Kristi

Frommer's recently listed a couple of places that were open in the summer months and I'm leaning towards visiting one and not the other.

The first is a tour of the Houses of Parliament, open from July 24-Sept 4 and from Sept 18-Oct 1, looks like it's a 75 minute tour that cost L7
http://www.parliament.uk/visiting/summer_opening.cfm

The other is Buckingham Palace, open from July 31-Sept 26, cost L12.95
http://www.royal.gov.uk/output/page570.asp

I'm sure I've read somewhere that touring Buckingham Palace isn't all that exciting and is a bit on the pricey side so I'm leaning towards not doing that but I think my husband would enjoy touring Parliament.

Has anyone visited either of these two places on a tour? Any opinions? Thanks.

m_kingdom2

Parliament is worth looking at, but I believe you won't be able to visit the chapel unless you are with an MP or member of The Lords. I've also visited Big Ben, but I think this is only possible through prior arrangement with members of either houses.

Buckingham Palace is worth seeing, it's not exciting - you're just looking at rooms some of which are a little faded, but all the more charming and homely for it.

ira

Bucky Palace?

ms_go

Kristi, we toured Parliament a few years ago. I bought the tickets a month or more ahead of time through Ticketmaster -- at the time, it was a tough ticket to come by; I recall something about it perhaps being an experiment at that point. I thought it was interesting and would recommend it.

Kristi

The route listed at Parliament on the website is:

Queen's Robing Room - Royal Gallery - Prince's Chamber - House of Lords Chamber - Peers' Lobby and Corridor - Central Lobby - Commons Corridor and "No" lobby - House of Commons Chamber - St Stephen's Hall - Westminster Hall - New Palace Yard.

No reference to a chapel.

There are public tours to see Big Ben but overseas visitors have to write for tickets 3 months in advance and I am leaving in two weeks

http://www.parliament.uk/directories...lock_tower.cfm

nytraveler

I believe the correct abbreviation is "Buck House".

Kayb95

We took the Clock Tower tour - it was fabulous. After the tour, the guide took us into the chapel. I don't think it's a normal part of the tour, but he asked us if we had an extra 10 minutes after we came down from the clock tower. It's a beautiful chapel - for the use of MP's and their families. He also mentioned that there is a service on Wednesdays that is open to the public.