If you would like to get in contact with Nicola directly please do not hesitate to get in touch in the following ways:

Address: House of Commons, Westminster, London, SW1A 0AA

Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Telephone: 0207 219 7126

Fax: 0207 219 8122

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Tours and tickets information

We get lots of enquiries about visiting the House of Commons and the House of Lords, and Nicola and her team are always delighted to see constituents. Nicola has to book tours for groups through the Central Tours system of the Palace of Westminster. These tours are very popular, and if you are planning a visit to Westminster please give as much notice as possible, preferably looking several months ahead.

Tour times in session

Monday and Tuesday: 9am-12noon (full tour) Wednesday: 9am-9.55am (full tour) and 10am-12noon (partial tour of Lords only) Thursday: no tours Friday: 3.30pm-5pm (full tour) Saturday: 9.15am - 4.30pm (full tour)

Non-sitting days and recesses

Non-sitting: Fridays 9.30am-5pm Christmas / New Year

Closed Easter and Spring Weekdays 9.30am-5pm

Whitsun Recess Weekdays 9.30am-5pm

Summer recess

July and August - Wednesdays and Thursdays 9.30am-12noon

September and October - Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays 9.30am-12noon

Full tour includes

Sovereigns Entrance, Norman Porch, Royal Gallery, Princes Chamber, Lords Chamber, Central Lobby, Voting Lobby, Members Lobby, Commons Chamber, St Stephens Hall and Westminster Hall.

Partial tours

The same tour but missing out the Voting Lobby, Members Lobby and Commons Chamber, as the House sits in the morning.

Timing

A full tour takes approximately an hour and fifteen. At the end of the tour there is the Jubilee Café that sells sandwiches, cakes, soup etc. that is open to the public, and a gift shop.

Numbers

Tours are in groups of 20 maximum, but if you are a larger group we can ask another Member of Parliament to co-sponsor the tour and have further groups or part groups. Numbers for groups are restricted by the Palace authorities, and therefore it is advisable to book well in advance.

Please visit here for the official Parliament tours page.

Gallery tickets

Gallery tickets are allocated to MPs a couple of times a term, and we can ask other Members for their allocation. Tickets for Prime Ministers Question time are quite rare, but do ask if you would like to see the House in action. Gallery tickets for late afternoon are often easier to obtain.

Please visit here for the official Parliament gallery tickets page.

‘Big Ben’ tours

Trips up the Tower to visit Big Ben can also be arranged – but you have to be very fit and able and not scared of heights! You will have to climb 334 stone spiral steps up and down, so sensible flat shoes are recommended. Groups are 16 in number, and children under 11 are not permitted. Tours run at 9.15am, 11.15am and 2.15pm Monday to Friday. 

Tours are free of charge for the rest of this Parliament.

Tours must be arranged ahead of your visit with bookings being taken up to four months in advance. Demand is high so early booking and flexibility regarding dates and times is recommended. Children under 11 are not permitted on Clock Tower tours. Groups of 14 students must be accompanied by two adults.

Visitors must provide personal information which will be passed on to the police for security vetting prior to the tour date. Any personal information passed on to the police will be treated with the strictest confidence at all times. Failure to provide this information in advance will regrettably result in access being refused. Please visit here for the official Big Ben guidance. 

Archives

The Records Office can also be visited by groups of up to 20, by prior arrangement. Records can be viewed on specific interests if notified in advance. This can be of particular interest to local history groups.