Houses of Parliament

What makes it special

Westminster Hall is the first room you enter, and its sheer size strikes you before anything else, then the massive wooden ceiling overhead. Steps lead up out of it into St Stephen's Hall.

Beyond lies Central Lobby, the palace's grand meeting point, finished in detailed mosaics. From there the guided route goes into the two rooms where Parliament sits, the House of Commons Chamber and the House of Lords Chamber.

Outside, the Gothic stonework comes from a competition Charles Barry won with Augustus Welby Pugin, then 23, after Parliament insisted on a Gothic or Elizabethan style. The walls are Anston limestone from Yorkshire, picked because it is soft and easy to carve, and that softness also makes it erode quickly.

Above the palace stands the Elizabeth Tower, with the clock mechanism and the Belfry where Big Ben hangs.

Visiting

The airport-style security check comes first, so arrive at least 20 minutes before the time on your ticket. For the Big Ben tour, be at the Cromwell Green entrance no later than 30 minutes before the start.

Westminster Hall is the first space after security, where guided groups meet their guide and audio visitors pick up a handset.

Tours run on Saturdays throughout the year and Monday to Saturday during parliamentary recess. Outside recess, Saturday is the only tour day, so fix that date before planning the rest of your week. Book ahead on tickets.parliament.uk.

Guided or on your own

The guided tour is led in English by an in-house guide. The audio tour goes at your own pace in 12 languages, including British Sign Language and audio description, on a handset or your own device. Choose the guided tour for a fixed 90-minute route with commentary, or the audio tour to set your own pace.

The Big Ben tour is guided up the narrow 334-step spiral stairwell of the Elizabeth Tower to the Belfry, with no lift. Ear defenders are provided against the noise of the bells, and children must be 11 or over.

Big Ben tickets are released on the second Wednesday of every month at 10:00. In set Easter and summer recess periods, Speaker's House opens for a 75-minute guided tour, best for ages 16 and over.

Tips

Plan a Big Ben climb around its calendar: it runs Monday to Saturday, but some days each month are taken out for scheduled maintenance, so the date you want may not be offered.

After your tour, walk round the outside of the palace to look at the carved limestone walls and the Elizabeth Tower from street level.