tours

Bookings for School Visits in 2027

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Next school visit bookings day: 10am on 23 September 2026​ for visits taking place January–July 2027​.

On 23 September from 10am schools will be able to book their free school visit to UK Parliament. This highly popular experience includes an engaging, curricula-informed workshop in our Education Centre and an unforgettable tour of the iconic Palace of Westminster.

Schools must register an account before booking a tour – do this well in advance as bookings fill up very quickly.

Please see here for full details: https://learning.parliament.uk/en/session-workshop/tours-and-workshops/

Staff Big Ben Tours for August

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The ticket ballot for August staff tours of the Elizabeth Tower is now open.

Apply for a ticket

To apply for a ticket in July, contact the bookings team by 5pm Thursday 30 July at visitparliament@parliament.uk with the following information:

  • your name;
  • parliamentary mail address;
  • the tour dates you are available for.

August tours are running on:

  • Thursday 6 August 9:45am
  • Thursday 20 August 3.45pm
  • Friday 28 August 2.45pm

Ticket applications must be submitted by 5pm Thursday 30 July. A ballot of tickets will then take place with booking confirmations by 5pm on Friday 31 July. Emails confirming unsuccessful applications will also be sent after the ballot has been drawn. Ticket allocations can’t be changed at this point, so please only apply for dates for which you are available.

Find out more information about staff tours of the Elizabeth Tower on ParliNet.

Visit the Palace of Westminster

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If you watched the State Opening of Parliament coverage on TV and were inspired to find out more, book a tour of the Palace of Westminster to see where the action happens! Choose a self‑guided audio tour or a fully guided experience and step inside this iconic building to explore its  famous spaces for yourself.

Follow the King’s footsteps through the Royal Gallery to marvel at the ornate gold Sovereign’s Throne in the House of Lords. Trace the historic route of Black Rod through Central Lobby to the House of Commons, where the time‑honoured ritual of three ceremonial knocks summons MPs to the House of Lords. Look closely at the Commons chamber door and you can still see the marks left by hundreds of years of this tradition.

Tours are available on Saturdays until the end of the year and selected weekdays during holiday periods, including May half-term.

To book a tour, please visit the UK Parliament website.

Big Ben tours in May

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Members’ staff in the Commons and Lords can now apply for tickets for May tours of the Elizabeth Tower.

Apply for a ticket (staff only)

To apply for a ticket in February, contact the bookings team by 4pm Friday 30 April at visitparliament@parliament.uk with the following information:

  • your name;
  • parliamentary mail address;
  • the tour dates you are available for.

May tours are running on:

  • Wednesday 6 May – 11:45
  • Friday 15 May – 14:45
  • Thursday 21 May – 12:45

Ticket applications must be submitted by 4pm Thursday 30 April. A ballot of tickets will then take place with booking confirmations by 2pm on Friday 1 May. Emails confirming unsuccessful applications will also be sent after the ballot has been drawn. Ticket allocations can’t be changed at this point, so please only apply for dates for which you are available.

ParliNet | Big Ben tours in May

Changes to Member-sponsored ‘Inside UK Parliament’ tours

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Following decisions from the Administration Committee, Lords Services Committee and House of Commons Commission, two changes to how these tours are booked and delivered will come into effect from 2 January 2026. These changes are intended to provide a simplified, more flexible system for schools and constituents. 

Read about the changes here on Parlinet – Changes to Member-sponsored ‘Inside UK Parliament’ tours

House Services Fair – Sign up now open for talks and tours

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This year’s House Services Fair will take place from Tuesday 9 – Wednesday 10 December. The Fair is a fantastic opportunity to find out more about the brilliant work teams from across the House do every day to make Parliament happen.

Get involved 

  • Visit stalls in the Atrium and Customer Hub in Portcullis House from 10am-5pm: explore the wide range of services available to support you in your role. 
  • Attend talks, panel discussions and networking events in the Attlee Suite: hear from expert speakers on a range of interesting topics, take part in discussions, and connect with others. View the full programme of talks and book your place on Act. If you’re unable to attend in person, virtual attendance is available at most sessions. 
  • Experience exclusive ‘behind-the-scenes’ tours of Parliament: visit the Parliamentary Broadcasting Unit, meet the Postmaster for a tour of the Members’ mail sorting office, see the new Parliamentary Contact Centre in action and more! View the full programme of tours and book your place on Act. 

For more information visit ParliNet | Visit the House Service Fair

Escorting Guests

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New guidance has been issued on escorting guests on the visitor route in Parliament, including a new tour script.

Please visit https://parlinet.parliament.uk/on-the-estate/visitor-access/visitor-route/ for details of the route and the permissions and rules required relating to escorting guests.

Please note that Members’ staff on occasional day passes, even if security-cleared, are not permitted to escort guests.

Commons Library summer tours for MPs’ staff

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This summer, join the Commons Library for a free tour of our much-loved Members’ Library.

Open to MPs’ staff and House administration staff, these tours are an opportunity to explore our unique heritage space, learn more about the history of the Library and see highlights from our collection. 

Tours will last an hour and are led by our friendly Members’ Library team. Sign up now: Intro to the Library: Summer Library Tours

Dates:

  • 11 August 2025
  • 19 August 2025
  • 20 August 2025

Volunteers wanted to pilot constituency engagement tracking tool

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Members’ staff wanted to test the Participation Services Dashboard.

The Participation team is looking for Members’ staff to take part in a pilot study testing the Participation Services Dashboard, a tool to give you quick and easy insights into how your constituents are engaging with services offered by the Participation team. This includes their involvement in education programmes, tours of Parliament and sign-ups for UK Parliament Week.

Volunteers would need to attend three 30-minute online meetings from early June to mid-July – a range of times will be offered to best fit your diary.

For more information or to register your interest, please visit Parlinet or email participationdashboardenquiries@parliament.uk