houses of parliament tour and afternoon tea

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Afternoon Tea at the Houses of Parliament, London

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A traditional afternoon tea on the banks of the River Thames in the incredible 900-year-old setting of the Palace of Westminster.

Talk about amazing venue. What better location to have afternoon tea – something so traditionally English – than in a place so full of English, and British, history as the Houses of Parliament.

As a Londoner, I haven’t done a lot of the touristy things, perhaps because I can go to the Tower or Westminster Abbey whenever I fancy it. I’m not sure why I grouped visiting the grand buildings where my country’s parliament sit in the touristy bracket but I did, so I jumped at the chance to tour the corridors of British history and sample the treats from the Thames-side afternoon tea rooms.

Having made it through the airport-like security, our footsteps echoed into Westminster Hall, the grand entrance to the Palace of Westminster. Just like the confectionary curiosity before being led down to the afternoon tea terrace, the grand hall holds a special feeling of anticipation for what the rest of this incredible building will offer. Built in 1097 by the son of William the Conqueror, William II, the hall has seen over 900 years of British history, law and life pass through it. Which other sovereigns and laws, prime ministers and plots have journeyed through this grand Palace? We spent an hour strolling through the chambers, lobbies and along corridors finding out before letting it all soak in over afternoon tea on the terrace.

The afternoon tea doesn’t come as a stand-alone option, it’s the cherry on top of the cake after either a guided or audio tour through the Houses of Parliament. We chose the audio tour so we could go at our own pace.

This table service afternoon tea is taken in a riverside room, two sittings per afternoon at 70 people at a time. We waited in the central lobby, the core of the Palace of Westminster which is used as a meeting place for Members of both Houses (Lords and Commons). We were taken down stairs and along corridors and welcomed like dignitaries onto the enclosed terrace. Senior Doorkeeper Kieron Power beamed a warm-hearted welcome to us in the central lobby while dressed immaculately in tails. In fact, all the staff who we met that day, either on the tour, in the shop or who served us during the afternoon tea, were genuinely lovely with big smiles and easy laughter who wanted to make our experience as pleasant as possible. (Although I did secretly hope we’d be served by a few MPs).

Let’s face it, sandwiches in an afternoon tea are a bit like the beginning of any tour – you enjoy them but sort of want to get through them quickly so you can get to the good bits. The cream cheese and minted pickled cucumber sandwich was particularly nice, as was the char grilled cajun aubergine and vegan pesto on tomato bread. As your feet click on the stone floors and you walk past the statues and the dark wood soaked with whispers and sights of years gone by, you enjoy it but are intrigued to see the grand chambers ahead (I would have been happy to have had an extra cucumber sandwich though).

Although the afternoon tea is hosted on the marquee-style terrace rather than in beautiful dark panelled rooms, you’re never far from remembering where you are. The House of Commons has its own crockery and cutlery, along with the option of House of Commons labelled wine and champagne should you choose to raise a toast to your tour. And of course, the view of the Thames is wonderful, I’m not even sure where you can get closer to it while eating in London.

Unusual perhaps to compare the House of Lords to scones. The middle of the tour, the second tier of the afternoon tea – full of tradition, properly English, rich. The nice curl of cream was deceiving, it looked smaller than it was but it was the first time I’ve ever been given just the right amount of cream and jam. Maybe it was down to having just one raisin scone each, but it made me savour the warm scone more. Very tasty with my earl grey and the view of the Thames at dusk.

The House of Commons is the treat at the end of the tour, the dessert of your afternoon tea. So this is where it all happens, the country is led and decisions are made. Your feet may be weary from all the walking but do not sit down on one of the worn-out green leather benches. If you ignore the very polite requests, you’ll soon learn that it is not ok to sit down in a seat you weren’t elected to. MPs only on those green benches (green in the House of Commons where laws are made, red in the House of Lords where those laws are stopped if they are no good). Instead we listened to our audio guide tell us about the history of the House of Commons, looked up at the Strangers Gallery (public gallery) and stood at the despatch boxes where the leaders of Government and the Opposition debate.

Although very attractive, the deserts were a little bit like how Parliament are right now –underwhelming. The lemon macaron was a bit too sharp for me, but some people really enjoyed them so it’s all about personal taste. The other two deserts – millionaires shot and a tart – didn’t really have as much taste as they looked as though they should so I just had half of each.

A post shared by High Tea Society (@highteasociety) on Dec 2, 2017 at 2:18pm PST

Remember though that this is about the venue – the afternoon tea is a lovely way to end a special afternoon in London rather than your main reason for going. It’s a real privilege to be able to walk around this incredible building and it’s not often you get to enjoy afternoon tea at a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Soak up the history, slurp up your tea, devour the scones and enjoy the views.

Afternoon Tea at the Houses of Parliament Menu:

Sandwiches:

• Salt beef with grain mustard mayonnaise and watercress in brioche bun
• Salmon gravadlax with horseradish cream and lemon gel on ciabatta
• Cream cheese and minted pickled cucumber on rye bread
• Char grilled Cajun aubergine, vegan pesto and oven dried tomatoes on tomato bread
• House of Commons sultana scone with strawberry jam and Devonshire clotted cream
• Passion fruit, strawberry and pistachio tart
• Millionaires shot
• Seasonal French style macaron
• Vegetarian and gluten-free options can be arranged if requested when booking. No dairy-free option.
• Full English, Decaffeinated, The Earl, Assam, Sencha green tea, fruit tea, camomile, peppermint
• House of Commons labelled red and white wine, plus House of Commons labelled champagne

The children’s afternoon tea option is recommended for younger children (up to age 12):

• Cheddar, cream cheese and chive sandwich
• Tuna mayonnaise and cucumber mini brioche roll
• Selection of vegetable and potato crisps
• Vegetable sticks with houmous dip
• Chocolate cake pop
• Seasonal natural fruit jelly
• Big Ben shaped shortbread biscuit
• Warm chocolate chip scone
• Strawberry milkshake

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Houses of parliament, london:.

Please view the Parliament website for dates.

