Booking changes from September 2026​

From September 2026, changes are being introduced to how school visits to Parliament’s Education Centre are booked. These changes apply to all schools and are intended to manage high demand more fairly and support better planning.​

One visit per school, per term​

From September, each school will be able to book one visit per academic term.​

Visit slots will support both medium sized and larger groups up to 72 people. Schools will not need to split classes across multiple bookings, but you can only make one booking per term. ​

This change is intended to increase the number of individual schools able to visit each term.​

Bookings open two academic terms in advance​

Schools will be able to book visits two academic terms ahead, rather than one.​

This provides additional time for schools to plan:​

  • Staffing and cover​
  • Transport arrangements​
  • Budgets and approvals​

Regional and national allocation of bookings​

Booking slots will be allocated based on the number of schools in each English region and UK nation, using national school statistics.​

This helps ensure schools from all parts of the UK have a more equal opportunity to book a visit.​

Practical information​

All school visits must be booked through the Education Centre’s online booking portal.​

Travel subsidies are available for eligible schools to help with the cost of travel.​

Event Days operate outside the standard booking system for groups that require additional support, including SEND schools, home educators, post‑16 students and Children in Care.​

Key date​s

Next booking day: 23 September 2026​
For visits taking place January–July 2027​

Schools are strongly advised to register on the booking portal in advance.​

Planning and visiting

Download our booklets below for more information on planning your visit and our travel subsidy scheme.

Booklets 3 and 4 will be available soon.

Getting ready to book your school visit to UK Parliament

Getting ready to book your school visit to UK Parliament

Booklet contents:

• What types of visits there are
• How to make a booking
• What happens on a bookings day
• FAQs
• A checklist

Booklet 1: Getting ready to book (print version)
Travel Subsidy scheme

Travel Subsidy scheme

Booklet contents:

• What is the Education Centre Travel Subsidy scheme
• Eligibility and timelines
• FAQs
• A checklist

Booklet 2: Travel Subsidy scheme (print version)

Tour and workshops - automatically assigned based on age range

Ages 7-11: Parts of Parliament: Building a law (Tour and workshop – 2hr 15min)

Ever wonder how a law is made? Take part in an interactive workshop that helps your group discover how laws are made in Parliament. 

Ages 11-16: The Power of Petitions (Tour and workshop – 2hr 15min) 

Discover how young people can get involved in the working of Parliament through creating your own petitions. Can your group convince its group leaders that their petition needs to be taken through to the next stage? 

Ages 16-18: Snap Election! (Tour and workshop – 2hr 15min) 

Have you ever wanted to create your own policies and manifesto? Your group will split into their own brand-new parties and go through the process of creating their own manifestos based on sector polices. Which party will win your groups election? 

Ages 7-18: Film and Tour (1hr 30min) 

Your visit begins in the Education Centre with a 15 minute, 360 degree film on the history of the UK Parliament which explores how our democracy developed and how it works today. This is followed by a tour of the Palace of Westminster where these themes come to life in the famous spaces. 

Free education visits at UK Parliament!

Enjoy a unique free learning experience including an engaging curricula-informed workshop in our Education Centre and an unforgettable tour of the iconic Palace of Westminster.

Watch on YouTube

Useful links and resources

Download or watch the related resources

  • Suitability:
    Home educators, Schools and colleges, SEND
  • Detail of 360 interactive tour
    Suitability:
    Age 11 to 14, Age 14 to 16, Age 7 to 11, Home educators, Post 16, Schools and colleges
  • Introduction to Parliament banner
    Suitability:
    Age 11 to 14, Age 7 to 11, Home educators, Schools and colleges
  • Suitability:
    Accessible formats, Adult learners, Community and youth groups, Home educators, Post 16, Schools and colleges, SEND
  • Suitability:
    Accessible formats, Age 7 to 11, Home educators, Schools and colleges, Welsh/Cymraeg
  • Suitability:
    Accessible formats, Age 11 to 14, Home educators, Schools and colleges, Welsh/Cymraeg