The Houses of Parliament: A Tourist's Guide to Westminster in London

When you're walking along the Thames in London, there’s one building that stops you in your tracks-not because it’s the tallest, but because it’s unmistakable. The Houses of Parliament rise from the riverbank like a Gothic fairy tale made real. If you live in London or have just arrived, you’ve probably seen it from Waterloo Bridge, snapped a photo from Westminster Abbey, or waited for the Tube near St. James’s Park. But how much do you really know about the building that runs the country?

What You’re Actually Looking At

The Houses of Parliament isn’t just one building. It’s a complex of over 1,100 rooms, 100 staircases, and 3 miles of corridors-all packed into a 19th-century Gothic Revival masterpiece. The most famous part? Big Ben. But here’s the twist: Big Ben isn’t the tower. It’s the 13.7-ton bell inside the Elizabeth Tower. The tower itself? That’s the Elizabeth Tower. The whole building? That’s the Palace of Westminster. Locals know this. Tourists? Not so much.

When the original palace burned down in 1834, architects Charles Barry and Augustus Pugin rebuilt it from scratch, using over 2,000 tons of stone and 1,000 tons of cast iron. The clock mechanism? Still hand-wound every week by a team of clockmakers who climb 334 steps. No automation. No apps. Just tradition.

How to Get In (And When to Go)

If you’re a UK resident, you can book a free guided tour through your MP. Yes, really. All you need is a letter from your local MP-most have a simple form on their website. If you’re an international visitor, you can buy tickets online via the UK Parliament website. Book early. Tours sell out weeks ahead, especially in spring and summer.

Best time to visit? Weekday mornings. The building is quieter, the light hits the stained glass just right, and you might catch a glimpse of MPs walking to the Commons chamber. Avoid weekends unless you’re okay with crowds. And skip lunchtime-when the cafeterias open, the queues stretch past the Churchill War Rooms.

Pro tip: If you’re in London on a Thursday, check if the House of Commons is sitting. You can watch debates from the public gallery for free. No booking needed, but arrive before 2:30 PM. The queues form fast. Bring ID. And don’t expect silence. This isn’t a library. It’s politics. Loud, messy, and alive.

What You’ll See Inside

The Commons Chamber is where the real drama happens. Green benches. Wooden desks. The Speaker’s chair, which looks like a throne but isn’t. You’ll see the mace-1.8 meters of gold and silver-resting on the table when Parliament is in session. It’s the symbol of royal authority. If the mace is missing? No business can be done.

Then there’s the Lords Chamber. Purple velvet. Gilded railings. Bishops in robes. It feels more like a cathedral than a legislature. And then there’s Westminster Hall-the oldest part of the building, dating back to 1097. It’s hosted coronation banquets, trials of kings, and lying-in-state for Queen Elizabeth II. The wooden beams are original. The floor? Still covered in centuries of footsteps.

Don’t miss the Royal Gallery. It’s where foreign dignitaries are welcomed. The ceiling? Hand-painted murals showing British military victories. The floor? Marble from the same quarry used for the Taj Mahal.

Where to Stand for the Perfect Photo

Everyone takes the same photo: Big Ben with the Thames behind it. But the best shot? Walk to the south bank of the river, past the London Eye, and turn left toward the Jubilee Gardens. From there, you get the full facade-clock tower, spires, and the river all in one frame. The golden hour between 4 and 5 PM in summer turns the stone pink. In winter, the lights come on just after dusk, and the whole building glows like a candle in the fog.

Want to avoid crowds? Head to Lambeth Bridge. Fewer people. Better angle. And you can grab a coffee from Barista on the bridge, then sit on the bench and watch MPs arrive in black taxis.

What to Do Nearby

The Houses of Parliament don’t exist in a vacuum. They’re part of London’s political heartbeat. Right next door? Westminster Abbey. Go early. Lines form by 8:30 AM. The abbey’s been crowning kings since 1066. The Poets’ Corner? Walk slowly. You’ll spot Chaucer, Dickens, and Stephen Hawking.

Across the road? St. Margaret’s Church. Free entry. Quiet. The stained glass windows show scenes from the life of the Virgin Mary-and the same ones that inspired the Queen’s coronation gown.

For lunch? Head to The Churchill Arms in Kensington. Yes, it’s a pub. But it’s also a flower shop. And it’s where MPs go after votes to unwind. Try the fish and chips. They use cod from the North Sea. The chips? Hand-cut. The salt? Maldon.

And if you’re staying in London, walk the Thames Path. From Tower Bridge to Westminster, it’s a 6-mile stretch of history, street musicians, and ice cream vans. In spring, the cherry blossoms line the path near Millbank. In autumn, the leaves turn gold and fall right onto the cobblestones near the Houses.

What Most Tourists Miss

There’s a small plaque near the north entrance. It reads: “Here stood the original Palace of Westminster, destroyed by fire in 1834.” Most people walk past it. But if you stop, you’ll see the exact spot where the royal court once dined. Where Henry VIII held his court. Where Thomas More was arrested.

And the clock tower? It doesn’t chime every hour. It chimes the Westminster Quarters-a tune composed in 1793. It’s the same melody played by Big Ben, but also by the clock at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich. You hear it on the radio every morning on BBC Radio 4. If you live in London, you’ve heard it a thousand times without knowing.

There’s also a secret tunnel beneath the building. It was used during WWII to move MPs safely between the Houses and the war rooms. No one’s allowed down there now. But if you ask nicely during a guided tour, the guide might point to a hatch in the floor near the Members’ Lobby. That’s the entrance.

Why This Matters to Londoners

The Houses of Parliament isn’t just a landmark. It’s the engine room of the UK. It’s where laws are made that affect your bus routes, your taxes, your NHS appointments, and whether your local pub can stay open past 11 PM. It’s where debates about climate change, housing, and education happen-sometimes with tears, sometimes with shouting.

For Londoners, it’s not just history. It’s daily life. You pass it on your way to work. You hear the chimes while making tea. You see the flags change when Parliament is in session. And when it’s not? The building feels quiet, like it’s waiting.

Visiting isn’t about ticking a box. It’s about understanding the place you live in-or are visiting. This isn’t just stone and steel. It’s centuries of power, protest, and policy. And it’s still working.