The afternoon tea prices are in addition to the price of the tour ticket. Adults: £29 Children (recommended up to age 12): £14.50

Prices are correct at the time of publishing, but subject to change. Please contact the venue for further details.

Claire Risino

Claire loves eating and baking cake so is always delighted to contribute to High Tea Society. When not satisfying her sweet tooth, Claire works in communications for a heritage and environment charity in the UK, spending regular evenings experiencing London's west end and fringe theatre. With a background in the dramatic arts, Claire enjoys the theatre of high tea and seeking out unusual tasty experiences.

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The Houses of Parliament, Afternoon Tea and River Cruise for Two

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Step inside the Government’s house for an audio tour covering a thousand years of history and more than a smattering of modern politics, then head to The Royal Horseguards Hotel for a filling afternoon tea  and continue your day exploring London with an unlimited hop-on, hop-off River Cruise for two.

The House of Parliament consists of both the House of Commons and the House of Lords. You’ll get to see both houses through Westminster Hall, the Royal Gallery, Lord’s Chamber and more with an audio guide leading you from each point of interest to the next.

Along with your Houses of Parliament trip, you can take a seat in The Royal Horseguards Hotel for aquintessential British afternoon tea.  Enjoy tasty delights with the likes of Lemon meringue pie, Strawberry tart and Chocolate éclair just to name a few. As if that wasn’t enough, over the course of the day you can enjoy an unlimited River Thames cruise (and all the sightseeing that goes with it) with a hop-on, hop-off ticket for two.

What's Included

• Entry for two to the Houses of Parliament in the Palace of Westminster
• An afternoon tea for two served at the nearby The Royal Horseguards Hotel Includes sandwiches, pastries, scones and your choice of loose-leaf tea
• Unlimited day-long hop-on, hop-off sightseeing River Thames cruising

What happens on the day?

On arrival at the Houses of Parliament, simply present the entry voucher, that you will have received when you redeemed your gift experience, in exchange for your audio guides. Your tour will take around 60 to 75 minutes and is available in several languages should English not be your first choice.

At your chosen time, you’ll also take a table at The Royal Horseguards Hotel for your pre-booked afternoon tea, including finger sandwiches, pastries, scones with cream and jam and your choice of tea. You will be provided with a second voucher after making your booking which you will need to present to the restaurant.

For your unlimited day of river cruising, you’ll take the 3rd voucher, which will have received when you redeemed your gift experience on the day you wish to take the cruise and exchange it with the booking staff at Westminster Pier for an unlimited River Red Rover ticket. You may embark and disembark from all city cruises piers , cruising between them as many times as you wish for one day.

Participant guidelines

• Under 18's must be accompanied by a participating adult
• The experience content, equipment used and restrictions may vary

Availability

Your voucher is valid for 12 months from the date of purchase.  Please book and take your experience before the expiry date.

Houses of Parliament: Normally open every Saturday and during parliamentary recesses which tend to be school holidays

Royal Horseguards Hotel : Afternoon tea served daily from 13.00 – 16.30   Exclusions including all bank holidays, 19 March, 6 May & 24 -31 December inclusive,  apply.

River cruise: Available daily (exclusions may apply)

We recommend you book at least 4 weeks in advance to ensure that dates are available. All bookings are subject to availability.

Please allow a full day for the full experience.  The tour lasts 1 hour 30 mins, approx 1 hour for the afternoon tea and the rest of your day is free to enjoy the hop on hop off river cruise

What about insurance?

The partners contracted with us hold public liability insurance. We also hold contingency liability cover. You will not be liable for accidental damage to equipment, except where damage has been caused as a result of recklessness or wilful negligence.

Please ensure you are familiar with the terms and conditions of the experience.

How it works

All you have to do is pay for the experience you wish to purchase and we’ll send a voucher and booking information to you or directly to the recipient, then you just need to check the info and book your experience.

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• Afternoon Tea

Afternoon Tea at the Houses of Parliament

Last updated on February 3rd, 2020

The Palace of Westminster, or Houses of Parliament as it’s commonly referred to, is one of London’s ultimate tourist hot spots, even if Big Ben is hibernating for the next three years whilst he gets a makeover. When I first arrived in London in the late 1980s, I would count the days until megalomaniac MP Alan B’Stard’s face would literally hit my telly in ‘The New Statesman’ (played by the late, utterly brilliant Rik Mayall). In the 1990s, it was the turn of Machiavellian Francis Urquhart in ‘House of Cards’, who I think makes his American counterpart Francis Underwood, look like a mouse. These two programs were my entrée into the Houses of Parliament, the corridors of Westminster and the machinations of British politics. I decided it was time to discover what these mystical, ceremonious halls of fame looked like in the stony flesh, so off I trotted for a touristy day out to the Houses of Parliament, followed by a spot of afternoon tea in the Terrace Pavilion.

Image courtesy of Houses of Parliament

Tea at the Houses of Parliament

No boarding cards required but…

Be warned, you will get security checked, airport-style, before you cross the threshold of the glorious building. We don’t want any newbie Guy Fawkes coming in here, thank you very much.

Westminster Hall

This is where the tour starts. Westminster Hall is an impressive 900 years old and the oldest bit of the building. Entry is free, and you can take photos in the hall.

Elizabeth I had her coronation banquet in Westminster Hall, and monarchs are laid in state in the great room. Only 2 civilians have had the same resting privilege: Winston Churchill and William Gladstone. Stand on the spot where the Queen Mother lay in state for four days. You can also stand where the high and mighty were sentenced to death: William Wallace (Braveheart) in 1305, Thomas More in 1535, and Charles I in 1649.

Do you think Francis Urquhart would have liked the Chief Whip mug from the shop? I couldn’t possibly comment.

Remember, Remember

In 1605, a Mr Guy Fawkes was arrested whilst trying to light gunpowder in the belly of the Houses of Parliament. The powder in question was said to have been “manufactured by a gunpowder manufacturer within earshot of the Bells of Bow,” which points the explosive finger to a John Pain, founder of Pains Fireworks. The company is still going strong, creating pyrotechnic magic for the Thames Festival and the London Olympics. Fawkes was tried in Westminster Hall together with his seven co-conspirators. James I and his family watched the proceedings in secret.

