Can I visit Big Ben for free?

UK residents can request a free Big Ben tour by contacting a Member of the House of Commons or House of Lords directly. Please note that free member-sponsored tickets have very limited availability so requests should be made as far in advance as possible.



Yes, but only if you are a UK resident. In 2026, UK residents can request a free tour of Big Ben (the Elizabeth Tower) by contacting their local Member of Parliament (MP) or a Member of the House of Lords. These tickets are highly sought after and often require booking several months in advance. For international visitors and UK residents who do not go through an MP, the tour is not free; tickets cost £35 for adults and £20 for children (aged 11-17). The tour involves a guided 90-minute climb of 334 stone steps to the belfry to see the Great Bell itself. It is important to note that due to the physical exertion and proximity to moving machinery, children under 11 are not permitted on the tour. All visitors, regardless of ticket type, must book through the official UK Parliament website, as "walk-up" entry is not permitted for the tower itself.

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You can visit Big Ben by booking a 90-minute guided tour that takes visitors up 334 stairs to see the clock mechanism room, behind the four clock dials and the Belfry, where the famous bell is located. Tours can be booked by visiting the official UK Parliament website.

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Inside Big Ben and how to visit You can visit Big Ben by booking a 90-minute guided tour that takes visitors up 334 stairs to see the clock mechanism room, behind the four clock dials and the Belfry, where the famous bell is located. Tours can be booked by visiting the official UK Parliament website.

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Is it free to visit Westminster Abbey? Westminster Abbey is a working church and there is never a charge to enter for worship. The services, including Evensong, which is popular with tourists, are also free to attend. Tourist entry prices are: Adults £27, Children £12, Members of the Abbey – free.

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Some of the best glimpses of Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament can be found from Westminster Bridge, Parliament Square, and across the Thames on the Albert Embankment. It's fun to see during the day and at night when the building, clock, and tower are illuminated.

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What is Big Ben's formal name? The tower housing Big Ben was formally known as St. Stephen's Tower until 2012, when it was renamed Elizabeth Tower on the occasion of Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee, celebrating 60 years on the British throne.

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Big Ben has chimed with a slightly different tone ever since, and is still in use today with the crack unrepaired. Big Ben was the largest bell in the British Isles until Great Paul, a 16.75-ton (17 tonne) bell currently hung in St Paul's Cathedral, was cast in 1881.

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Though the Palace is generally not open to the public, during summer you can visit its State Apartments (admission charge) and see the Queen's large garden and collection of artwork. You can however see the Changing of the Guard for free at 11.30 am every morning during summer and every second morning during winter.

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Big Ben Opening Hours and Tickets Big Ben has been undergoing restoration work since 2017, the biggest conservation project in its history. Currently, it remains temporarily closed to visitors and plans to reopen in 2023. The Great Bell (nicknamed Big Ben) has just been repaired.

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The moniker Big Ben has been in use for over 150 years, and the nickname was originally applied only to the enormous bell inside the tower. The Great Bell received i's sobriquet in honor of Sir Benjamin Hall, the First Commissioner for Works, who raised Big Ben to its current place atop the tower.

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