What is it?
The centre of political life in the UK, housed in the labyrinthine Palace of Westminster on the banks of the Thames. This location has been the permanent seat of Parliament since 1532, when Henry VIII presided over intricate Tudor political wranglings.
Still, most of the current Palace is quite a bit newer than you might expect: the Parliament buildings were designed in 1860 by Charles Barry (ably assisted by Augustus Pugin) to replace the original building, which had been destroyed by fire in 1834. It's a wonderful mish-mash of styles, dominated by Gothic buttresses, towers and arches – plus the world-famous Elizabeth Tower housing Big Ben. It's also dauntingly vast, with 1,000 rooms, 11 courtyards, eight bars and six restaurants, plus a small cafeteria for visitors. Of the original palace, only the Jewel Tower and, within the Parliament buildings, Westminster Hall, remain.
Why go?
If you've ever found yourself glued to 'Prime Minister's Question Time' or listened out for the bongs of Big Ben, you'll be exhilarated to find yourself in the heart of the action: the place where massive decisions about the UK's future are made.
Visitors to House of Parliament have three main options;
Palace of Westminster: Discover the history of this elaborate building and get insights in the modern-day workings of Parliament on this tour, available as a 90-minute guided visit or as a self-led audio guide.
Speaker's House: This 75-minute tour takes you inside the historic Speaker's House, which features portraits of stretching back through the centuries, as well as many fascinating artworks, curios, and grand interiors.
Big Ben: Feeling fit? Climb the 334 step spiral staircase of Elizabeth Tower, which houses one of the world's most famous clocks. This 90-minute guided tour will clue you in on the fascinating story of this timepiece's renovation and show you its intricate mechanism before you get to stand right by the clock's face itself in action as it marks the hour, your whole body vibrating with each stroke. Warning: it gets seriously loud. Ear defenders provided.
Don’t miss:
Tickets for the Big Ben tour also include the chance to explore the magnificent medieval Westminster Hall, built in 1097 for William II, and the only part of the original palace that survives more of less unscathed. Its vaulted wooden ceiling is heartstoppingly beautiful.
When to visit:
This is a busy working complex of buildings, so tour timings may vary according to parliamentary business. Palace of Westminster tours are generally available on Saturdays, and Monday-Saturday during parliamentary recess (e.g. in Easter, August, and over Christmas). Speaker's House tours are available during parliamentary recess periods only. Big Ben tours are available Monday to Saturday, with some days for scheduled maintenance: tickets are released three months in advance, and sell out fast.
Ticket info:
Palace of Westminster tours are £27, £10-£20 concs. Speaker's House tours are £21, £14 concs, and only available to over-16s. Big Ben tours are £35, 20 concs, and only available to over-11s. Whichever option you go for, bear in mind that the latter two tours are seriously popular, so planning ahead is essential. Big Ben tickets are released on the second Wednesday of every month at 10am: set your alarm!
Time Out tip:
Photos aren't allowed on the Big Ben tour, so make sure you get some decent clock selfies at ground level before you work up a sweat climbing those steps.