The Royal Loo

Her Majesty the Queen makes an annual visit here for the State Opening of Parliament, but not without a search of the building by the Beefeaters for any potential Gunpowder Plots first. She enters through the Sovereign Tower and into the House of Lords via the Royal Robing Room. Here, she puts on her ceremonial dress and the Imperial State Crown before up to the House of Lords. Last year, and for the first time, the Queen took the lift to get upstairs. See if you can find the secret door in the Robing Room which leads to a royally-appointed private bathroom.

The Broom Cupboard

Plaque to Emily Wilding Davison – Houses of Parliament

You will probably have heard of the name Emily Wilding Davison – she’s the suffragette who threw herself under the King’s Horse at the Epsom Derby in the name of injustice suffered by women. Emily also hid in a broom cupboard on the night of the 1911 census so that she could give her address as the House of Commons. I can imagine Alan B’Stard hanging out in here, kicking the crap out of poor Piers Fletcher-Dervish in ‘The New Statesman.’

The Division Bell

The Red Lion pub in Westminster

Members of Parliament have eight minutes to get into the voting chamber once the Division Bell rings. It sounds throughout the Palace as well as in some government buildings and Westminster pubs. Across the road from the Houses of Parliament is the Red Lion pub with its own division bell inside. How many minutes do you reckon it takes to down a pint of beer and get into the voting chamber for a yay or nay vote?

Talisman Toes

As you enter the House of Commons, walk past the towering statues of Winston Churchill and Lloyd George. Superstitious Members of Parliament will rub their gleaming toes for good luck prior to speaking in the chamber.

Heinz, who now produce the iconic brown sauce, claim that HP has been “adding oomph to your favourite dishes since 1903.”  In fact, the brown gravy was invented in 1895 by a Nottingham grocer, Frederick Gibson Garton. Hearing that a restaurant in the Houses of Parliament was serving it, he named it HP Sauce, slapped a picture of Big Ben on the bottle, and the rest is culinary history.

House of colours

Did you know that Westminster Bridge is painted the same colour as the leather seats in the  House of Commons , whilst Lambeth Bridge is painted red, the same colour as the seats in the  House of Lords ?

Afternoon Tea in the Terrace Pavilion

My tour was rounded off with a spot of afternoon tea at the Houses of Parliament, in the Terrace Pavilion which overlooks the Thames. We were asked to wait a few minutes after the tour and then escorted to our table in the all-weather conservatory.

We kicked off afternoon tea with a selection of cold sandwiches including salt beef and salmon gravadlax. There were vegetarian options as well.

The Millionaires Shot was a delectable combination of salted caramel with crisp white chocolate, chocolate mousse, shortbread and chocolate. Yummy.

There were plenty of teas to choose from, and I opted for a very British Earl Grey. For £9 you could add a glass of Champagne.

The Afternoon Tea costs £30 for adults (the tour is not included). There is also a £15 children’s afternoon tea option with a selection of sandwiches, crisps, chocolate chip scone and a Big Ben shortbread biscuit.

I’m sad to report my two favourite villains were nowhere to be seen in the corridors of Westminster.  LEFT: Alan B’stard (Rik Mayall) in ‘The New Statesman.’ RIGHT: Francis Urquhart (Ian Richardson) in ‘House of Cards.’

Visiting Houses of Parliament

There are several options for visiting the Houses of Parliament:

• Audio tour on Saturdays throughout the year and on weekdays when Parliament is not in session.
• A guided tour in a range of languages. The guided tour lasts approximately 90 minutes.
• A family guided tour for children aged 7 to 12 and which lasts approximately 90 minutes,

For more information and prices visit the Houses of Parliament website .

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23 comments.

Zenbabytravel

A great post Scarlett! That plaque to Emily Wilding Davison is quite sobering – difficult to believe on one hand that’s relatively recent (100 years/ 3 generations ago) on the other hand there’s so much more fixing still needed on the gender topic. Something to keep in mind for sure (just a tad later) for my boys! On a lighter note, the tea looks lovely! #CulturedKids

DiaryofaLondoness

Couldn’t agree more Ioana. Imagine her cowering in that cupboard all that time just to make a point. And the first female statue has only just gone up in Parliament Square – we have a long way to go!

Usha Sitaaraam

Such lovely photos and post. I have been wanting to do this for a long time, your post comes as reminder. Thank you so much for inspiriation. #culturedkids

Thanks Usha, I hope you get to go soon! #culturedkids Scarlett

Nell (Pigeon Pair and Me)

I’ve been in the Red Lion pub many times, in a previous life. It’s atmospheric, to say the least! This is a fantastic post – full of facts that I didn’t know. And those mugs are a real hoot. #CulturedKids

Yes, we all need one of those mugs in the kitchen, Nell! #culturedkids Scarlett

Afternoon tea at the Palace of Westminster is high on my list #CulturedKids

Nicky @Go Live Young

I’d heard about this before. I’ve always wanted to tour of the Houses of Parliament, so must make it happen, particularly with afternoon tea. I had no idea HP sauce was named after the Houses of Parliament – you learn something new every day!

I love all these fun snippets about London! #culturedkids Scarlett

Interesting post Scarlett! I’ve always wanted to take a tour of the Houses of Parliment, and now I know there’s afternoon tea involved too I’m 100% going ASAP! Also, I had no idea HP sauce was named after the Houses of Parliment – definitely using this one at the next dinner party! 🙂

I love discovering these fun stories about London! Enjoy your next batch of sauce Emily!!

Love the The Millionaires Shot, not something you would usually get with an afternoon tea but looks yummy!

My favourite! Death by chocolate!!

How lovely to take this tour with you. I just wish I could have tasted! Oh and they are two of my favourite villains too! I can’t wait till my two are old enough to take the children’s tour.

