final stage in the public reopening.

Climbing the clock tower

Event has transformed the tower’s 334-step climb into a multisensory and engaging tour, which is led by an expert guide.

Visitors will learn about the clock tower’s fascinating history through famous and lesser-known tales from the building’s history. These narratives are interlaced, ranging from iconic appearances in popular culture to behind-the-scenes stories about the difficulty of constructing and maintaining the amazing construction. The tour also explores the building’s significance as a national symbol of resilience in times of difficulty.

The new exhibition spaces include a range of archival material, artefacts and models to support the tour guides’ storytelling. Event has designed these new features so that they can be customised to the needs of each tour group. Media, lighting and sound are all controlled by the tour guides.

As guests ascend the tower, the tour is designed to build excitement through rich storytelling. It concludes with a series of experiences which focus on the clock and bells – with guests reaching the top to stand next to Big Ben as it strikes the hour.

Rosie Wanek , senior designer at Event, comments: “We really wanted to create something where visitors have the opportunity to connect to the Elizabeth Tower story – wherever they are coming from – but also give them space to experience the clock and the building up close.”

Event’s project Oman Across Ages was recently shortlisted for the World Architecture Festival 2023 in the completed buildings, culture category. The firm will present the project to the judging panel at the World Architecture Festival in Singapore, taking place 29 November – 1 December.

Images ©UK Parliament/Maria Unger

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Buckingham Palace’s Famous Balcony—Where Prince William and Kate Middleton Shared Their Iconic Wedding Kiss—Will Open to the Public This Summer

For the first time in history, guests will be able to take in the balcony's epic view for themselves.

Getty Images / Chris Ison - PA Images / Contributor

We all remember that picture-perfect moment on April 29, 2011: Minutes after Prince William and Kate Middleton tied the knot in Westminster Abbey , they stepped out onto Buckingham Palace’s balcony, where they shared a few sweet kisses and waved to the thousands people below and beyond. This resulted in some of their wedding’s most iconic images—and starting this July, royal fans will be able to see the site of that epic kiss in person for the very first time in history. The palace’s East Wing will officially be open to visitors this summer after a major restoration project, the Royal Collection Trust revealed in a new press release. “The East Wing encompasses the front façade of the historic building and features the famous central balcony, where the Monarch and members of the Royal Family have gathered for public appearances during special occasions or historic moments since 1851,” the release shared.

These special guided tours, which will run through July and August, have been half a decade in the making. “Access this year has been made possible due to the conclusion of more than five years of improvement works to the East Wing,” palace officials reported in the release. “The essential works are part of the Buckingham Palace Reservicing Programme to upgrade the historic building’s infrastructure, improve access, and preserve it for future generations.”

Getty Images / Peter Macdiarmid / Staff

Though seeing the balcony—where the royal family gathers for wedding announcements, coronations, the annual Trooping the Colour ceremony, and more—will undoubtedly be the highlight of guests’ tour of the property’s Principal Floor, there will be plenty of other sights, rooms, and objects to take in. “Led by expert guides, small groups of visitors will be able to visit spectacular rooms on the Principal Floor, furnished with highlights from the Royal Collection,” read the press release, which notes that the balcony will be the final point of the tour. “Visitors will discover the history of the Wing, first occupied by Queen Victoria, Prince Albert and their children and still used by the Royal Family today for official meetings and events.”

Getty Images / Tim Graham / Contributor

The wing itself is nearly 200 years old, and has been a key part of royal life since its completion in 1849. “At the request of Queen Victoria, the architect Edward Blore was commissioned to draw up plans for alterations to Buckingham Palace, in order to increase the accommodation for her growing family,” noted the release. “Between 1847 and 1849, the East Wing was added, enclosing what had previously been an open, horseshoe-shaped courtyard, following George IV’s conversion of Buckingham House into a Palace to the designs of John Nash.”

If you’re planning a trip to London this summer, you’ll want to add this once-in-a-lifetime tour to your itinerary—and you’ll need to act fast, since space is limited. “A limited number of East Wing Highlights Tours will run daily in July and August, from Monday, 15 July,” explained the release. “Tours must be booked in addition to the standard admission ticket to the State Rooms at Buckingham Palace. The Palace will be open for seven days a week during July and August for the first time since 2019, returning to five days a week during September.”

