Can you go inside the Houses of Parliament?

Yes. Paid guided and self-guided tours run on Saturdays and during recesses, and you can watch debates from the public galleries when Parliament sits.

Who designed the Palace of Westminster?

The current building was designed by Sir Charles Barry after the fire of 1834.

Parliament runs separate Big Ben tours, which are booked on their own.

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Palace of Westminster

The Palace of Westminster is home to the House of Commons and House of Lords, on the Thames beside Westminster Bridge. Most of the building is Sir Charles Barry's Victorian rebuild after the fire of 1834, while Westminster Hall survives from the medieval palace. Visitors can tour it on Saturdays and during recesses.

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Minh-Chau Le

A working palace

Parliament has met on this site for centuries. A fire in 1834 destroyed most of the old palace, and Sir Charles Barry designed its Gothic Revival replacement. Westminster Hall, the oldest part of the estate, survived and has been central to around 900 years of British history, from coronation banquets to lyings-in-state.

Visiting

Tours run on Saturdays and on weekdays during parliamentary recesses, and must be booked ahead. You can choose a guided tour or a self-guided multimedia version; both take about 90 minutes and cover Westminster Hall and the Commons and Lords chambers. Separate tours of the Elizabeth Tower, home of Big Ben, are also offered. Visitors can also watch debates from the public galleries when the Houses are sitting.

Planning around it

Westminster Underground station is about two minutes' walk. The Jubilee Café near Westminster Hall serves cream teas after a tour. Westminster Abbey is across the road, and the London Eye is a short walk over Westminster Bridge, with the best photographs of the river frontage taken from the South Bank. Allow at least half a day if you plan to tour Parliament and the Abbey together.

Highlights

Westminster Hall, the oldest building on the estate
Commons and Lords chambers
Rebuilt by Sir Charles Barry after the 1834 fire
Saturday and recess tours
Separate Big Ben tours

Good to know

Tours must be booked in advance.
Tours run on Saturdays and weekdays in recess, lasting about 90 minutes.
Westminster station (District, Circle and Jubilee lines) is about two minutes away.