Duncan is happy to sponsor complimentary tours of the Houses of Parliament for any constituents who would like to visit. These are free of charge and cannot be sold to third parties – however, due to high demand, it is advised that you contact Duncan’s office in advance to secure a place. The tours last 75 minutes, departing from the Cromwell Green Visitors Entrance.
Tours depart as follows:
Sitting Days
- Mondays 9:00am to 12:00pm Full Tours
- Tuesdays 9:00am to 12:00pm Full Tours
- Wednesdays 9:00am to 9:32am Full Tours 9:36am to 12:00pm Partial Tours (Lords Only)
- Thursdays No Tours
- Fridays 3:30pm to 5:00pm Full Tours
Non Sitting Days & Recesses
- Non-sitting Fridays 9:30am-5:00pm
- Christmas / New Year Closed from the rise of both Houses to after the New Year Holiday
- Easter and Spring Weekdays 9:30am – 5:00pm
- Whitsun Recess Weekdays 9:30am – 5:00pm
- Prorogation – There will be no tours during this period
Summer Recess
- 15th, 22nd and 29th August (9:30am – 12:30pm)
- 3rd to 18th September (normal sitting day times)
- 2nd October (9:30am – 12:30pm and 2:00pm – 5:00pm)
There are no Members’ tours on Saturdays, Sundays or Bank Holidays.
To book a tour, please email duncan@duncanhames.org.uk providing some suitable dates for a visit and the number of visitors in your party. Please also supply your name, address and a contact telephone number. All details will be treated confidentially. Unfortunately, due to the demand for tours, Duncan’s office cannot guarantee that your first choice of date and time will be accommodated.
All visitors will need to pass through airport-style security upon arrival at Parliament. Please be advised that mobile phones must be turned off during the tour and cameras are not permitted beyond Westminster Hall.
Clock Tower Tours
Constituents can also contact Duncan to set up a visit to Big Ben. The tour takes groups of sixteen visitors at a time to the top of the Clock Tower to hear Big Ben strike the hour. The tour includes the opportunity to visit the mechanism room behind the clock faces.
Tours are at set times of 9.15am, 11.15am and 2.15pm Monday – Friday, (except Bank Holidays). Clock Tower tours are currently free of charge – due to high demand and the required security checks for all visitors which must be undertaken prior to your Clock Tower tour, Duncan’s office suggests booking 3-6 months in advance. Unfortunately, the office cannot guarantee a Clock Tower visit on the same day as a tour of Parliament.
Please be advised that all visitors to Big Ben must be a UK national, while children under 11 are not permitted on these tours. Groups of 14 students must be accompanied by two adults.
The tour is relatively strenuous and there is no lift, so all visitors must be physically able to climb the 334 steps. Duncan’s office would advise anyone suffering from claustrophobia or other anxiety-related conditions, asthma, heart conditions or limited mobility, against booking one of these tours. Please email duncan@duncanhames.org.uk or call 01249 454110 to arrange your tour.
Due to significant interest, tours of Big Ben are now booked up until the end of August. Bookings for September will be taken from May 1st 2012.
Gallery Tickets
MPs are allocated tickets every month for the Public Gallery. To request tickets, please contact Duncan’s office via duncan@duncanhames.org.uk or 01249 454110.
