Houses of Parliament tour plus afternoon tea
Jan 20th, 2015, 07:41 PM
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Houses of Parliament tour plus afternoon tea
On my last trip to London I very much enjoyed the guided tour of the Houses of Parliament and plan to do it again on my trip this May. I just checked the website and see they offer afternoon tea in the Terrace Pavilion in the House of Commons following the tour. Can anyone share their experiences or offer any thoughts on whether this would be worthwhile? Thanks
Jan 20th, 2015, 09:38 PM
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I've not done the tour, which is available in May for overseas visitors only on Saturdays and on a total of about two weekdays all month: the tea menu is at http://www.parliament.uk/documents/c...ting-menus.pdf (this site shows what are in effect wholesale catering prices for people organising events: the tour probably offers the Westminster tea) I've been to a number of events in the pavilion though.
The Terrace Pavilion is a very long and very recent riverside covered marquee (http://www.parliament.uk/visiting/ve...enues/terrace/ , with sort of terrific views of the uglier side of the river, but while sitting you can see only what's directly opposite. Security permitting, you can normally get out onto the terrace itself for a stroll - and that's got terrific views (except of course of Parliament itself)
The tea is tea: not quite as extortionately priced as in London's grislier theme park luxury hotels, but still ridiculous for a snack of almost no nutritional or gastronomic value. If this odd ritual interests you, the pavilion is as good a place as any to try it. Most eating and drinking places in the Palace of Westminster feel like a stately home soap opera set, with lots of panelling, oil paintings and William Morris wallpaper. The pavilion doesn't. Tastefully antiseptic: like the marquees you get at country weddings, without the flowers, spaniels or pretty girls.
On working days, the pavilion has a role for MPs to entertain constituents, and occasionally get involved with a spot of lobbying or being lobbied. The tour only happens on days that won't be going on: your fellow imbibers will all be people on the tour.
The Terrace Pavilion is a very long and very recent riverside covered marquee (http://www.parliament.uk/visiting/ve...enues/terrace/ , with sort of terrific views of the uglier side of the river, but while sitting you can see only what's directly opposite. Security permitting, you can normally get out onto the terrace itself for a stroll - and that's got terrific views (except of course of Parliament itself)
The tea is tea: not quite as extortionately priced as in London's grislier theme park luxury hotels, but still ridiculous for a snack of almost no nutritional or gastronomic value. If this odd ritual interests you, the pavilion is as good a place as any to try it. Most eating and drinking places in the Palace of Westminster feel like a stately home soap opera set, with lots of panelling, oil paintings and William Morris wallpaper. The pavilion doesn't. Tastefully antiseptic: like the marquees you get at country weddings, without the flowers, spaniels or pretty girls.
On working days, the pavilion has a role for MPs to entertain constituents, and occasionally get involved with a spot of lobbying or being lobbied. The tour only happens on days that won't be going on: your fellow imbibers will all be people on the tour.
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peggy01
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Feb 28th, 2012 06:24 PM