Hi Jenny I am also going to go back and do the family tour with the youngest. Miss those two villains on the box! Rik Mayall was a dad at our school, he was a gem of a human being and bigger than life!

What a lovely idea to have afternoon tea after the tour of the Houses of Parliament! I have been years ago and loved the tour, it is such a gorgeous building with so much history!

It’s a wonderful day out for the family Miriam!

Shelley Goodman

Who knew you could actually visit Parliament? And have tea as well? Can just imagine my postcards back to the States, “Was just invited for a glass of champagne in British Parliament”

We are very lucky to have access to these buildings.

Louise Riis

This sounds JUST like the thing for me! Combining beautiful historic insights with food! I really, really want to try this out – and I am sure, Frenchie would love to go as well! I have never visited The Parliament, and I feel bad about it! Living in London it is a MUST! I also think that the price is more than fair! Thank you for this one, Scarlett

Hi Louise, it’s a must of things to do in London. And one for you to take baby to in a few years for some Big Ben shortbread! x

Tanja (the Red phone box travels)

must do this soon:)

Definitely Tanja!

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London loves: houses of parliament afternoon tea and tour.

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Looking for a London experience like no other? I recently discovered that you can enjoy a Houses of Parliament afternoon tea and jumped at the chance to try it.

Afternoon tea is combined with guided tour and we loved discovering the stories and history of this remarkable building after indulging in the ritual of cream tea.

Houses of Parliament afternoon tea beneath Big Ben

Few afternoon tea venues in London can compete with the history and views on offer at London’s Houses of Parliament.

As we made our way to the Terrace Pavillion, through the Great Hall of the Palace of Westminster and Central Lobby it was impossible not to be in awe of our surroundings.

The Houses of Parliament is the more common name for the Palace of Westminster. A royal  palace has stood on the site since the reign of Edward the Confessor but  the Great Hall begun in 1097 is the only remaining part of the medieval palace. The iconic buildings we know today date from 1834.    

So many important events over many centuries happened or were decided upon in these buildings. We walked in the footsteps of Kings and Queens of England, Prime Ministers of Great Britain and giants of history like Nelson Mandela.

On the hour the bells of Big Ben tolled, reminding us not to be late for our tea appointment.

The Terrace Pavillion is found on the river side of the House of Commons and is lit by chandeliers. We were greeted warmly by attentive staff, happy to talk about the building and view and to take photos.

Once we were comfortable, we took time to take in the view of the Thames and across Lambeth Bridge to the London Eye and beyond. It was fascinating to watch the hustle and bustle of the city and iconic red buses crossing the river from that vantage point.

A traditional cream tea with champagne!

Having tried a few cream teas over the years I can confidently say that we enjoyed a traditional and decadent afternoon tea treat at the Houses of Parliament.

Tea was served properly in a pot and we chose from several varieties to suit our taste. Our scones were warm, light and flaky and came with clotted cream and two types of jam – raspberry and strawberry.

We also enjoyed finger sandwiches and a range of delicious sweets. Our feast was worthy of its location.

Tea is served at two sittings – 2pm and 3.45pm – under the shadow of the Elizabeth tower and the booming bells of Big Ben.

Guided tour of the Houses of Parliament

Our tour of the Houses of Parliament was a memorable trip around its stately rooms, as well as an education on the pomp, ancient ritual and intrigue of what those walls have seen.

Our guide Russell was one of those fantastic English characters you imagine with a great passion for his subject. He had our group of around 15 people chuckling and pondering how true some of his stories were.

We learnt about the Queen’s “favourite hat”, Black Rod and the symbolism of the art hanging in the Royal Gallery.

On the tour you visit many rooms within the Palace of Westminster including the Great Hall, House of Commons and House of Lords. Portraits of Kings and Queens peer down from above and scenes of British triumph adorn the walls.

Pageantry and Crown Jewels

I think most visitors are fascinated by the role reigning monarch Queen Elizabeth II plays in the running of Parliament in the United Kingdom.

These days the monarch’s role is largely ceremonial and centres on her participation in the  State Opening of Parliament . We learnt all about the ritual and pageantry of this important annual event throughout the tour.

During the ceremony the Queen wears her robes of state and the Imperial State Crown   which arrives at Westminster via special carriage escort from the Tower of London.  

Did you know that the Crown Jewels are not just worn by the Queen? We met one of the senior doorkeepers who informed us that his impressive badge formed part of the Crown Jewels collection.

Combine a tour of one of the world’s most iconic buildings with a posh afternoon tea and you have a quintessentially British experience worthy of any London itinerary  

Houses of Parliament afternoon tea and guided tour information

You can join a tour of the Palace of Westminster and take the Houses of Parliament afternoon tea most Saturdays and on select weekdays when Parliament is not sitting.

Afternoon tea costs £29 per person. A wide range of dietary requirements are catered for.

Guided tours cost £25.50 per person. Concessions are available.

For full details of timing and availability and to book tours and afternoon tea go to the Visit Parliament website .

Tips on making the most of your visit

✪ Security measures are strictly enforced so arrive early as there are often queues to complete the security check

✪ We chose a guided tour but there are several other tour options including themed and audio guides available.

✪ The guided tour runs for 90 minutes and there are only a few places where it is possible to sit briefly. Make sure you visit the bathroom prior to the tour starting.

✪ Allow around 4-5 hours for the Houses of Parliament afternoon tea and guided tour experience. You will want to revisit a few spots particularly in the the Central Lobby and Great Hall to soak up the atmosphere and even stand on historically important sites

A note on photography

It is not possible to take photos throughout most of the tour of the Palace of Westminster and Houses of Parliament. You will also be asked put away your phone and actually that’s great for giving full attention to your knowledgeable guide.

Finally – take a virtual tour of the Houses of Parliaement

This video shows some of the incredible sights you will see on a tour of the Houses of Parliament however they are made all the more interesting when you learn the stories and details behind them.

Thanks to expert ‘Blue Badge’ guides like Russell, the history and importance of the Palace of Westminster will continue for generations to come.

Have you toured the Houses of Parliament in London? What did you learn from the guides?

I was kindly given complimentary tickets for the Houses of Parliament afternoon tea by Houses of Parliament Visitor Services . All opinions are my own and honest. Please check my disclosure page for more information.

More ideas of unique London experiences to add to your London itinerary from Untold Morsels

✪  Portrait Restaurant – with views over Trafalgar Square to Big Ben ✪ Visit wonderful Greenwich  home to several outstanding museums and a fantastic market ✪ Take time out from your shopping on Oxford Street at the brilliant Wallace Collection near Selfridges ✪  London art galleries to suit all kinds of art lovers

The creator, writer and photographer behind Untold Morsels , Katy has been travelling and tasting the world since she was a teenager.

Now the proud mum of twins, she hopes they grow up to share her passions of great food, wine and travel. Favourite destination: Italy

UK-based blog for and by travel-loving women

Afternoon Tea at the Houses of Parliament

If you’re looking for a unique setting for afternoon tea in London, what better venue than the Houses of Parliament?

Ever since I’d heard you could partake in tea and cake in these hallowed halls, (well, just alongside them in a riverside room in the Houses of Commons), I’d been eager to visit, so I was very excited to finally take the family along on this special day out.

In order to have afternoon tea at the Houses of Parliament you also need to book on, and pay for a tour, so this was also a part of trip. However, with food always at the forefront of my mind, I decided we should start with the afternoon tea and take the tour after. This way, I thought, appetites would be sated, and we’d be free to take our time exploring once we’d eaten.

Getting into the houses of Parliament – be there early

Visiting the Houses of Parliament is a very disciplined affair; you’re advised to arrive 15 minutes early in order to make your way through security, which in the current climate is understandably tight. In an odd way this makes the whole experience more of an event: you know you’re visiting somewhere particularly important if you have to pass through airport-style security scanners and nod politely to members of armed police before you’ve even made it to the front doors.

A first glimpse of the Palace of Westminster

And once you do, you can’t help but be in awe of the building. You enter into Westminster Hall, the oldest building on the parliamentary estate, which dates back as far as the 11 th century. Its size is impressive, so much so that I wasn’t surprised to hear that its beautiful hammer-beam roof is the largest medieval timber roof in Northern Europe (it’s 68 x 240 feet, fact fans!).

Perhaps it may have been better to take the tour first, as we had to wander along a large part of the route before breaking off towards the area restricted to tea-taking guests. But even though we’d caught some impressive glimpses of what the tour had to offer, it didn’t detract from our experience later, when we returned to the Hall and began our audio tour.

VIPs coming through!

But I transgress – back to the afternoon tea. Met by a finely dressed maître d’, we were guided past ‘Do not enter’ signs and down an elegant staircase carpeted in a rich red fabric and looked over by a giant painting clearly hundreds of years old. I have to admit you begin to feel like a bit of a VIP!

We travelled along a maze of old corridors before being directed through a set of double doors and into our final destination – the Terrace Pavilion.

The Terrace Pavilion

This long, heated marquee overlooks the river Thames, with panoramic glass doors that lead out onto the terrace proper. Sadly the British summertime gave us the usual drizzle, so we stayed inside, but even with grey skies, the view was impressive.

We were seated by a window and introduced to our waiter, a smartly dressed gentleman who always had a smile on his face. After leaving us to peruse our menus, we quickly turned our eyes to the embossed cutlery and crockery, oohing and ahhing over forks stamped with the crowned portcullis emblem (yes, little things excite me).

Limited choice

I did feel that the afternoon tea was in some ways sadly limited. For example, the choice of teas was quite small, with eight to choose from, made up of black, green and fruit options. In addition, as the food was pre-made there was no option to request alterations for those picky eater types (that’s me included). Unable to see the menu beforehand, I therefore had no idea what would be on offer until I arrived.

On the plus side however, gluten free and vegetarian options are available if booked ahead, and I liked that they offered a kids version, which looked pretty enticing to little folk!

When the afternoon teas were brought to the table, the food was beautifully displayed on a stylish stand, with fruit scones wrapped up in a napkin and the millionaires shots brought out on their own wooden tray.

We delved straight into the sandwiches, which were made up of minted pickled cucumber and cream cheese on rye bread, salt beef with mustard and watercress in a brioche bun, salmon gravadlax with horseradish cream and lemon gel on rye bread, and grilled Cajun aubergine, vegan pesto and oven dried tomatoes on tomato bread.

All of these had good, strong flavours, although I have to say that pickled cucumber may not be to everyone’s taste. I liked that each had a different type of bread, so there was a great variety, but my personal favourites were the beef and pesto; although I have to admit they were a bit too big to be eaten elegantly!

I prefer plain scones so was disappointed that these weren’t on the menu, but after rather uncouthly picking out those dreaded raisins, the scones themselves were quite tasty.

It wasn’t long before we moved onto the final course, mainly because we were eager to try out the millionaires shots, which we’d all agreed to save until last. I particularly enjoyed the chocolate macarons, which had just the right balance of gooey and crunch and a real depth of flavour. I passed on the passion fruit, strawberry and pistachio tart, but was told by the others that it was fine, albeit very gooey.

Finally we’d arrived at the shots, and could enjoy the small glasses filled with salted caramel, crisp white chocolate, chocolate mousse, shortbread and chocolate thins. Before I began I thought they were tiny, but after just a few small spoonfuls I understood why. Delicious but amazingly rich, just a little is enough. The flavours were great and I loved the textures too. A sickly but wonderful end to our afternoon tea at the Houses of Parliament.

Afternoon tea at the Houses of Parliament

Afternoon tea is available in the Terrace Pavilion from Tuesday to Saturday, but availability is subject to change as parliamentary business requires. Weekday sittings are at 3.45pm, with two sittings during the weekend: 2pm and 3.45pm.

The cost of afternoon tea is £29 per adult and £14.50 for children 12 or under, but all visitors must also pay for either a guided or audio tour.

Regarding service, I found all of the servers were all smartly dressed, polite and kind, but I did feel the service was ‘ok’, rather than exceptional. Perhaps because of the setting I expected the staff to go above and beyond. For example, tea top ups were never offered, although when we asked they were happy enough to bring us more hot water.

However, when they did check on us they were always polite and friendly, more than happy to answer any of our questions and have a little laugh with us.

Overall, I would definitely recommend afternoon tea at the Houses of Parliament. The food is good rather than great, but it is the setting that takes it to a whole new level. Can you think of any other venue so rich with history? I know I can’t!

Our tours and afternoon teas at the Houses of Parliament were complimentary for the purposes of review but as ever, all views are my own.

By day Co-Editor Keri is a freelance journalist and copywriter, but spends most of her free time either travelling or planning her next trip!  A complete travel fanatic, she has a love of tropical climates, wildlife and afternoon tea (hence the creation of her Global Afternoon Tea Challenge!)

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44 comments.

I never knew you could have afternoon tea there – it looks ultra-posh but pretty good value for money! A really interesting place to visit too.

It was really interesting Ania. Actually thought the setting for food would be posher believe it or not, but still loved it.

I WANT TO DO THIS SO BADLY THE NEXT TIME I’M IN LONDON!!!! I’m a big tea fanatic that I even order in British tea!! #CityTripping

Aww bless you! Are you a PG Tips or Yorkshire Tea kinda lady? 😉

TraveLynn Family - Jenny

Well I had no idea that this was a thing! And so quintessentially English. It seems a rather formal affair, so I may leave it until I have a kids free weekend 😉 #citytripping

Oh no, kids are more than welcome and they do a funky, fun tea especially for them. You can also get family friendly audio tours with stories that’ll appeal more to kids… K

Lins @ Boo & Maddie

Well there we go, in 16 years of living in London I never knew you could have afternoon tea there!! Looks very elegant indeed #citytripping

Ha ha, I know they keep it quiet, right?! I only found out a few years ago myself.

Johlene Orton

The food looks absolutely divine!! Looks like a great experience!

#citytripping

Nicky Williams

Would love to do this when we’re next in London. Didn’t know you could have afternoon tea at the Houses of Parliament! #citytripping

Cool, huh Nicky?! 😉

Catherine's Cultural Wednesdays

I want to do this! #CityTripping

Pair it with the guided tour and make a day of it! 😉

We went on the tour last year, and loved it… I regret that I didn’t sign up for the tea, but my boys don’t like fruit in their scones either, so maybe it’s for the best Still, everything looks so lovely and it would have been a perfect way to end our day! #citytripping

Ah shame you missed out on the tea Hilary , it’s really worth it!

Marcella ~ WhatAWonderfulWorld

Wow, what a venue! I didn’t know you could have afternoon tea at the house of parliament! I’m such a bad Londoner, oops!

You’re not alone Marcella, seems to be a big London secret! 😉

Amanda @ Cupcake N Dreams

I haven’t heard about High Tea at the House of Parliament! I’m pinning this for my next visit there. I’m always wanted to tour Parliament too 🙂 #citytripping

Hope you enjoy it as much as we did Amanda!

Cathy (Mummytravels)

I had no idea you could have afternoon tea at the Houses of Parliament! A tour is on my list as I haven’t managed to make time for it but I think this combination would be even better. Probably best without my picky eating sidekick… Thanks for linking up with #citytripping

Ha ha, don’t diss the picky eaters! 😉

Megan - Truly Madly Kids

What a great place to have afternoon tea! It looks absolutely delicious too! #citytripping

It was – on both counts Megan! x

Sol Solntze

I didn’t know you could do this at the Houses of Parliament, and since I haven’t done a tour either, I think I have a new plan for the next time I am in London. Since I just showed my daughter the kids’ tea and she went ooooooooooh, I think we can say it will be a hit with her too. Excellent.

Oh excellent! Please do let me know what you both think of it after you’ve visited! 😀

I’ve never had a proper English afternoon tea experience so having one at the Houses of Parliament seems absolutely lovely! And the food does look delicious judging by the photos although I’d pass on the pickeled cucumber for sure!

Yeah I gave it a go Van, but very much not to my taste lol

Cherie Rose Martin

I am the same way. I prefer plain scones over the fruit ones. Sorry it was so limited. England made me a tea drinker for sure. Great post #FlyAwayFriday

Always loved a good cuppa lol!

Wow, okay, guess I’m not the only one surprised that you can actually have tea in the Houses of Parliament! After all those delicious photos, now my tummy is rumbling!

It’s odd how they keep it quiet Sherrie, hopefully I’m spreading the word!

Love this post! I have visited the Houses of Parliament before but never knew you could get afternoon tea there- will definitely have to sort this out for my next trip to the capital! #FlyAwayFriday

Excellent Sheree, hope you enjoy it!

The Travelling Sociologist

Oh, my! This all looks so delicious. How marvellous it must have been (how very British indeed) to have tea time at the Houses of Parliament. Simply splendid!

Indeed British to the extreme! 😉

What an amazing opportunity!! It looks really amazing! #FlyAwayFriday

It was lovely Esther, it’s well worth a visit!

Jessi (Two Feet, One World)

I loved the tour this summer but didn’t realise you could have afternoon too – how cool! I do like the big stand presentation and the sandwich flavours sound yum.

Yup, I do like strong flavours in my sarnies, so went down (mainly!) well! K

Oh my goodness, this looks like such a darling experience that I MUST experience for myself! I love afternoon tea and this place makes it even more magical! Thanks for joining Fly Away Friday – hope to see you again this week! xo

Totally do it Kana, it’s a real unique experience – quintessentially British! 😀

This looks so good! I love afternoon tea and didn’t get to enjoy this one! An excuse to go back 🙂 Hope to see you at Fly Away Friday this week 🙂

Yup, always like a good excuse for afternoon tea! 😉

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Tea at the Houses of Parliament

Time out says.

