Tours of Westminster

Consituency Tours

We are able to arrange tours of Parliament for our consituents free of charge. The tours must be booked approximately a month in advance, and you will be required to provide your full address as proof of being in our consituency. To book a tour, contact us in writing, by email or by phone.

"Everyone (in our group) thoroughly enjoyed the tour and a number of people commented afterwards how good the guides had been and how much they had learned" Jennifer Labrom, on the Tour of Westminster.

"It was fun to see the PM and leader of the Labour party in such good humour... it was an enjoyable, educational and inspirational trip for both me and my mother" James Waddell, on Prime Minister's Question time.

"The tour was fascinating and most informative. The commentary was full of interesting details, delivered clearly and with humour... It was a great experience" Dr Menning on taking a Tour of Westminster.

Gordon Brown Prime Minister's Question Time

We are able to organise tickets for our consituents to sit in the gallery during Prime Minister's Question Time at midday on Wednesdays. However, we are only allocated three pairs of tickets per year, and these have already gone for 2009. They are obviously in very high demand and are very limited, so we regret that some of you will be disappointed. However, you can sit in the Public Gallery of the House of Commons for any other ministers (see below) or we are happy to arrange any other tour for you.

Houses of Parliament Tours of Parliament

Tours run differently on days when the house is sitting compared with those when the house is not sitting: You can find out when the House is sitting from the parliamentary website, http://www.parliament.uk/business/what_s_on.cfm

Sitting Days
Mondays 09.00 - 12 noon: Full tours
Tuesdays 09.00 - 12noon: Full tours
Wednesdays 09.00 - 09.56: Full Tours. 10.00 - 12noon: Lords only
Thursdays - No tours
Friday 15.30 - 17.00: Full tours

Non-Sitting Days and Recesses
Non sitting Fridays 09.30 - 17.00
Christmas / New Year - Closed
Easter and Spring Weekedays - 09.30 - 17.00
Whitsun Recess weekdays - 09.30 - 17.00
Prorogation - there will be no tours during the Prorogation period 28th Nov - 3rd Dec (inclusive)

Tours during Summer Recess
During July and August - Wdnesdays and Thursdays 09.30 - 12noon
During September and October - Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays 09.30 - 12noon

Big Ben2 Tours of Big Ben

Big Ben tours run Monday - Friday at 10.30, 11.30 and 14.30, and last 55 minutes. Please note that this tour involves climbing 334 spiral stone steps with only a small respite. There is no lift, therefore visitors should feel confident about making the climb and descent. This tours are in high demand so we recommend booking well in advance.

Debate Gallery Tickets

When the House is sitting, it is possible to arrange for you to sit in the public gallery of the House of Commons to watch the debate. This is particularly exciting during ministerial question times. For the Parliamentary programme, visit http://www.parliament.uk/business/what_s_on.cfm. Gallery tickets are usually available at 14.30pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, 11.30am on Wednesdays, 10.30am on Thursdays, and 9.30am on some Fridays, depending on when the House is sitting.