Houses of Parliament & Big Ben
- Address:Westminster Palace, Westminster
- Hours:Visitors' Galleries open when Parliament is in session; other admission by tour only
- Admission:£6 - £14 (adults)
4:14 AM Sunday, May 27
Clear. Cool.
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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 All Houses of Parliament & Big Ben Reviews »
I really enjoyed this tour and would definitely recommend it! I've been living in London for over 3 years and still found this bike tour really interesting. The guide was very knowledgeable and informative and we learned about London history in a very entertaining way. We saw some of the best spots in London along the river Thames, including the Tower Bridge, Big Ben, London Eye, St Paul's Cathedral, etc. And loved having lunch at Borough Market, great food! Definitely a must if you'd like to see London in a different way! Continue Reading »
Be sure to walk the Thames at night and see Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament all lit up. The area around the London Eye has lost of good views and fun things to do. Continue Reading »
This tour is great if you have only short time in London. The guide is very knowledgeable and creates a nice atmosphere. You will see all major sights like St Paul's Cathedral, Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, Tower of London and many more sights on this tour. It was a good mix of a bus tour, walking tour and Thames River Cruise. Have your camera ready as you will also get some real good photos of the Changing of the Guards Ceremony at Buckingham Palace! It was very worth doing! Continue Reading »
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.