This summer, for the first time, plebs will be permitted to take tea in the Palace of Westminster. The constitutional cuppas are an add-on to the excellent 75-minute tours offered by Blue Badge guides on Saturdays throughout the year and on weekdays during the summer opening period when Parliament is in recess.

The tours start by following the route taken by the Queen at the State Opening of Parliament and include a peek at both the Commons and Lords chambers as well as the Central Lobby, Members' Lobby and the 900-year-old Westminster Hall. They’re richly anecdotal and strongly recommended.

We’re not in a position to vouch for the tea, but the menu encompasses both traditional offerings (egg mayo or smoked salmon and cream cheese sandwiches) and Monster Raving Loony Party-style concoctions (lemon curd and chive on a mini bagel). At £25 on top of the cost of the tour, it doesn’t come cheap. But formal afternoon tea tends to be pricy wherever you get it; it’s a luxury meal, a bit of fun, rather than a source of nutrients or energy. And the setting for this particular repast is rather special: the Pugin Room in the House of Commons, which comes complete with views across the Thames and maybe even a whiff of political intrigue.

Tea tours must booked by phone: 0844 847 1672.

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Tour and Afternoon Tea at the UK Parliament

We have recently visited UK Parliament as part of our 5-day London itinerary ( here are our youtube daily videos ).  We would have visited the Parliament even if we only had 1 or 2 days in the city!  You might not always agree with  UK politics but there is no denying that UK Parliament is a fascinating institution to include on your London itinerary – with or without the kids!

We have booked a Saturday audio guide tour and enjoyed moving at our own pace (scroll to the end of the post for other visiting options).

To book your other London experiences, check out Get Your Guide suggestions.

  What makes visiting Parliament so fascinating is the presence of the well-kept traditions.  The centuries of British history come alive as you make your way along the tour. The building’s official name is the Palace of Westminster , as it was constructed on the site of the palace built for Edward the Confessor, Anglo-Saxon monarch of England, some time between 1045-1050 .

The Palace was rebuilt between 1840-1870 (following the fire of 1834) in a neo-Gothic style by the architects Charles Barry and Augustus Pugin.  There are stained glass windows, spires and statures along its three miles of passages (there are over 1,000 rooms and 100 staircases).

Our tour starts at the grandiose Westminster Hal l ; it survived the fire of 1834 and is the oldest building in England dating to 1097.

It is the site of William the Conqueror’s first palace (1050) and it is here where royal leaders and heads of state lie in state (it is here where the British public paid their respects to Prime Minister Winston Churchill before he was laid to rest in 1965.)

Next stop on the tour is St. Stephen’s Hall which was originally used as a House of Commons before the 1834 fire.

You can sit at the green benches of St. Stephen’s, admire the many paintings and sculptures around you and imagine how members of the Parliament argued  from the opposite sides of the Hall.  This format is preserved in the current House of Commons where two red lines (two-sword-lengths apart) prevent Members from crossing to the other side during the debate (note that you cannot sit on the  benches of the two Houses during the tour).

It was here at St. Stephen’s Hall that British history made a major turn in 1642 when King Charles I marched in with his 400 soldiers and demanded the turn over of 5 Members.  This act snowballed into the Civil war and subsequent execution of the King as Parliament became the dominant power in British politics.

Our tour proceeds through the Central Lobby to the House of Lords (on the right) and House of Commons (on the left).  We follow Yes and No lobbies to enter the Lords’ chambers (there are also opposing entry ways in the House of Commons; they are used to count the Yes and No votes for major issues).

Unlike those of us on the tour, Her majesty the Queen (and other royalty) are not allowed into the Commons Chambers since that fateful 1642 visit.  The Queen makes her appearance in the House of Lords once a year to mark the official start of the the Parliamentary year.

There is a lot of protocol surrounding the royal trip in her Irish coach from Buckingham Palace.  Once her majesty is enthroned  at the House of Lords, the official known as ‘Black Rod’ (Queen’s messenger) is sent to summon the members of the House of Commons to attend the speech. The door is first symbolically slammed in his (or her !) face, symbolizing the Commons’ independence from the monarchy (current Black Rod is Sarah Clarke, first woman ever to hold this post).  Black Rod strikes the door with the rod three times before it is finally opened and he (or she) is able to invite the Members to follow him back to the Lords’.

The audio guide notes the dent in the woodwork where hundreds of successive Black Rods have made their mark.

In the Members Lobby we recognize the statutes of Prime Ministers Margaret Thatcher and Winston Churchill.

You can’t help but notice the colors of the chambers: Red for the Lords and Green for the Commons (I invite you to discuss the symbolism of these colors with your kids).

What is not as obvious is that despite there being 650 Members (MPs) of the House of Commons, there are only 427 seats – so there is often standing room only – on big days, such as the budget discussions.  To guarantee a spot on the green benches, MPs have to place a “prayer card” in the place they would like to sit at 8am. They then have to be in the chamber at the start of that day’s sitting, for prayers.  Yes, every day at the Commons still begins with 3-minute prayers!

For more Parliamentary rules and traditions, follow this link to the Parliament’s official website.

We follow our tour with the traditional Afternoon Tea at the Commons’ riverside dining room.  It offers exquisite savory and sweet treats served with utmost attention to detail (and most beautiful view).  Here is a Video of our experience.

TIPS for Visiting UK Parliament:

♦ On most Saturdays (and weekdays when Parliament is not in session) you can visit as part of the guided group tour (these sell out weeks in advance); there are also audio guide tours which are easier to book (child-friendly group tours and audio guide versions are available).

♦ Free 75-minute guided tours are available for UK residents on weekdays throughout the year.

♦ UK and foreign visitors can watch live debates and hearings taking place in the House of Commons and House of Lords from the public galleries from Monday to Thursday (and some Fridays).  Here is the Schedule of sitting days and what’s on the agenda.  Arrive one hour before the session begins and wait at the Cromwell Green visitor entrance. Beware that Visitor access while the Prime Minister is addressing the Parliament on Wednesday mornings is limited to ticket holders only (obtainable by contacting the Members of the Parliament).

