Come along on Saturday 26th September for a guided tour of the Houses of Parliament!

During August the September, members of Parliament have a summer recess, but this means the public can have a look around Parliament.
We are going on a 75 minute guided tour of Parliament, London's landmark building which will give the opportunity to discover the fascinating blend of history and politics that lie within one othe most instantly recognisable buildings in the world.

We are meeting up at Westminster tube station, near the ticket barriers at 1pm and the tour starts at 1:30pm. Look out for the 'Cultureseekers' signs when you get to the station.

About the tour
the tours follow the processional route taken by Her Majesty the Queen when she performs the State Opening of Parliament. Beginning in the Robing Room the tour proceeds past the red benches of the vast Royal Gallery to the tiny Princes Chamber, this is richly decorated on Prince Albert's orders with engravings of the Tudor dynasty.

The breathtakingly ornate Chamber of the House of Lords is next and it is dominated by the wonderful throne designed by Augustus Welby Pugin.

Next is Central Lobby which marks the transition from the ornate Lords into the austere Commons. Members' Lobby is famous for a statue of Churchill where the famous leader's brass toe has been rubbed shiny by Tory MPs wanting luck in their maiden speeches.

The Chamber of the House of Commons is entered via a voting lobby. This is undoubtedly one of the most iconic political arenas in the world and visitors talk of physically feeling the history within the room. It's much smaller and more personal than it looks on television, and standing among the benches gives a new take on the confrontational layout of the space.

The Tour continues through St Stephen's Hall, the original site of the Commons and, as a former chapel, responsible for the way MPs face each other in the modern chamber - they originally took up seats in the choir stalls.

The Tour ends at the fabulous Westminster Hall, which at 900 years old is one of the most atmospheric spaces in London. Although it has been altered and restored over the years, the walls of this huge arched room are still those built by William Rufus in 1097 while the ingenious hammerbeam roof from was added during the reign of Richard II. The great trials of state were held here - Thomas More, William Wallace, Charles I and the Gunpowder Plotters - and this is where the public have queued in thousands to pay their respects to monarchs lying in state.

Tickets are £11.70 each and need to be booked beforehand, you can do this at the link below, please book for the 1:30pm tour slot. Due to security at Parliament, you won't be able to purchase a ticket on the day.

To book a ticket, click here...

Afterwards, we can head to a local bar or cafe for a chat over a drink.

If you can't see us at the station, give me a call.

Look forward to seeing you there!

Regards

Robert
07905 901 834