Houses of Parliament

I was able to access Parliament during a Monday night session as part of a "London Walks" tour of the surrounding area. Our small group sat in on a session of the House of Lords while they debated an obscure welfare bill. (Everyone fell asleep just like in American politics;) We were allowed to stay as long as we wanted and politely ushered in and out at our request.

I would strongly suggest access via this evening tour for anyone interested in politics or world events. We were also given an explanation of the buliding of the Houses of Parliament in full view from across the river; an iconic London sight if there ever was one.

Ordered tickets over the net before our trip, picked them up at the ticket office. Scheduled a 9:30 tour which was a great idea, no lines that early. They recommended being there 30 minutes early, but I'd say 15 minutes is OK if you're there for the first tour in the morning. Our tour guide was excellent (and fresh, since it was her first of the day). Tour takes about 90 minutes with almost no breaks to sit, so be prepared. The whole family enjoyed the tour, even my 14 year old found plenty to be interested in. A fine cafe is there at the end of the tour. Would strongly recommend!

I'm not into politics but my husband is and insisted we visit here. Parliament was sitting so no tours available and we had to q for the visitors gallery. So we join the q which wasn't to long because it was fairly early in the morning and because we were only 2 people among lots of school/tour groups the person on the gate moved us forward in the q. We went straight into the commons gallery and watched the proceedings for quite some time before emerging back into the main lobby. We wanted to visit the Lord's gallery but had been told previously we would have to go back outside and q all over again, so I found a nice "bobby" and asked him if we really had to do this and because it wasn't that busy that day he allowed us to go stright into the Lord's gallery. WOW how impressive. I was surprised how interested I became watching the debates in the different houses just a shame Tony Blair wasn't there.

TIP. As you leave thru Westminster Hall take a note. This is the only surving bit of the original houses of parliament that survived fire. It was where Sir THomas More was tried and sentenced. It was where the Queen Mother's coffin lay in state before her funeral and look up to the most amazing hammerbeam roof ever. All totally original!!!!