Access and assistance devices

We offer step-free access and options to adapt our tours to support your visit.

Information for visiting:

Westminster Hall
Public Galleries
Tours
Borrowing a wheelchair
Assistance dogs
Deaf visitors or hearing impairments
Sensory Considerations

Westminster Hall

There are 37 steps from Westminster Hall to Central Lobby.
For step-free access, a Visitor Assistant will escort you to an alternative route with a lift.
This lift is 105 x 150 centimetres.

Public Galleries

The public galleries in the House of Commons and the House of Lords are high above the debating chambers. You will be behind a glass screen in the House of Commons.

The House of Commons has step-free route for access.
There are spaces for wheelchairs and assistance dogs.
Tickets are not required for general debates but are required for PMQs. Watch debates and committees.
The House of Lords is only accessible via stairs. If you need step-free access, we will seat you in an alternative viewing position.
All committee rooms and dining rooms have step-free access.
You will need to hand in your bags and mobile phones before visiting the public galleries which we will store your personal items securely.
There may be additional searches by a member of the security team.

Tours

Most of the tour route in the Palace of Westminster is step-free.
There are 36 steps between Westminster Hall to St Stephen's Hall but an alternative route via a lift is available.
Some parts of the tour route are narrow.
We offer alternative viewing points to visitors who have larger, motorised wheelchairs.
Speaker’s House Tour has 8 stops and there are 57 stairs in total to access the State Rooms of Speaker's House. There is a lift to provide step free access.

You can see inside the Palace of Westminster by going on a virtual tour or looking through photos on our Flickr album.

Tour adapatations

If you need the guided tour adapted to support your visit, please contact Visitor Services.

Borrowing a wheelchair

You can borrow a wheelchair when you arrive. You can also book a wheelchair in advance. To book a wheelchair:

Call 020 7219 0516
For Text phone dial 18001 followed by 020 7219 0516
Email the Visitor Services team

For visitor and staff safety, we are not able to provide a member of staff to push the wheelchair. The visitor services team would be happy to provide a step free escort to any area of the estate.

If visitors are unable to self propel, they are able to bring an essential companion to support with safe access to the building.

If you are attending a meeting or function by invitation, you should contact your host. You should do this ahead of your visit to discuss your access requirements.

Assistance dogs

Assistance dogs (including registered, licenced and trained therapy dogs) are welcome to attend UK Parliament. We can provide dog bowls and water, as well as dog toilet facilities. Please ask a member of visitor services staff for more information. Dogs must be kept on a lead at all times.

For Elizabeth Tower Tours

Due to the number of stairs and the noise of the bells chiming, assistance dogs of any description (including Guide Dogs) are not able to go on the tour.   

Deaf visitors or hearing impairments

We have 30 induction loops available for visitors on any given day for all tours. Email the Visitor Services team in advance if you would like further information about how this works.

We also have 12 Self-guided audio devices with BSL interpretation and subtitles available for visitors.

The induction loops will work with most models of hearing aid. To access the induction loop systems, you should put your hearing aid onto the T setting.

For the House of Commons: You can collect a neck loop from the reception area outside House of Commons Committee Room 10.
For the House of Lords: You can collect a neck loop from the House of Lords Attendant’s Office next to House of Lords Committee Room 1.
Committee meetings in the Palace of Westminster: An infra-red system is in place in the committee rooms in the House of Commons and the House of Lords. To access the infra-red system in any committee room, you should depress the T setting on your hearing aid.
Committee meetings in Portcullis House: An infra-red system is in place in the committee rooms in Portcullis House. You can collection a neck loop from the reception desk outside the Boothroyd Room. This on the first floor which is accessible by a lift.
Meetings and events in Westminster Hall: An infra-red system is in place in Westminster Hall. You can collect a neck loop from the visitor services team in Westminster Hall.

Find out more about attending debates and committees

Sensory Considerations

Some visitors may find UK Parliament noisy and over stimulating. Contact the Visitor Services team to discuss access requirements. If you need to borrow a pair of ear defenders, please ask one of the Visitor Assistants or if a quiet space is required.

The route is particularly busy on Saturdays and Wednesday during PMQs and during peak holiday periods. You are welcome to bring stimming aids with you. Sensory bags are currently for visitors booked on Audio guided tours.

You can also collect a sunflower lanyard from the main desk in Westminster Hall.

You will find patterned carpets, wallpaper and decoration throughout the building. At times you may hear the division bell ringing. This is not a fire alarm. The fire alarm is the spoken words; 'Fire has been reported in the building'.

Light levels and temperatures can vary significantly in different parts of the Palace of Westminster. Westminster Hall is typically cold all year round, but can be very cold during winter. Please contact Visitor Services (email) in advance if you have any questions prior to your visit.

Debates and committees can be confrontational. Debates, especially in the House of Commons, can be noisy. Visitors must be quiet and not join in with debates and committees.

Speaker's House is usually a quieter space, as we have a limited number of tours.