Jewel Tower

Visitor information

Facts and information

Address:: Jewel Tower, Abingdon Street, Westminster,
London SW1P 3JX
England
Website:: www.english-heritage.org.uk
Opening times:: 10 AM to 5 PM (Apr–Oct), 10 AM to 4 PM (Nov–Mar)
Cost:: Adults £3.20; Children £1.90; Note: Opening times & prices are subject to change, and may not apply on public holidays. Always reconfirm with the venue before making plans.
Telephone:: Work +44 (0) 207 222 2219
Buses:: 3 11 12 24 53 87 88 148 159 214 453 510 C10
Trains:: St. James’s Park CRC DSC, Westminster CRC DSC JUB Note: The nearest train station to Jewel Tower is Westminster. We can help you find the best route from any other train station:
Train journey to Jewel Tower

^{Jewel Tower, Westminster}

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The Jewel Tower is a rare survivor from the original Palace of Westminster.

It was built in 1365 as a store for Edward III’s treasury, but never contained the Crown Jewels. (They were kept in the Tower of London.)

It continued to be a store until the reign of Henry VII, and from 1621 to 1864 it became the official archive of the House of Lords.

The tower now houses a small exhibition on the history of Parliament, and a lengthy video shows how the government goes about its business. There is also an interesting virtual tour of the Commons.

>> Drummerboy’s blog – Jewel Tower

Drummerboy – “I don’t suppose many people bother going inside because it doesn’t look like much but it’s only a few quid to get in, so I gave it a go. Inside is a little exhibition with a few display cases. It gives the complete history of Parliament from start to finish, and a little bit about what the building was used for. They’ve got a couple of gowns on show too which the Speaker used to wear in the House of Commons, until John Bercow decided that he looked like a complete berk and switched to suit and tie. If you’ve got four quid and half an hour to spare, and it’s pouring with rain outside and you want to get dry, then maybe you can pop inside and have a look… continued.”