Parliament Square
Parliament Square
4.5
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Top ways to experience Parliament Square
The area
Address
Neighborhood: Westminster
If you only had an afternoon to experience London on a grand scale, Westminster would be a wise place to start. The ornate Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey sit adjacent at a corner of Parliament Square, and a short stroll along The Mall leads to Buckingham Palace. Trafalgar Square and Nelson's Column are just up the road as well. As captivating as the architecture is, the wonders of Mother Nature are highlights of the area too. St James's Park (arguably London's loveliest), the expansive Green Park, and pedestrian friendly tree lined paths along the river showcase the exquisite manicure provided by English gardeners. Just beyond the landmarks and the gorgeous outdoor spaces, quiet residential squares and age old local pubs offer a more subdued take on this global seat of power in the heart of London.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
564 reviews
Excellent
242
Very good
249
Average
70
Poor
2
Terrible
1
Chris D
New Westminster, Canada3,356 contributions
Aug 2022
Easy to miss with all the large iconic buildings in the area. This is a small city block just west of Parliament, and is a great place to catch your breath, and absorb what you have already seen and done before moving on to more history. As an added bonus, note some of the great sculptures; including Churchill, Lloyd George, Disraeli, Lincoln, Mandela, and Ghandi. And, it's all FREE.
Written September 7, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
phat_dawg_21
Alpharetta, GA17,369 contributions
Aug 2022
This is a mostly gravel square across the street from St Margaret’s Church. From here you have views of Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, and the Houses of Parliament.
The main attraction here is the collection of statues of famous people including Oliver Cromwell, Winston Churchill, and Nelson Mandela, to name just a few.
The main attraction here is the collection of statues of famous people including Oliver Cromwell, Winston Churchill, and Nelson Mandela, to name just a few.
Written October 7, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
HINA W
Islamabad, Pakistan7,348 contributions
Aug 2022 • Family
I feel that this perhaps is one of the most popular tourist area of London. It is situated in the City of Westminster. You can see a myriad of attractive historic world famous buildings around it. These include the Houses of Parliament, the Big Ben and Westminster Abbey. This square was constructed in 1868. You can see the statues of many famous world leaders and activists around this square which include Winston Churchill, Gandhi, Nelson Mandela and Millicent Garrett Fawcett. It is a favourite area of the news reporters because protests and demonstrations are held here almost daily. I loved the buzz of this square.
Written July 15, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kaveh
Bournemouth, UK554 contributions
Mar 2024 • Couples
Parliament Square is a captivating spot in London, brimming with history and vibrant energy. Surrounded by iconic landmarks like the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, and Westminster Abbey, it offers a perfect blend of architectural grandeur and historical significance.
Strolling through the square, you'll encounter statues of prominent leaders, including Winston Churchill and Nelson Mandela, adding to the sense of global historical importance. The well-maintained gardens provide a pleasant place to relax and absorb the bustling atmosphere.
Parliament Square is an ideal starting point for exploring London and its cultural heritage, making it a must-visit for any traveler. The square's central location also makes it easy to access other major attractions in the area. I strongly recommend it.
Strolling through the square, you'll encounter statues of prominent leaders, including Winston Churchill and Nelson Mandela, adding to the sense of global historical importance. The well-maintained gardens provide a pleasant place to relax and absorb the bustling atmosphere.
Parliament Square is an ideal starting point for exploring London and its cultural heritage, making it a must-visit for any traveler. The square's central location also makes it easy to access other major attractions in the area. I strongly recommend it.
Written July 9, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
feltroneu
George Town, Malaysia2,306 contributions
Dec 2019
We were on other way to Westminster Abbey from Westminster underground and passed through this little square/park. It was a little cold in winter when the wind was blowing. However it was still a lovely walk and got the chance to see those famous statues and little bit of their bio.
Written April 12, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Paul B
London, UK318 contributions
Feb 2024 • Solo
Had wondered for many years and then took the plunge, a tour of Parliament. The queue does not last long and you enter through the Great Hall. You can go by Guide or personal audio tour, I chose the personal audio tour to go at my own pace. It really is a fascinating place with all the history in front of you. You can take pictures in a lot of areas but obviously not in the Commons or Lords. Well worth a visit and would do it again.
