Hello!
This is probably a silly question, but we will be in London toward the beginning of September (arriving on the 2nd), and I was looking at tickets to visit Parliament. It seems there's nothing available from the 1st to the 15th other than Saturday the 9th. Can anyone provide insight into why that may be? Most other weeks have every other day available, so I'm assuming there must be something going on. Are there any other options for us to visit?
Thank you!
Posted by
Oxford, United Kingdom
5331 posts
Parliamentary sessions begin again for a brief period between 5 September until 14 September. The politicians then go off to their respective conferences and don't come back until October.
Posted by
1172 posts
When parliament is in sessions, tours only run on Saturdays. They are back in session then
Posted by
OP
12 posts
Thank you, that's helpful! I guess I was under the impression you could still visit when Parliament is in session, but maybe I'm mistaken. Can you visit without taking a tour?
Posted by
New England
593 posts
I believe the tours operate when Parliament is not doing business / in session. However, when Parliament is in session, you can visit by queuing up to watch a debate or committee.
See here: https://www.parliament.uk/visiting/visiting-and-tours/
Posted by
WA, USA
330 posts
We the Parliament is not in session, they have guided and self guided tours. I had taken the guided one and thought it was great. I believe with the self guided tour you also get and audio guide.
Posted by
WA, USA
330 posts
We the Parliament is not in session, they have guided and self guided tours. I had taken the guided one and thought it was great. I believe with the self guided tour you also get and audio guide.
Posted by
Edmonton, Canada
98 posts
Yes, you can visit when Parliament is in session. Go to the gate down the street. They'll ask you if you want to attend a session of the House of Commons or the House of Lords, and they will give you a green card for the former or a red card for the latter. You do have to go through heavy security, but it was neat to see the inside of the building, and to sit in during a debate in the public gallery. There is no tour for this... the tickets are for the actual tours described above.
Posted by
OP
12 posts
Thank you all, so helpful!