Visits to the Gallery of the House of Commons
The Strangers' Gallery is open to the public when the House is sitting, which is usually:

• 14:30 – 22:30 or later on Mondays
• 14:30 – 22:30 or later on Tuesdays
• 11:30 – 19:30 or later on Wednesdays
• 10:30 – 18:30 or later on Thursdays
• 09:30 – 15:00 on sitting Fridays
  

When the House returns after a recess on a day other than a Monday, the first day will have Monday sitting times.

Recess
The Strangers’ Gallery is closed to the public when the House is in recess. The recess dates for the parliamentary session 2009/10 are:

Christmas Recess: 16 December 2009 – 5 January 2010
Half Term Week: 19 February 2010 – 22 February 2010
Easter Recess: To be confirmed
Whit Recess: To be confirmed
Summer Recess: To be confirmed

Visits to the Gallery in the House of Lords
The visitors’ gallery is open when the House of Lords is sitting.

Sitting Times

• 14:30 – 22:00 or later on Mondays
• 14:30 – 22:00 or later on Tuesdays
• 15:00 – 22:00 or later on Wednesdays
• 11:00 – 19:30 or later on Thursdays
• 10:00 – close of business on sitting Fridays

Recess
The House of Lords does not usually sit during August, part of September and early October, during the weeks before and after Christmas and for a week or so at Easter and at the Spring Bank Holiday. The recess dates for the parliamentary session 2009/10 are:

Christmas Recess: 16 December 2009 – 5 January 2010
Half Term Week: 19 February 2010 – 22 February 2010
Easter Recess: To be confirmed
Whit Recess: To be confirmed
Summer Recess: To be confirmed

Tours of the Houses of Parliament

United Kingdom Residents: during session
People who are resident in this country should contact their local Member of Parliament or a Peer whom they know. If you are unsure of your local Member of Parliament's details please contact the House of Commons Information Office. The MP or Peer concerned can usually arrange for them to take a tour in English or another language. Applications should be made as far in advance as possible – tours generally have to be arranged about 6 months in advance.

The address for contacting MPs is:
House of Commons, Westminster, London SW1A 0AA
 
At present, tours are only available on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday mornings and on Fridays – all day if the Commons are not sitting, late afternoon if they are. There will be no access to the Commons chamber after 09.30 on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings. Tours take about 75 minutes.

Tours for United Kingdom Residents: during recess
During recess UK residents should continue to arrange tours through their local MP. Tours can be arranged as follows:-

Christmas / New Year Closed
Easter and Spring Weekdays; Whitsun Recess Weekdays all day.
Prorogation of Parliament - there are no tours during the Prorogation period (generally late November/early December)

During the summer opening of the Palace of Westminster, people who are resident in this country may continue to arrange tours through their local MP or a Peer whom they know. Special arrangements are put in place during Summer Recess. July and August - Wednesday and Thursday mornings; September and October - Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings. The Palace of Westminster opens in the summer to visitors who can go on pre booked tours of the historic building.
 
Tours for Overseas Visitors
Overseas visitors can only tour Parliament during the Summer Opening, when paid-for tickets are available. However, overseas visitors may still attend debates and committees throughout the year.

Tours for Educational Institutions
Schools or other educational institutions based in this country should normally contact their local MP to arrange a tour of the Houses of Parliament. However, the Parliamentary Education Unit offers a range of educational visits for students years 3 – 10 throughout the year. Visits for older students (KS4) take place in the autumn. Teachers and others wishing to participate are advised to contact the Parliamentary Education Unit early for further details on all visit programmes.

For all other educational visits, organisers should write to their local MP. An information leaflet, Educational Visits to Parliament, is available from the Parliamentary Education Unit on request.

The contact details for the Parliamentary Education Unit are: