10 Tips for Visiting Parliament With Kids in London

Book Saturday tours or recess periods for family-friendly access, and choose the self-guided audio tour designed for ages 5-12 with engaging historical stories. Take advantage of free child tickets with adult purchases, arrive 30 minutes early for airport-style security, and plan around the 75-90 minute duration when kids’ energy peaks. Turn your visit into treasure hunts spotting MPs’ benches and the Speaker’s Chair, then explore Parliament Square’s statues and nearby St James’s Park for outdoor time. These strategies ensure your parliamentary adventure connects seamlessly with classroom learning.

Choose Saturday or Recess Dates for Family-Friendly Tours

Planning your Parliament visit around the right dates makes all the difference when you’re traveling with children. You’ll want to book tours on Saturdays or during parliamentary recesses when the building opens specifically for public visits.

Saturday tours run year-round and avoid weekday commuting crowds, making navigation easier with kids in tow. During recess periods, you’ll get Monday-Saturday availability that aligns perfectly with school holidays.

Recess dates offer quieter weekday tours where children can hear guides better in the chambers. Weekend visits let you combine Parliament with nearby family attractions like Westminster Abbey.

Both options provide access to the Commons Chamber, Lords Chamber, and Westminster Hall without disrupting parliamentary business. Book advance tickets early, especially for Saturdays and school holidays when demand peaks. Keep in mind that tours and events tickets are currently unavailable for booking due to health concerns.

Book the Self-Guided Audio Tour Designed for Ages 5-12

Once you’ve secured your visit date, Parliament’s family multimedia tour transforms what could be a dry political experience into an adventure tailored specifically for children ages 5-12.

The kids’ track focuses on engaging stories rather than dense political details, featuring dramatic history like the Gunpowder Plot and rebellious monarchs.

Your children will use multimedia headsets with visual and audio content, pressing numbers in each room to trigger corresponding segments. The system includes clear navigation and simple controls manageable for early readers with minimal adult help.

Expect 75-90 minutes covering about 20 audio prompts through key spaces like Westminster Hall and the Commons Chamber.

Interactive quizzes, treasure-hunt challenges, and quirky historical facts keep attention focused while rest stops accommodate younger children’s stamina levels. Quiet talking is preferred throughout the tour since you’ll be walking through active parliamentary areas where staff maintain professional expectations.

Take Advantage of Free Child Tickets to Save Money

Why pay full price when Parliament offers generous savings for families? You’ll save considerably by selecting the “Adult and Child (Age 5-15) Package” for audio tours, which includes one free child ticket with each paying adult. Additional children ages 5-15 cost just £8 each beyond the free one.

Under 5s enter free but still need tickets and adult supervision. For maximum savings, book advance online packages starting from £12 per person rather than paying standard rates of £25 for adults and £8 for children.

Guided tours don’t offer the same free child promotion, so audio tours provide better family value. The tours include children’s versions with engaging quizzes and stories to keep young visitors entertained throughout the experience.

Remember that 16-24 year olds receive discounted £20 tickets. Pre-booking ensures availability and locks in these money-saving deals.

Prepare for Airport-Style Security and Palace Rules

Before you reach the impressive halls of Parliament, you’ll encounter security screening that mirrors what you’d experience at an airport. Everyone, including children, must pass through metal detectors while bags, coats, and electronics go through X-ray scanners. Leave prohibited items like knives, tools, and fireworks at home to avoid entry refusal.

Arrive 30-45 minutes early, especially during school holidays when queues peak. There’s no fast-track for families, and tours depart promptly regardless of security delays. Only small day bags are permitted—no large suitcases or oversized luggage.

Inside, maintain quiet behavior in galleries and follow photography restrictions. Your children must remain seated during parliamentary proceedings, and staff will remove disruptive families. Movement between areas requires following usher directions. Parliament continues to strengthen its safeguarding arrangements to ensure the safety and protection of all visitors, including children.

Select the Kids’ Audio Guide for Engaging Historical Stories

After you’ve cleared security and familiarized yourself with Parliament’s rules, you’ll want to make the most of your family’s educational experience inside.

Select the kids’ audio guide instead of standard tours—it transforms complex political history into engaging stories your children will actually remember.

The dedicated kids’ version targets ages 7-12 but works for some 5-year-olds using simple numbered prompts. Your children will hear interesting tales about the Gunpowder Plot, learn why MPs run to vote, and discover the Speaker’s chair toilet secret.

Quiz questions and mini-challenges keep siblings actively listening throughout the 75-90 minute self-paced tour. The tour includes 20 prompts that guide you through the most important rooms and historical moments.

This format lets you linger when kids are fascinated or move quickly when attention wanes, making it far more flexible than guided tours for younger visitors.

