Houses of Parliament & Big Ben
- Address: Westminster Palace, Westminster, England
- Hours: Visitors' Galleries open when Parliament is in session; other admission by tour only
- Admission: £6 - £14 (adults)
ATTRACTION Keywords:
Cultural Experience,
Cultural Experience,
Must-Do Experience,
Must-Do Experience,
Palace,
Palace,
Tower,
Tower
Westminster Palace, home to the British Houses of Parliament, is right on the river Thames. A magnificent Neo-Gothic building dating from 1840, it's most recognizable from the clock tower at one end known as Big Ben. (In fact, Big Ben is actually the bell inside the tower.)
Parliament is made up of two houses: the House of Commons and the House of Lords and both have their meeting chambers inside here. It is possible to sit and watch from the Visitors' Gallery if you like seeing grown men taunting each other with bad jokes. Once a year, the Queen puts on her crown, sits on her Throne in the House of Lords and officially opens Parliament.
Latest Reviews
Review by Vinayen C, Mauritius, May 2013
Doing what: The Original London Sightseeing Tour: Hop-on Hop-off
It was my last day in London and I had booked the tour two days back. In 5 hours, I have already visited and learned a lot about London. It was very exciting as I was free to stop and go wherever I want and to travel back by the double decker bus. During that day we started from Piccadilly circus and visited the Big Ben and Parliament, The London Eye, St Paul Cathedral, the London Bridge, The Tower Bridge, The Tower of London, The Buckingham Palace etc... I also enjoyed the free Thames River Cruise between Westminster and Tower Bridge
Review by jolon, July 2012
Doing what: The Original London Sightseeing Tour: Hop-on Hop-off
Caught the bus from Marble Arch to St Paul's Church passing through Piccadilly Circus and Trfalgar Square and then walked from there to the Tower of London which was a highlight. Caught the cruise from there to Westminster for Big Ben and Westminster Abbey. Walked from there to Buckingham Palace and cut through Hyde Park to get to Hotel. Managed to pack a lot in one day.
Review by Kimberly C, USA, June 2012
Doing what: The Original London Sightseeing Tour: Hop-on Hop-off
Great to sit up top and see every thing. The boat ride made the trip even better. If nothing more any time traveling the hop-on hop-off is the one thing my husband and I always book. We saw alot of sites in London rode the bus the entire trip first then got off at the Tower. Took the boat down to Big Ben just to see at another angle.
Practical Info
The best view of the Houses of Parliament is from across the river. To see inside, make sure you book tickets in advance. When Parliament is in session, you can watch from the Visitors' Gallery; when they are on summer recess you can tour the building.
UK residents can tour throughout the year; overseas visitors may only tour during the summer. Either way, all visitors are accompanied by a guide. Tours take about 75 minutes.
