These can take two forms: 
a tour of the Palace of Westminster or seats in the Strangers' Gallery of the House of Commons
The best advice in relation to either is CONTACT YOUR M.P.

Only M.P's can issue permits to allow constituents to tour the Palace of Westminster. When Parliament is in session there are only certain mornings in the week when tours can take place. Demand is heavy and advance notice (2-3 months ideally) is required. One permit covers a maximum of 16 people, but, subject to availability more than one permit can be obtained. It is recommended that a guide accompany each party of 20. Your M.P. and his assistant are willing to act as guides but if your party exceeds 40 in number, an additional guide can be obtained. A tour lasts about 1½ hours.
Tours during the Parliamentary recesses are possible, but are often affected by maintenance and other works. Availability should be checked through your M.P.
Visitors from overseas can obtain a permit to tour the Houses of Parliament by applying to the Parliamentary Education Unit; they can be contacted on +44 (0) 20 7219 2375. Please note that Embassies and High Commissions have no means of arranging tours.

Question Time in the House of Commons is what most visitors like to observe from the Gallery. This usually takes place on Mondays at 2:30pm and on Tuesdays - Thursdays at 11:30am. Tickets are, however, strictly limited. M.P's receive only two tickets approximately every ten days. So good notice is required if your M.P. is to be able to help you. Ticket availability is much easier in parts of the day after Question Time. Please write to your M.P. if you wish to go into the Gallery, especially if there is a specific debate you would like to hear.
Foreign and Commonwealth visitors can apply to their Embassy or High Commission in the UK for a card of introduction, which will normally permit entry during the early afternoon. Embassies and High Commissions may issue no more than four cards on any day, so visitors from certain countries may find cards are booked for several weeks ahead. Please note that such cards do not guarantee entry at 14.30 or 11.30. Quite often, it will not be possible to admit their bearers until after Question Time - that is, after 15.30 or 12.30. British embassies abroad do not issue such cards. 
If none of these arrangements is made, visitors may join the public queue outside St Stephen's Entrance. But a wait of 1 or 2 hours is common during the afternoons.
 

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last updated June, 2005