The Houses of Parliament in a nutshell
The Houses of Parliament and the Palace of Westminster are two names for the same building complex in Westminster, in the centre of London. The postcode is SW1A 0AA. Inside are the House of Commons, the House of Lords and Westminster Hall. The palace and Westminster Abbey are listed together as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, entered in 1987, but they are separate visits with separate tickets.
There are two very different ways in. A paid guided or audio tour shows you the architecture and history of the palace. Watching a debate from the public gallery is free, but it only works when a House is sitting, and it does not include a tour. This guide explains both, plus Prime Minister's Questions, Westminster Hall, the tower, tea, the rules at the door and the way there.
This is an independent site, not run by the UK Parliament, the Commons or the Lords, and not connected to any tour company. Prices are in pounds (£), as listed for 2026, and they change. For the clock tower and the bell, Big Ben has its own guide. If you also plan to see a royal residence, Buckingham Palace has one too.
Six ways to see inside
Pick by what you want to see, not by the cheapest price.
| Way in | Price in 2026 | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Guided tour | £40 adult in advance | About 90 minutes, in English, Commons, Lords and more rooms |
| Audio tour | £31 adult in advance | Self-guided, about 90 minutes, more than 15 stops |
| Debate in the public gallery | Free | Only when a House is sitting, queue at Cromwell Green |
| Prime Minister's Questions | Free | Wednesday at 12:00 in sitting weeks, see the PMQs page for how to get in |
| Elizabeth Tower tour | £55 adult | Separate ticket, 334 steps, visitors aged 11 and over |
| Free guided tour for UK residents | Free | 75 minutes, request up to 3 months ahead, residents only |
Details for each are on the pages for tours, tickets and watching a debate.
Our picks: Westminster tours
Two ways inside the Houses of Parliament, and a river trip from Westminster that stays outside.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in British pounds (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Parliament and Westminster Abbey with a local guide
Entry and a guided visit inside both the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey, with no queue at the Abbey and a local English-speaking guide. Tips and hotel transfer are not included.
Check availability →
Inside Parliament with a political audio guide
Reserved entry inside the Houses of Parliament with a Parliament audio guide and an audio app, and a host at the meeting point. There is no personal guide, headphones and a device for the app are not included, and neither is a Big Ben ticket.
Check availability →
Thames cruise from Westminster to Tower Bridge
A boat trip from Westminster to Bankside and Tower Bridge with audio commentary and an app guide in six languages. It does not include a visit inside Parliament, and food, drinks and tips are extra.
Check availability →Houses of Parliament and Westminster tours
Guided visits, Westminster walks, river trips and afternoon tea, with live prices and availability.
Plan your visit
One page for every question you are likely to have.
Guided and audio tours
What each tour covers, which days they run and which one suits families.
Ticket prices and booking
Prices by age group for 2026, the family example and where to buy.
Watch a debate
Public galleries, sitting times and committees, with no ticket needed.
Prime Minister's Questions
Tickets for UK residents and the queue for everyone else.
Westminster Hall
The oldest part of the palace and the debates held next to it.
Elizabeth Tower
The tower of Big Ben and how its separate tours work.
Afternoon tea
The Terrace Pavilion, the Jubilee Café and what each one is.
History, rules and getting around
Everything around the visit itself.
History of the palace
The fire of 1834, the rebuilding and the restoration plans.
Security and visitor rules
Bag size, banned items, photos and step-free access.
Westminster Abbey
Tickets, hours and the short walk from Parliament Square.
How to get there
Westminster station, bus routes, walking from the main stations.
Best time to visit
Saturdays, recess weeks, sitting days and monthly weather.
Where to stay
Which areas near Westminster suit a visit to Parliament.
A few things to know before you plan
The points that most often change a plan.
Prices depend on age group
For tickets bought from 1 September 2026, an adult pays £40 for the guided tour and £31 for the audio tour in advance. Young adults aged 16 to 24, children aged 5 to 15 and UK Armed Forces pay less, and children under 5 are free with a ticket.
Ticket prices →PMQs is open to visitors from abroad
Advance tickets are for UK residents, but anyone can join the queue and be admitted if gallery seats are free. There is no guarantee, so allow for waiting.
PMQs →The tower tour is a separate ticket
The tour up the Elizabeth Tower is open to visitors from the UK and abroad aged 11 and over. For tours from 1 August 2026 it costs £55 for adults. The palace audio tour does not include the climb.
Elizabeth Tower →Tea has two meanings here
The Terrace Pavilion afternoon tea is an event hire format. For visitors, the Jubilee Café sells a cream tea for £7.
Afternoon tea →The Abbey is a different ticket
Westminster Abbey charges its own entry, £32 for adults in October 2026. It is not part of a Parliament ticket.
Westminster Abbey →More independent guides to London
Separate guides from the same team, each focused on one London landmark.
Houses of Parliament: frequently asked questions
Can I just walk into the Houses of Parliament?
Not for a tour. Tours need a ticket and a time. The free way in is the public gallery during a debate, with a queue and a security check. See the page on watching a debate.
How much does a tour cost?
For tickets bought from 1 September 2026, adults pay £40 for the guided tour and £31 for the audio tour in advance. Tickets bought on the day cost £43 and £34. The full table is on the tickets page.
On which days can I tour the palace?
Tours run on Saturdays all year, and from Monday to Saturday when Parliament is in recess. A tour can change at short notice when the building is needed for parliamentary business, so check your booking before you travel. See best time to visit.
Can visitors from abroad watch Prime Minister's Questions?
Yes, if there is space. Advance tickets are for UK residents, but others may queue and are admitted when gallery seats are free. Details are on the PMQs page.
Can I go up Big Ben?
Yes, on a separate tower tour for visitors aged 11 and over, at £55 for adults. It is not part of the palace tours. The clock, the bell and the tower have their own guide on big-ben.org.
Is this the website of the UK Parliament?
No. This is an independent travel guide with no link to the UK Parliament, the House of Commons, the House of Lords or any tour operator.