Palace of Westminster Palace of Westminster, Westminster, London SW1A 0AA, UK

The history of the Houses of Parliament spans over 900 years from the Anglo-Saxons to the present. The Palace of Westminster is the meeting place of the House of Commons and the House of Lords, the two houses of the Parliament of the United Kingdom

ARRIVING

Visitors will enter the Parliamentary Estate through the Cromwell Green entrance. There are no parking facilities on the Parliamentary Estate for visitors except in extremely special circumstances. Parking is available in Abingdon Car Park, which has disabled bays.

ATTENDING DEBATES

We welcome visitors with assistance dogs attending the Public Galleries of either House or witnessing public committees. Staff on duty will direct visitors to suitable seating. A guidebook in Braille is available on request.

ACCESS TO THE COMMITTEE ROOMS AND CENTRAL LOBBY

Step-free access routes are available to the Committee Rooms, Central Lobby and other areas on the upper floors. Since they are within the secure area, visitors will need to be escorted. Please contact the Events and Banqueting Team (020 7219 3090) prior to the visit if a number of visitors in a group will require the use of the lift.

Accessible lavatories

Lavatories suitable for unaccompanied wheelchair users are situated:

• off the Peers’ Lobby*
• off the Peers’ Cloakroom (near the Cholmondeley Room)
• on the riverfront area, near the dining rooms
• off the Committee Corridor (Lords)
• in the Parliamentary Archives*
• in the Lower Waiting Hall
• off the Committee Corridor (Commons)
• off the Upper Committee Corridor
• adjacent to the Jubilee Caféteria
• in Portcullis House Atrium
• on the first floor, Portcullis House
• on the second to fifth floors Portcullis House in the north-east and south-west corners*

Those marked * are not in public areas.

Wheelchairs

Lifts and step-free access routes are accessible to manually operated wheelchairs or small electric chairs. It is recommended that visitors using larger chairs check with the sponsor/organiser of their visit or call the Events and Banqueting Team (020 7219 3090) for further advice. We have a limited number of wheelchairs that are available from Westminster Hall; please check in at the desk. We would normally ask that visitors discuss this with their organiser and that a passholder contact 020 7219 4114 to reserve one.

Auditory assistance

Induction loop systems are available throughout the Public Galleries and Committee Rooms in both Houses. There are also induction loops in the main dining rooms. Induction Loop facilities for use on tours are available on request from the desk in Westminster Hall; please let your organiser know in advance to avoid disappointment. With advance notice, facilities can be provided in the Public Galleries or Committee Rooms should visitors wish to bring interpreters