History and traditions of the Speakership
Explore the history of the Speakership of the House of Commons, a role almost as old as Parliament itself with the first known role holder in 1377 Thomas Hungerford
History of the Speakership
The Speakership under its present title dates back to 1377 when Sir Thomas Hungerford was appointed. Find out more about the history of the role:
Speaker’s House and its state rooms
The Speaker’s House epitomises the status of the Speaker. It always was the grandest residence in the New Palace of Westminster and is the only one to survive in anything like its original form.
The Speaker's State Coach
The Speaker’s State Coach is a rare example of 17th century coach design and is one of only a handful surviving in Europe from this period.
Book a guided tour of Speaker’s House this summer
As part of the mission to make the office of the Speaker more accessible, Speaker of the House of Commons, will once again open Speaker’s House during the House of Commons’ Summer recess.
UPDATE: 2024 Speaker's House tours have now finished and tickets are currently not available.
Visitors will be able to tour the State Apartments and see where the business of the Speaker is conducted daily. Highlights of the tour include ascending the Grand Staircase, seeing the magnificent wall hangings of the Crimson Drawing Room, and the State Dining Room with its set of life-size Speakers’ portraits. You’ll also see the State Bedroom, where historically the monarch was invited to sleep the night before their coronation.
Speaker's House Collection
The Speaker's House Collection of fine bone china takes inspiration from the Pugin-designed, neo-Gothic interiors of the State Apartments.