The oldest part of the palace
Westminster Hall is the oldest surviving part of the Houses of Parliament. Building began in 1097. That date belongs to the hall only. The rest of the palace you see from the river is much younger and was built after a fire in 1834 (see our history page for the whole palace, and the Big Ben history for the tower).
The hall survived that fire. Fire crews and a change in the wind kept the flames away from it, which is why a medieval room now sits at the heart of a Victorian palace. It also came through the bombing of 1941, when the roof was hit and the hall was made the priority to save.
This is an independent guide and is not affiliated with Parliament.
How to see Westminster Hall
Plan the hall as part of a visit, not as a stop of its own.
On a tour
Both the guided tour and the audio tour include Westminster Hall. The guided tour takes around 90 minutes in English and also covers the Commons, the Lords and other state rooms. The audio tour is self-guided, runs for about 90 minutes and has more than 15 stops, including the hall, the Central Lobby and both chambers.
Compare the tours →At a debate
Westminster Hall is a public area once you have passed the security check. If you come to watch a debate or a committee, you walk through it. Do not count on a free walk-in visit at fixed daily hours. The reliable ways in are a tour ticket or a visit to a sitting.
Watching a debate →Ask at the desk
Visitor assistants staff the information desk between 09:00 and 20:00 when the House is sitting. In recess the hours differ. The desk is there to help you find your way, not to promise access to any room.
Tours that include Westminster Hall
Guided and audio tours of the Palace of Westminster, plus other ways to see Westminster, with live prices and availability.
Westminster Hall debates are a different thing
Same name, different room.
Westminster Hall debates are held in the Grand Committee Room next to the hall, not in the medieval hall itself. They are free to watch, you do not book in advance, and seats go to whoever arrives first. Allow at least 20 minutes for the security check and the walk, and arrive up to an hour before the sitting starts if you want a seat.
The schedule changes from week to week, so look at the daily calendar before you set out. As a rough guide, sittings fall on Monday to Thursday:
| Day | Usual pattern |
|---|---|
| Monday | Late afternoon from 16:30, only when a sitting is called |
| Tuesday | Morning from 09:30 and afternoon from 14:30 |
| Wednesday | Morning 09:30 to 11:30 and afternoon from 14:30 |
| Thursday | Afternoon from 13:30, up to 3 hours |
| Friday to Sunday | – |
Afternoon end times vary from about 16:30 to 17:30, so treat the times above as a guide only. Debates also stop in recess. For the Commons and Lords galleries, see our debate guide.
Photos and rules in the hall
Westminster Hall is one of the few places you can take private photos.
Private photography is allowed in Westminster Hall, in St Stephen's Hall and in the visitor area of New Palace Yard. It is not allowed in other parts of the tour route or in the galleries, and tripods are banned. If you want to publish or use pictures commercially, you need approval first; permission for private photos is not a licence for a website. The full list is on the visitor rules page.
Westminster Hall: frequently asked questions
How old is Westminster Hall?
Building began in 1097, which makes it the oldest surviving part of the Houses of Parliament. The rest of the palace dates mostly from the rebuilding after the fire of 1834.
Can I visit Westminster Hall for free?
You reach the hall after the security check, for example on the way to a debate or committee, which are free. Do not plan around a free walk-in visit at set daily hours. A tour ticket is the dependable way to see it.
Can I take photos in Westminster Hall?
Yes, for private use. Photos are allowed here, in St Stephen's Hall and in New Palace Yard. Tripods are not allowed, and publishing needs approval in advance.
Is the hall step-free?
Most of the palace tour is step-free. The regular route from the hall to the Central Lobby has 37 steps, and a lift route is available with assistance from staff.
Where are Westminster Hall debates held?
In the Grand Committee Room beside the hall. They are free, need no booking and fill on a first-come basis, so arrive early.