Big Ben tours
Book an official tour of Big Ben and explore the famous Elizabeth Tower at UK Parliament.
Tickets are released three months in advance, on the second Wednesday of every month for tours. For example, August tickets will be released May.
About the tour
This guided tour of the Elizabeth Tower takes you up a narrow 334-step spiral stairwell to the belfry where Big Ben, the Great Bell, hangs. Along the route, your guide will reveal details of the most extensive and complex conservation project in the Tower’s history. This vital conservation work involved over 500 people from across the UK and their traditional crafts including stone masonry, glass blowing, gilding, plastering, cast iron and clock mechanics.
On this tour, you will see the inner workings of the clock mechanism, stand next to the world-famous Big Ben bell as it strikes the hour, and step behind the dials each spanning 6.9m in diameter. You are also welcome to explore medieval Westminster Hall after your visit to the Elizabeth Tower.
Tickets for the tour from 1 April 2025 are £35 for adults and £20 for children aged 11-17. Visitors will be able to book a maximum of eight tickets per person, depending on availability.
The Big Ben tour is not suitable for everyone. Visitors must be aged 11 and over and be comfortable climbing 334 steps and experiencing high noise levels from the clock mechanism and bells - ear defenders will be provided. The total tour duration is 90 minutes and toilet facilities are available at the beginning and end of the tour only. Due to the constraints of the Tower, accessible tours including step-free access are not currently available. Sign up to UK Parliament’s newsletter to hear about accessible tour options in due course.