Use Westminster Underground or Thames Riverboat for Easy Access

Getting to Parliament with children becomes stress-free when you choose Westminster Underground station as your arrival point. You’ll find yourself just a 2-minute walk from the visitor entrance, with step-free access throughout the station making buggy navigation effortless. The Circle, District, and Jubilee lines connect directly from family-friendly areas, eliminating complicated transfers.

For a memorable alternative, consider Thames riverboat services to Westminster Millennium Pier. These river buses transform your journey into part of the adventure while avoiding crowded underground platforms during peak hours.

Both options keep you in fare zone 1, maximizing daily travel caps and kids-travel-free benefits. Plan your arrival during off-peak times to avoid government office crowds, and you’ll enjoy weather-proof access that gets your family to Parliament’s doorstep refreshed and ready to explore. If you’re driving instead, remember that disabled parking must be booked 48 hours in advance through the parliamentary booking system.

Turn the Visit Into Educational Games and Spotting Activities

Once you arrive at Parliament, transform your tour into an exciting adventure by turning every corridor and chamber into a treasure hunt for young explorers. Challenge your kids to spot Westminster Hall from 1097—older than their great-great-grandparents and Hogwarts’ inspiration. Have them identify the famous green benches where MPs sit during Prime Minister’s Questions and locate the Speaker’s Chair.

Turn the visit into guessing games by asking them to estimate Westminster Hall’s age before revealing its medieval origins. Create a spotting checklist including the House of Lords’ Sovereign’s Throne, Central Lobby, and the despatch box. Look for the New Dawn sculpture celebrating women’s suffrage movement above St Stephens Hall as part of your treasure hunt.

With 3 miles of corridors and 1,000 rooms, you’ll have endless opportunities for educational hide-and-seek that keeps young minds engaged throughout your parliamentary adventure.

Plan Around Energy Levels With the 75-90 Minute Route

When planning your Parliament visit, timing becomes essential since the standard tour spans 75-90 minutes—a significant chunk of your child’s attention span. Book morning slots around 9:00 when kids’ energy peaks naturally. These early tours are quieter, reducing sensory overload and restlessness.

Build in buffer time—arrive 20-30 minutes early for security checks, which can take 15-45 minutes depending on Parliament’s schedule. Plan for 2-2.5 hours total on-site time.

Choose multimedia tours over guided ones for flexibility. You can shorten sections or exit early if energy drops. The audio guide includes child-friendly content to maintain engagement.

Avoid stacking other high-focus activities immediately before or after. Give yourself 15-20 minutes post-tour for snacks and rest before your next London adventure. Remember that tours may be canceled unexpectedly due to parliamentary business, so have a backup plan ready.

Explore Parliament Square and Nearby Attractions

Parliament Square transforms your Parliament visit into an extensive London adventure, offering kids multiple attractions within a compact, walkable area. You’ll find twelve historical statues perfect for teaching moments, including Winston Churchill, Nelson Mandela, and Gandhi. Kids love spotting these bronze figures while learning about world leaders.

The square’s level paved walkways accommodate strollers easily, and Heritage Wardens patrol 24/7 to assist families. Big Ben’s hourly chimes create natural timing breaks, while Westminster Abbey‘s towering presence adds historical wonder.

St James’s Park sits adjacent with manicured gardens for picnics and play. You can walk tree-lined paths toward Westminster Bridge for Thames River views, or head down Birdcage Walk toward Buckingham Palace. The square often hosts demonstrations, adding real-world civics lessons to your educational adventure. During your visit, you might even observe Parliament members as they move between buildings, giving children an authentic glimpse of government in action.

Connect the Experience to School Learning and Current Events

Before you enter Parliament’s historic chambers, transform your visit into a powerful extension of classroom learning by connecting what your children will see to their school curriculum.

The House of Commons and Lords directly support KS2-KS3 citizenship lessons about government structure and law-making powers. When observing debates, you’ll reinforce English curriculum goals on persuasive language and argument structure.

Use real debates to explain how laws respond to current issues. The Crime and Policing Bill shows Parliament reacting to safety concerns, while data protection debates connect to digital literacy lessons. Prime Minister’s Questions demonstrates how leaders answer for decisions, supporting news literacy skills. Children can witness how the Budget debate shapes national spending priorities and affects their daily lives.

Highlight democratic participation by comparing the petitions process to school councils, showing how local concerns reach national discussion.

The Sum Up

You’ll create lasting memories when you follow these practical tips for your Parliament visit. Your kids will absorb history through interactive audio guides, engaging games, and hands-on exploration. Don’t forget to extend the learning by connecting what they’ve discovered to their schoolwork and current events. With proper planning around their energy levels and interests, you’ll transform what could be a dry government building tour into an exciting adventure that’ll spark their curiosity about democracy and British heritage.