Watching a debate in Parliament is free
The public galleries of the House of Commons and the House of Lords are open to UK residents and to visitors from abroad. For general debates you need no ticket. You join the queue at Cromwell Green, pass the security check and are shown to a seat as space allows. Capacity is limited.
The galleries are open only while a House is sitting. That is usually Monday to Thursday, and on some sitting Fridays. A debate visit is not a tour: you sit in the gallery and listen, and you do not walk through the palace. If you want the rooms explained, see tours.
Usual sitting times by weekday
Local London time. End times are approximate and not fixed admission windows.
| Sitting day | House of Commons | House of Lords |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 14:30–22:30 | 14:30–22:00 |
| Tuesday | 11:30–19:30 | 14:30–22:00 |
| Wednesday | 11:30–19:30 | 15:00–22:00 |
| Thursday | 09:30–17:30 | 11:00–19:30 |
| Sitting Friday | 09:30–15:00 | From 10:00 until the House rises |
On a Thursday the Lords often finish around 19:00 rather than 19:30, so treat the end as a guide. Wednesday at 12:00 is Prime Minister's Questions, which has its own rules for getting in. See PMQs.
Westminster tours and experiences
If no House is sitting on your day, guided visits, walks and river trips fill the time, with live prices and availability.
How to plan a gallery visit
The days that work and the days that do not.
Check the day first
A weekday pattern is not enough. Whether a House sits, pauses or finishes early differs by day, so look at the daily parliamentary calendar before you travel. When neither House is sitting, the galleries are closed.
Recess weeks
Parliament breaks in summer, around the party conferences in September and October, and over Christmas. In 2026 both Houses rise for Christmas from 18 December until 4 January 2027. In recess, tours generally run on weekdays as well. See best time to visit.
The queue and the wait
A wait of 1 to 2 hours is common, and the Lords queue is usually shorter. That is not a promise for any particular day. Security can take about 30 minutes and longer on busy afternoons from Monday to Wednesday.
Step-free access
The Commons gallery is step-free. The Lords gallery is reached by stairs, and visitors who need step-free access are offered another place to watch from.
Bags and phones
Before you enter a gallery you must hand in your bags and mobile phone. They are kept safely, even though the building has no general cloakroom. Photos are not allowed in the galleries.
Banners and slogans
Banners, flags and political or offensive slogans, including on clothing, have to be handed in at security. See visitor rules.
Committees and other ways to watch
Smaller rooms, sometimes a better fit.
Public evidence sessions of committees are free for UK residents and visitors from abroad. Seats are limited and given in order of arrival. A committee often starts with a private discussion, and visitors are admitted afterwards, so the first minutes may be closed to you. The committee calendar gives the room and the time. Palace sessions use Cromwell Green. Sessions at Portcullis House use the Victoria Embankment entrance.
Westminster Hall debates take place in the Grand Committee Room next to the hall, not inside the medieval hall. They are free, need no booking and seats go by arrival. Allow at least 20 minutes for the security check and the walk, and arrive no earlier than an hour before the sitting. More on Westminster Hall.
If you cannot visit, public sittings and committees are shown live and as archive on Parliament TV.
Keep planning
Pages that go with a debate visit.
Watching a debate: frequently asked questions
Is it free to watch a debate in Parliament?
Yes. The public galleries are free for UK residents and visitors from abroad. For general debates you need no ticket.
When can I go?
Only while a House is sitting, usually Monday to Thursday and on some Fridays. The Commons galleries open in the late morning on Tuesday and Wednesday and in the afternoon on Monday. Check the daily calendar for your date.
How long will I wait?
One to two hours is common, and the Lords queue is usually shorter. It varies by day.
Can I take photos or my phone into the gallery?
No. You hand in bags and phones before you enter, and photography is not allowed in the galleries.
Can I see the rooms of the palace on a debate visit?
No. A debate visit takes you to the gallery only. To see the Commons, the Lords and other rooms, take a tour.