house of commons tour and afternoon tea

• Experiences

Houses of Parliament Tour and Afternoon Tea

• Experience the grandeur of the Palace of Westminster on a tour from an expert guide.
• End the tour on the terraces overlooking the river Thames and enjoy a spot of afternoon tea

History and delicious food: The Parliament Tour and Afternoon Tea experience

Purchase Parliament Tour and Afternoon Tea tickets to enjoy an experience unlike anything other. Take a tour of the historic Palace of Westminster and bathe in its grandeur, then head to the terraces for a delightful meal. It is a one-of-a-kind experience you’re guaranteed to remember for the rest of your life.

Learn the history of British democracy in this magnificent setting

The Palace of Westminster, also called the Houses of Parliament, is where the House of Commons and the House of Lords meet. Set on the River Thames ‘ North Bank, this palace is a majestic symbol of Great British history and democracy.

Discover the history of Britain on a tour of the Parliament. Start your visit in Westminster Hall. The Hall has hosted grand state functions and dignitaries from all over the world for almost a millennium. Walk with your guide to view the splendid roof, which is made from six hundred medieval oak trees. Your guide is knowledgeable in ancient British history and provides wonderful insights into the Parliament and its many rooms and functions.

As you tour the Palace, learn about its rich, varicoloured history and the significance it holds for the nation. Stop to admire some of the most famous rooms, such as the Queen’s Robing Room. This room is where the monarch puts on her crown before the opening of the Parliament. You also get to explore two of the building’s most unique rooms called the Division Lobbies. These rooms are where both opposition parties assemble before a parliamentary vote. Each room accommodates the Ayes and the Noes before their votes are counted.

Next, you enter the two majestic rooms the tour highlights – the Chamber of the House of Lords, and the Chamber of the House of Commons. While you explore them, engulf yourself in the history and various traditions and lore. Take your time to admire the magnificent paintings and stained glass that adds to the rooms’ grandeur.

Enjoy afternoon tea on the Terraces of the Palace of Westminster

After your Parliament visit, a special treat awaits you on the terraces of the Palace. You heard it right! Follow your guide to the top for a seat above the Houses of Parliament. Enjoy a beautiful view of the Thames and the bustling capital with a tasty cup of English afternoon tea, sandwiches, scones, petit fours and cakes. See how the outside of the Palace looks from here. Where else can you find such royal treatment!

Take this opportunity by booking Parliament Tour and Afternoon Tea combo tickets for you and your friends and family. Groups consist of only twenty people each, making it a fantastic experience for everybody. The three-and-a-half-hour tour starts at 1:30 PM. Meet your guide at the designated point at least fifteen minutes early for maximum convenience. Please note that the Houses of Parliament prohibits photography inside the premises, so avoid taking your camera out.

• Parliament entry tickets
• Fully guided tour inside Westminster Palace
• Afternoon Tea
• Hotel transfers

The tour begins at 1:30 PM. You must meet your guide at least 15 minutes prior to the start of your tour.

Getting your tickets

You will receive email confirmation shortly after booking. Please display your tickets on your mobile device with a valid photo ID to your guide.

Cancellation Policy

Tickets cannot be cancelled, amended or rescheduled.

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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

Reviews for this venue:

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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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

The Londoness

• 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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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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