Westminster Walk: Discover the history of parliamentary democracy

Events

Westminster Walk: Discover the history of parliamentary democracy

21 Oct 2022

Discover the history of Westminster on this bespoke tour, created for the Hansard Society and led by Oonagh Gay, Footprints of London guide and former Head of the Parliament and Constitution Centre in the House of Commons Library.

11:30am, 21 October 2022 Starting at Westminster Underground Station (Exit 5)

About this walk

Parliament Square contains the World Heritage Sites of Westminster Abbey and the Houses of Parliament. Its significance as the seat of Government dates back centuries.

Join this guided walk to discover how the Square took its modern shape and how the buildings and statues tell a story of the development of modern parliamentary government, from the monarchy to the franchise and judicial independence to the established church.

The Hansard Society has previously made recommendations to pedestrianise the Square, arguing that it could be transformed into one of the world's great civic spaces, where we could reflect on the journey to democracy and the obstacles which remain. The walk will examine how the Restoration & Renewal programme for the Palace of Westminster could be enhanced by including the wider footprint of Parliament Square as well as Whitehall itself.

Your guide

The tour will be led by Oonagh Gay, a qualified Footprints of London guide who has been devising and leading walking tours since 2015. Oonagh worked in the House of Commons Library for over 30 years – specialising in constitutional briefings for MPs – and is a former member of the Hansard Society Council.

Oonagh specialises in political and feminist walks across London, as well as a variety of local walks in North London. Other walks include Ada Salter and the Beautification of Bermondsey; Marx and the Chartists in Soho; and Conrad’s Secret Agent and Anarchists in Fitzrovia. She is a Footprints of London Guide and you can find out more information here.

Further information

Time: The walk will start promptly at 11.30am and will last approximately 75 minutes.
Meeting point: Outside Exit 5 of Westminster Underground Station.
Weather: The walking tour will take place regardless of weather conditions, so please do wear sensible shoes and dress accordingly.
Price: There is a concessionary rate of £10 for this tour for Hansard Society members; £15 for non-members of the Society.
Cancellation: Cancellations made within 24 hours of booking are fully refundable. After 24 hours of the booking date, all tickets are non-refundable and cannot be rescheduled.

Our members form a valuable network of people who care about Parliament, public life and politics and want our parliamentary institutions to prosper in the future.

Learn more about our membership options.

Latest / Highlights

News / Parliament Matters Bulletin: What’s coming up in Parliament this week? 19-23 May 2025

Stella Creasy MP and Richard Tice MP will lead a backbench debate on the EU–UK summit. The Foreign Affairs Committee will hold a joint session with its Ukrainian counterpart on Russian misinformation. MPs will question the Defence Secretary, Chancellor of the Exchequer and Northern Ireland Secretary. Scrutiny of seven Government bills will continue in both Houses. Debate topics in the Commons will include an e-petition on transgender self-identification, and support for local pubs. On the Committee corridor, highlights include sessions on the security of undersea cables and the accessibility of the parliamentary estate. Michael Gove will be formally introduced to the House of Lords as its newest member.

Submissions / Status and rights of independent MPs in Parliament – Our evidence to the House of Commons Procedure Committee

Our evidence on the status and rights of independent MPs has been published by the House of Commons Procedure Committee. Our submission summarises the direct and indirect references to political parties in the Standing Orders and whether they might apply to groupings of independent MPs, analyses whether small parties and independent groupings face disadvantages, particularly in relation to committee membership, and considers whether parliamentary publications should distinguish between the many different kinds of independent MP.

Blog / The Planning and Infrastructure Bill: What happens when detail is deferred?

The Hansard Society has long raised concerns about the Government's increasing tendency to present undeveloped legislation that lacks detailed policy and grants ministers broad delegated powers to fill in the gaps later. This practice undermines effective parliamentary scrutiny, by preventing MPs and Peers from fully assessing how powers may be used, (or misused), in the future. The weak system for overseeing delegated legislation—especially in the Commons—exacerbates the problem. Several powers in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill currently before Parliament highlight these ongoing issues.

News / Assisted dying bill: Special series #12 - Parliament Matters podcast, Episode 93

Is Kim Leadbeater's Assisted Dying Bill now "over the hump?" The Bill's supporters got it though its first day of Report Stage consideration in the House of Commons unscathed, with comfortable majorities in every vote. So, with debate on the most contentious set of amendments disposed of, will it now coast through its remaining scrutiny days in the Commons? Please help us by completing our Listener Survey. It will only take a few minutes.

Submissions / Evidence to the House of Commons Modernisation Committee: Priorities and strategic aims

In response to the Modernisation Committee's call for views on 17 October 2024, we submitted evidence outlining key areas we believe the Committee should prioritise. Our submission recommended a focus on: strengthening legislative scrutiny, with particular emphasis on reforming the delegated legislation system; enhancing financial scrutiny, especially in relation to the Budget and the Estimates; addressing strategic gaps in parliamentary scrutiny; making more effective use of parliamentary time; and reviewing the Standing Orders, language and rituals of the House of Commons.