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Where is Bridgerton filmed? The real life locations to visit for a tour of ‘the ton’

Bridgerton  has bewitched viewers with epic love stories, 1800s etiquette and elegant sets since the show first aired in 2020 and Netflix is soon headed back to the Regency-era Ton for season three.

The series, based on Julia Quinn ’s novels, have been hailed for their backdrop to the Georgian high society marriage mart seen on screen.

For ‘Polin’ season, lead love interests Penelope Featherington and Colin Bridgerton will undoubtedly promenade parks in bloom, quadrille at lavish balls and court at country homes across England .

Though set in Mayfair, London with houses intended to sit in the elite Grosvenor Square, Lady Whistledown’s scandal sheets actually deliver to filming locations across Bath , London and Surrey .

With many of the stately homes ticketed and open to the public outside of filming periods, here are the real-life locations you can visit for a behind-the-scenes tour of the sordid ‘ton’.

Where is Bridgerton filmed?

Aside from the manors that host the Bridgerton, Featherington and Sharma families, filming locations for the series are scattered across the country.

In the capital, the cameras have rolled at The Old Royal Naval College, and in West Sussex, the National Trust property Petworth Park houses the art collections visited by members of the high society in the first two seasons.

Painshill Park in Cobham, Surrey and the grounds of Windsor Great Park was used for couples to promenade in place of Primrose Hill and intense horse riding scenes between Anthony and Kate.

Elsewhere, locations spanning Bath have set up shots of Regency ‘London’ including Beauford Square and The Abbey Deli – a real-life cafe on Abbey St that doubles as the Modiste Dress Shop.

Ranger’s House, Greenwich

The exterior of the Bridgerton home of siblings A to H is filmed at Ranger’s House, an art gallery located in Blackheath to the west of Greenwich Park . The Georgian red-brick mansion is adorned with wisterias and houses the Wernher Collection of art – a ticketed gallery of 700 works of art from Renaissance to French tapestries.

Halton House, Buckinghamshire

Inside the leading family’s home, interiors in hues of blue including the spiral staircase and grand hall were shot in Buckinghamshire’s Grade II-listed Halton House, historically the main officers’ mess for RAF Halton.

As for the Bridgerton’s elegant country estate, Aubrey Hall in Hertfordshire on 2,500 acres of the Wrotham Park estate hosts the family's summer jollies in the countryside.

Royal Crescent, Bath

Exterior shots of the Featherington’s flamboyant house are filmed outside the famed No 1 Royal Crescent in Bath, with Basildon Park in Reading used to portray the grand gardens at the rear of the estate.

Now a functioning townhouse museum, visitors can take an immersive tour to see art from 1776-1796 and dress up Regency-style in Georgian dressing rooms.

Hatfield House, Hertfordshire

The Featherington’s lemon and lime interiors are filmed in Hatfield House, also the set of the gentlemen’s club frequented by the Bridgerton brothers. A Grade I listed country house built by Robert Cecil in 1611, Jacobean decor including mosaic portraits will likely be spotted in the background of lead character Penelope’s home throughout season three.

Holburne Museum of Art, Bath

Bath’s Holburne Museum of Art sets the scene for external shots of Lady Danbury’s pillared cream mansion. Interiors of the home that frequently hosts the Duke of Hastings and the Sharmas in seasons one and two were filmed at Badminton House in Gloucestershire and Wilton House, the country seat of the Earls of Pembroke, in Salisbury.

Hampton Court Palace, East Moseley

Queen Charlotte’s supposed Buckingham and St James Palace facades during Anthony Bridgerton’s opulent wedding to Edwina Sharma – the season’s diamond – were filmed at Hampton Court Palace, East Moseley. The Privy Garden and the baroque Tudor home of Henry VIII also appeared in  the Bridgerton  spin-off  Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story .

Lancaster House, Westminster

As for the interiors of the Queen of England’s royal abodes, the Queen’s parlour, drawing room and jewellery room were shot in Lancaster House – a mansion on The Mall with staircases built to echo Versailles , marble finish walls and a long gallery fit for hosting coronation banquets and afternoon teas galore.

Part one of Bridgerton series three is streaming on Netflix from 16 May.

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