This is a sponsored article on behalf of UK Parliament.
Love going behind the scenes in places that the public don’t usually get to go? Us too — and we've got a treat for you: tours of Speaker's House at UK Parliament.
It's a rare chance to see inside the magnificent State Apartments of Speaker’s House, where the Speaker resides and conducts official business, a space that has been hosting royalty and heads of state for over 160 years. The Grand Staircase, the Crimson Drawing Room, the State Dining Room, and the State Bedroom all feature on the 75-minute guided tour — which is fully accessible.
The tour begins and ends in Westminster Hall, where you can see and take photos of the impressive Speaker’s State Coach, currently on display. It was historically used in Coronation ceremonies, and Westminster Hall was the site where Coronation banquets were held until the 19th century, making 2023 the perfect time to visit.
Not entirely sure who the Speaker is, or what they do? Fear not, you'll hear all about the history and traditions of the role of the Speaker as part of your tour — and get a chance to see a unique set of 46 portraits of Speakers through the years.
These tours only launched last year, and only take place at certain times of year, during parliamentary recesses, so it’s a fantastic opportunity to see a unique space within UK Parliament that rarely gets seen by the public.
Everyone's welcome on the Speaker's House tours — and fans of history, art and politics in particular will love it — though they're best suited to age 16+. Got little ones in tow? Why not book a family-friendly guided tour or multimedia tour of the Palace of Westminster instead?
Alternatively, why not make a day of it and do both? You can book guided or multimedia tours of the Palace of Westminster before or after your tour of Speaker's House — and there's a cafe on site where you can head in between tours to refresh and really take in your surroundings. The multimedia tour of UK Parliament is ideal for taking things at your own pace, and focusing on the aspects of the world-famous building that really interest you.
All profits from these tours go to the Speaker’s Art Fund, (registered charity number 1105968) which supports arts and educational projects with a focus on increasing understanding of Parliamentary democracy across the UK.
Speaker's House tours are only available 24 July-2 September 2023, and are likely to sell out, so book soon. Tickets are £20 per person/£12 for 16-24 year olds. On selected dates, you can add on a multimedia tour of UK Parliament for £25 per person/£18 for 16-24 year olds.
