Two tours of the Palace of Westminster
The guided tour takes about 90 minutes and is given in English. It leads through the House of Commons, the House of Lords and further rooms of the palace. The audio tour is self-guided. Plan about 90 minutes for it as well. It has more than 15 stops, including Westminster Hall, the Central Lobby and both chambers.
Neither tour goes up the clock tower. That is a separate tour, covered below and on the page about the Elizabeth Tower. Regular paid tours are open to visitors from the UK and from abroad.
Guided tour or audio tour
Prices are for tickets bought from 1 September 2026, per person, booked in advance.
| Guided tour | Audio tour | |
|---|---|---|
| Length | About 90 minutes | About 90 minutes, at your own pace |
| Language | English | Many languages, see below |
| Route | Commons, Lords and further palace rooms | More than 15 stops including Westminster Hall, Central Lobby and both chambers |
| Adult price | £40 | £31 |
| Child aged 5 to 15 | £20 | £12, one child free per paying adult |
| Under 5 | Free, ticket needed | Free, ticket needed |
| Group rate | – | From 10 tickets, £27 adult and £9 child |
| Clock tower | Not included | Not included |
The full price list, with day-of prices, is on the tickets page.
Our picks: Parliament tours
A self-guided audio visit, a guided visit with the Abbey and a combined option.
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 →
Westminster Abbey and Parliament, choose your option
The Abbey entry with a guided visit and the Parliament entry with an audio guide are each included only with the matching option. Other monuments, 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 →Parliament and Westminster tours
Guided visits, Westminster walks and river trips, with live prices and availability. Check what each one includes before you book.
What to know before you choose
Days, languages, families and the free option.
Which days tours run
Tours run on Saturdays all year. When Parliament is in a sitting break, they generally run from Monday to Saturday. For any other day, check the timetable. Parliamentary business can change the route or the time at short notice, so a Saturday is never a promise. See best time to visit.
Audio tour languages
The audio tour is offered in English, British Sign Language, German, Spanish, French, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Mandarin, Japanese, Korean and Welsh. There is also an English programme for children and English audio description. Check the current language list at booking.
With children
The family offer is the self-guided audio tour with a quiz and games, plus a family trail booklet for about ages 5 to 7. The audio tour suits younger children. The guided tour is recommended from about age 12. All ages are admitted, but the guided tour is not recommended under 5.
Free tour for UK residents
Residents of the UK can request the free 75-minute tour called Inside UK Parliament, up to 3 months ahead, through their MP or directly with the Visitor Experience Team. It does not run at weekends or on bank holidays. The condition is living in the UK, not holding a British passport.
The tower tour
Going up the Elizabeth Tower is its own ticket, £55 for adults and £35 for ages 11 to 17 for tours from 1 August 2026. It has 334 steps and takes up to 90 minutes. More on the Big Ben tower tour.
Photos and security
Private photos are allowed in Westminster Hall, St Stephen's Hall and New Palace Yard, but not in other parts of the tour route. Tripods are banned. Arrive at least 20 minutes before your ticket time for the security check. See visitor rules.
Which tour suits you
A short way to decide.
Choose the guided tour if
you want someone to explain the rooms and answer questions, and English works for you. It costs £9 more than the audio tour for an adult.
Choose the audio tour if
you want your own pace, a language other than English, a family quiz or a cheaper ticket. Families with several children aged 5 to 15 can save more because of the free child rule.
Choose a debate instead if
you want to see Parliament at work. It is free and needs no ticket, but there is no tour and the chambers are not open for walking around. See watch a debate.
Keep planning
Pages that go with a tour.
Houses of Parliament tours: frequently asked questions
How long is a tour of the Houses of Parliament?
Plan about 90 minutes for the guided tour and for the audio tour. Add time for the security check before your ticket time.
Do tours include Big Ben?
No. Neither the guided tour nor the audio tour goes up the Elizabeth Tower. The tower has its own tour and its own ticket.
Are tours available in German?
The audio tour includes German. The guided tour is given in English.
Are tours open to visitors from abroad?
Yes. Regular paid tours can be booked by anyone. The free Inside UK Parliament tour is only for UK residents.
Can I tour the palace on a weekday?
Mainly when Parliament is in recess, when tours generally run from Monday to Saturday. Outside those breaks, Saturday is the regular tour day.