Written February 27, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Michael M
Ipswich, UK727 contributions
Sep 2022
A breath taking vantage point to just do a 360 turn and view the history. Big Ben, Houses Of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, The Supreme Court. Statues in memory of famous icons, Mandela, Gandhi and Churchill. Sir Robert Peel and Benjamin Disraeli. When i visited the worlds press were set up here to cover the death of Queen Elizabeth. A very interesting area of London.
Written September 20, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I visited this place🇬🇧🇳🇱🇺🇸🇫🇷🇨🇭
Israel35,967 contributions
Jun 2023 • Solo
PROS
* Collection and display of life-like statues of many prominent historical British (and world) political leaders
* Small green city park perfectly bounded and framed by the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey and the UK Supreme Court- perfect photo opportunities
* Prime tourist and tour group meeting place
CONS
Not a single word of explanation nor praise nor honor explaining who these people were and why they are displayed there
"I VISITED THIS PLACE"...
,,, because it is a natural place to go, being directly across the street from the Houses of Parliament, providing unequalled nicely framed photos of famous stuff.
My favorites were the two whose lives, missions and accomplishments resonate with me- Winston Churchill and Abraham Lincoln. I know that a statue of Benjamin Disraeli is there, but I didn't find him.
WAS IT WORTH THE COST?
It is free
WOULD "I VISIT THIS PLACE" AGAIN?
For sure
ADVICE
* For sure go to this scenic area and enjoy the views
* Be sure to enhance your experience when you are there by reviewing a listing of all the statues beforehand, and reading and learning the history of these people, because you certainly won't learn anything while you are there.
* Collection and display of life-like statues of many prominent historical British (and world) political leaders
* Small green city park perfectly bounded and framed by the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey and the UK Supreme Court- perfect photo opportunities
* Prime tourist and tour group meeting place
CONS
Not a single word of explanation nor praise nor honor explaining who these people were and why they are displayed there
"I VISITED THIS PLACE"...
,,, because it is a natural place to go, being directly across the street from the Houses of Parliament, providing unequalled nicely framed photos of famous stuff.
My favorites were the two whose lives, missions and accomplishments resonate with me- Winston Churchill and Abraham Lincoln. I know that a statue of Benjamin Disraeli is there, but I didn't find him.
WAS IT WORTH THE COST?
It is free
WOULD "I VISIT THIS PLACE" AGAIN?
For sure
ADVICE
* For sure go to this scenic area and enjoy the views
* Be sure to enhance your experience when you are there by reviewing a listing of all the statues beforehand, and reading and learning the history of these people, because you certainly won't learn anything while you are there.
Written January 16, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Abeer H
Dubai, United Arab Emirates2,552 contributions
Dec 2022 • Family
It is the historic square. Right next to Westminster abbey, big ben, st Mary churn etc. There are statues to honor some fanous political figures. You can even see the London eye on the other side. We walked to all those places.
Written January 7, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sujata410
Owings Mills, MD942 contributions
Feb 2020 • Couples
Surrounded by some of the most important monuments in London like the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey and the Supreme Court, the square contains statues of famous British politicians such as Churchill and other important figures like Millicent Lawson (suffragist) as well as non-British luminaries like Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela.
Written February 23, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We are attending the Brexit party celebrations
Can you tell me if alcohol is allowed into the square ?
Written January 22, 2020
We are thinking of visiting London in October and would like to visit the Houses of Parliament with our two boys, aged 11 and 6. Just wondering what would be the most suitable tour. Should we go for the children's audio guide tour or is it better to go on the family guided tour with a 'live' guide? Or, should we contact our MP and see if we can get on a tour that way or are those tours unsuitable for children? Anyone done this with children of similar ages? Also, anyone taken children for afternoon tea? Wondered if there was a discounted rate for children.
Written March 12, 2017
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