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Taking a tour of Parliament

UK residents

When Parliament is in session, tours are only available on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday mornings and on Fridays - all day if the Commons are not sitting, or just late afternoon if they are. During recess (when parliament is not in session) tours can still be arranged through your MP. The times and days of tours may vary during recesses; typically they take place from 9.30 am to 5.00 pm.

Overseas visitors

Overseas visitors are only allowed to tour Parliament during the summer recess (see summer opening link below) and not during the rest of the year. You can, however, still attend debates in both the House of Lords and the House of Commons (more information below).

Schools visits

Schools or other educational establishments based in the UK should normally contact their MP to arrange a tour. However, the Parliamentary Education Unit offers a range of educational visits for students in Years 3-10 throughout the year. Visits for older students (Key Stage 4) take place in the autumn and this programme is advertised in the Times Educational Supplement (TES) each March.

• Find your local MP (Member of Parliament)
• Parliament summer opening Opens new window
• Parliament's Education Service Opens new window

Going to a debate - visiting the Public Gallery

 The House of Commons Public Gallery is open when the House is sitting, which is usually:

• 2.30 pm to 10.30 pm or later on Mondays
• 11.30 am to 7.30 pm on Tuesdays and Wednesdays
• 11.30 am to 6.00 pm on Thursdays
• 9.30 pm to 3.00 pm on sitting Fridays

When the House of Commons returns after a recess on a day other than a Monday, the first day will have Monday sitting times. The Public Gallery is closed when the House is in recess.

The first hour of proceedings is devoted to Question Time, with Prime Minister's Question Time on Wednesdays. To attend at this time, write to your local Member of Parliament to ask for tickets. Members have only a small allocation of tickets, so requests should be made as far in advance as possible.

If you have not booked tickets for the gallery you can join the public queue outside St.Stephen's Entrance. A wait of one or two hours is common. To minimise the wait, try and arrive at about 1.00 pm or later, when the queue has gone down. As ticket holders leave the gallery, then places will become available. The House of Commons Information Office will advise you on what debates are taking place that day.

If you are planning a visit to Parliament, you may also find the links below useful.

• Visiting Parliament: Disabled Access Opens new window
• Visiting the House of Lords Gallery Opens new window