Houses of Parliament & Big Ben Tours and Tickets

There are plenty of ways to experience the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben. Looking at ratings and reviews previously given by customers, these are the best tours available right now:

• High-Speed Thames River Speedboat in London

• Westminster to Greenwich Sightseeing Thames Cruise in London

• The Premier Classic London: Private 4-Hour Tour in a Black Cab

• London 30 Top Sights With Fun Local Guide

• London by Night Bus Tour With Christmas Lights and Live Guide

Audio-guided tours of the Houses of Parliament run when Parliament is off duty. Tickets cost £27 for over-25s, and each over-25 can bring one child aged 5–15 for free. Tickets for young people aged 16–24 are £20, children aged 5–15 pay £10, and under-5s and essential companions of travelers with disabilities go free. Big Ben tours cost £35 for adults aged 18 and over, or £20 for children (11-17). Children under 11 are not allowed to climb Big Ben, due to safety measures and the number of steps to climb.

Yes, the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben are undoubtedly worth visiting. With a history dating back more than 900 years, the buildings are impressive—and the government within them is one of the world's oldest continuous political assemblies. Tickets for Big Ben are hard to come by, but you can soak up the view and learn more about Parliament on a tour. Options for enjoying that classic London vista include walking tours, river cruises, black cab trips, open-top bus tours, and more.

Per one customer who booked the Westminster to Greenwich Sightseeing Thames Cruise in London, "Worth every moment. A spectacular River Thames cruise weaving through London's lights, past iconic silhouettes, and toward Greenwich at 0° latitude. Entertaining emcees, engaging anecdotes, and a changing panorama create a living postcard you can feel with every breath of the river breeze. An immersive voyage that pairs guided moments with space to savor the view, ending at Greenwich, where time and geography converge."

The history of the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben—also known as the Palace of Westminster—dates back some 900 years and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. King William I built a palace on the site in the 11th century to serve as a residence. Fires in the 16th and 19th centuries destroyed much of the buildings, save for Westminster Hall, which is the oldest remaining part. The buildings we know today were part of renovations and expansions led by Sir Charles Barry in the 19th century.

The House of Commons is one of two chambers within the Houses of Parliament, the other being the House of Lords. Together, these chambers form the UK’s Parliament, which meets in the Palace of Westminster. The House of Commons is the primary legislative body, where elected Members of Parliament (MPs) debate and vote on laws and policies.

Yes, you can tour the Houses of Parliament and there are several options available—self-guided audio tours, 90-minute guided tours, and, for UK residents only, tours that explore democracy in the UK. Note that tours are typically only available on selected dates when Parliament is not in session.

The easiest way to get to the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben is to use public transportation. Westminster station is located moments away and is served by the Circle, District, and Jubilee tube lines. Various riverboat services stop at the adjacent Westminster Pier, and numerous buses frequent the area.

Big Ben refers to the Great Bell inside the tower, while the tower itself is formally named the Elizabeth Tower. Its clock face, one of London’s most recognizable symbols, features Roman numerals and intricate design details. Every quarter hour, four smaller bells play the Westminster Quarters, a distinctive melody that precedes the Great Bell’s iconic hourly strikes, which sound the number of the hour. Hearing these timeless chimes is a quintessential London experience.

Big Ben—technically the Elizabeth Tower, as Big Ben refers to the bell inside—is part of the Houses of Parliament. A clock tower has stood on site since 1367, if not sooner. However, the Elizabeth Tower itself dates to the mid-19th century.

Yes, tourists can enter the Elizabeth Tower (Big Ben is the bell found inside the tower). Tour groups ascend the 334-step spiral stairwell to the belfry, and hear as the bells chime the hour (with earplugs). Note that tours have limited availability and book up months in advance.

There are tons of fun things to do when you're done visiting the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben. According to travelers, these are some of the top attractions in London:

• Buckingham Palace

• Tower of London

• Westminster Abbey

• London Eye

• St. Paul's Cathedral

View Viator's guide to all the best attractions in London.