by Wendy
Next time you’re in London, consider booking a guided tour of Parliament followed by afternoon tea. That’s right, you can actually drink tea in a House of Commons dining room! This is a cool activity for anyone interested in England, history, politics, the Queen, or a fine afternoon tea.

As our taxi driver dropped us off at the Cromwell Green visitors entrance he remarked, “I’m quite jealous – I’ve never done a tour of Parliament!” Mom, Dad, Jack and I were pretty excited about it ourselves. We had booked weeks in advance, and arrived with printed tickets in hand.

After a slight mix up at check in, we joined a group of about 25-30 through a guided tour of Parliament. Note: when staff tell you that your tour will leave soon, do not assume they’ll remember you’re waiting nearby. They should…but it’s busy. Don’t be afraid to politely ask for updates.

The tour was about 90 minutes and covered a broad overview of the UK government while spotlighting significant events, artwork and rooms such as the Lords Chamber, Commons Chamber and Queen’s Robing Room. Photography is restricted and you have to stick with your guide. After all, you’re in the Palace of Westminster!

After this must-see, go enjoy the must-tea. It’s elegant, but not uncomfortably fancy. The food was quite delicious and is a perfectly acceptable substitute for lunch. We each chose a type of tea and received a variety of cakes, sandwiches and of course, a warm scone with clotted cream and jam.

We had so much fun. Walking outside the dining room to take photos on the balcony next to the Thames River was definitely one of those “pinch-me, am I really here?” moments.

Afterwards, you’re in a perfect location for walking a short way to the Churchill War Rooms and Museum, Westminster Abbey, or perhaps a ride on the London Eye. Whether the sun is shining or it’s starting to drizzle, this is a great place to stroll around and admire London.