♦ The bells of the Elizabeth Tower, previously called the Clock Tower but more popularly known as Big Ben are now silent during the Tower’s renovation (to be completed sometime in the early 2020s).

♦ Tours plus afternoon tea are available on most Saturdays throughout the year and on selected weekdays during parliamentary recesses.

We thank Visit Parliament for inviting us on this tour.  Check the website for prices and visit times .

This post may contain links to Affiliate booking sites; booking through these links does not cost extra to you, but may bring small commission to support this blog.

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Stary Oskol city, Russia

The city of Belgorod oblast .

Stary Oskol - Overview

Stary Oskol is a city in Russia located in the Belgorod region, standing on the banks of the Oskol River, about 142 km northeast of Belgorod, 632 km south of Moscow.

The population of Stary Oskol is about 222,600 (2022), the area - 134 sq. km.

The phone code - +7 4725, the postal codes - 309500-309518.

Stary Oskol city flag

Stary oskol city coat of arms.

Stary Oskol city map, Russia

History of stary oskol.

In 1300, there was a village called Ugly on the the territory of the present city. Today, it is one of the districts of Stary Oskol. At that time, the village was part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and was a border crossing point on the border with the Golden Horde.

The settlement of Oskol was founded by Russian Tsar Fyodor Ioanovich’s order (Ivan’s the Terrible son) to protect the southern borders of the Russian kingdom in 1593. The bulk of the population were peasants and the military.

In 1617, the town was burned by the Poles. In 1625, 1642 and 1677, the Crimean Tatars approached Stary Oskol, but could not capture it. The town was renamed Stary Oskol (meaning Old Oskol) in 1655, when the town of Tsaryov-Alexeyev, located down the river, was renamed Novy Oskol (New Oskol). Fortifications of the town existed until the 18th century.

More Historical Facts…

Gradually, Stary Oskol turned into peaceful, commercial and merchant town - the center of an agricultural district. Industrial production was represented mainly by enterprises on processing agricultural products.

In 1780, the town got its coat of arms. In 1784, Stary Oskol like most Russian towns of that time was rebuilt according to a new plan signed by Empress Catherine II. A large number of brick houses were built, mostly two-story buildings. The historic center of Stary Oskol has been preserved to our time.

In the second half of the 19th century, the town had a wide network of schools, libraries, reading rooms, printing, secondary schools. In 1894, construction of the railway began, trade and industry began to develop rapidly.

Until the 1930s, there were eleven Orthodox churches in Stary Oskol. During the Second World War, Stary Oskol was occupied by the Germans from July 2, 1942 to February 5, 1943. In 1954, the city became part of the newly formed Belgorod region.

In the late 1960s - early 1970s, in connection with the active development of the Kursk Magnetic Anomaly (the most powerful iron ore basin in the world), Stary Oskol became a major center of iron and steel industry.

Stary Oskol was declared a city of three top-priority Komsomol construction projects. The largest enterprises: Lebedinsky Mining and Processing Plant, Stoilensky Mining and Processing Plant, Oskolsky Electrometallurgical Plant became not only the city-forming enterprises, but also the largest industrial enterprises of the country. Stary Oskol experienced a new birth.

Today, Stary Oskol is a rapidly developing city, one of the leading mining and metallurgical centers of Russia.

Stary Oskol views

Stary Oskol cityscape

Author: Nikolai Ivanov

The fountain on Friendship Boulevard in Stary Oskol

October movie theater in Stary Oskol

Author: Roman Riapolov

Stary Oskol - Features

The coat of arms of Stary Oskol is a shield divided in half diagonally, in the red field there is a rifle, in the green field - a golden plow. It reflects both military and agricultural importance of the town.

Stary Oskol is among Russian cities with the youngest population. The average age of its citizens is about 35 years. The main reason lies in the history of the city. In the second half of the 20th century, a large number of members of the Young Communist League came to Stary Oskol to participate in the construction of large industrial enterprises.

Unique reserves of iron ore, developed industry and infrastructure, high scientific, technical and industrial potential, fertile land form the basis of Stary Oskol economy.

The main branches of local industry are mining, ferrous metallurgy, machine building and metalworking, building materials, food industry. There are more than 140 large and medium industrial enterprises, which employ more than 80 thousand people.

Attractions of Stary Oskol

The city has more than a dozen Orthodox churches and chapels. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral (Tokareva Street, 4/1) is the main church of Stary Oskol. St. Trinity Church (Bolshevistskaya Street, 17/15), built in 1730, is the oldest church in the city.

The Zoo was opened in Stary Oskol in 2008. Bears, lions, tigers, monkeys, wolves, camels, ostriches, and other species of birds and animals live there.

Museum of Local Lore (Lenina Street, 50). The museums, founded in 1923, has exhibitions about the history of Stary Oskol. It is located in a building which is a monument of history and culture of the 19th century once owned by the merchants and brothers Likhutins.

The museum organizes tours of the city and the area including visits to an ancient Russian settlement of Kholki, an underground monastery in Melovy mountains, and a biosphere reserve “Yamskaya steppe”.

Art Museum (Lenina Street, 57). The collection of local masters of folk clay toys (O.M.Goncharova and N.M.Goncharova) is a real pearl of the museum. Stary Oskol folk clay toys production was known from the end of the 18th century.

House Museum of Vasily Yeroshenko (Yeroshenko Street, 15). Yeroshenko’s life is a living legend for blind people not only in Russia but also abroad. He encourages disabled people, supports them with his talent, helps them on their ways to improve techniques. Yeroshenko spoke 12 foreign languages and was the professor of universities in Tokyo and Beijing, he became a classic of Japan literature for children.

Stary Oskol city of Russia photos

Pictures of stary oskol.

Byl movie theater in Stary Oskol

Friendship Boulevard in Stary Oskol

The Monument to Soviet-Bulgarian friendship in Stary Oskol

Sights of Stary Oskol

The memorial complex Ataman Forest in Stary Oskol

Cannon monument in Stary Oskol

Church of the Nativity in Stary Oskol

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