8 Fun Things to Do at the BC Parliament Buildings in Victoria

Some of the most iconic structures along the Inner Harbour in Downtown Victoria are the BC Parliament Buildings, home to the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia.

As a site of government since 1859, the current buildings were opened in 1898, added to in the 1910’s, and fully restored in the 1970’s. Today, BC’s MLAs (Members of the Legislative Assembly) meet there to debate and pass laws.

But the Parliament Buildings are also open to visitors and a great addition to any Victoria, BC itinerary!

There’s a good chance the Parliament Buildings will feature in your photos, since they’re very impressive to look at. But you can do so much more than just admire the buildings from the outside.

You can go on a free guided tour, eat in the Parliamentary Dining Room, watch a play or special performance, pick up a souvenir from the Parliamentary Gift Shop, attend a debate, spot statues and memorials, or witness the nightly lights.

You can even go trick-or-treating in the Parliament Buildings during Halloween!

If you’re interested in history, politics, architecture or just looking for something free to do in Victoria, make sure you visit the BC Parliament Buildings.

Below I’ll share more details on eight fun, informative and budget-friendly things you can do at the BC Legislature.

Go on a BC Legislature Tour (it’s free!)

I think the best thing to do at the Parliament Buildings is go on one of the free BC Legislature tours!

These tours are completely free (no tipping), last about 40 minutes, and are available throughout the day. They run seven days a week in the summer and from Monday to Friday the rest of the year.

You can check out the guided tour schedule here. And if the tour times don’t work for you, you can go on your own self-directed tour using a provided guide book.

We joined an afternoon tour when we were in Victoria in June. We arrived 10 minutes early, as the website suggests, and met our tour group in the Lower Rotunda.

Because we had Baby C in her stroller, we were invited to use the accessible Mowat Entrance and then take the elevator up to the meeting point. So if you have accessibility needs, the Parliament Buildings have got you covered.

Both the accessible entrance and the main entrance up the front stairs will take you through a security screening before you can enter the building. The instructions online say each visitor is only permitted to bring in one small bag.

The tour begins in the Lower Rotunda where you learn about BC’s coat of arms and the canoe that sits in the middle of the room.

We then moved upstairs to the Memorial Rotunda where our guide told us all about the impressive ceiling (decorated with real gold!) and the Ceremonial Entrance where the Lieutenant Governor, monarch or other heads of state would enter.

It was at this point that Baby C was beginning to squirm. So while my husband, Colin, paid attention to the tour, I chaperoned Baby C on a toddle down the hallway.

It’s very clear which parts of the building are open to visitors, so I didn’t have any concerns letting Baby C explore. The hallways were almost empty, except for a few other visitors milling about, so we weren’t in anyone’s way.

I also loved the opportunity to check out some of the stained glass windows and woodwork. Those design details were probably my favourite part of the building!

Rejoining the tour, we moved into the Members’ Lobby looking into the Legislative Chamber.

Our guide told us all about the ceremonial mace that sits at the front of the chamber and the roll of the Speaker. He also answered lots of questions from our group.

The last stop on our tour was back downstairs in the Hall of Honour. There was some more beautiful stained glass to admire and a very cool exhibit on women in parliament.

Compared to the self-directed tour book, our guide did provide more information and stories. Plus, he was able to answer questions.

So if you can join a guided tour, and you’re interested in learning more, I think it’s worth it. But if not, self-directed is still a good option to get some info about the building.

Grab a meal in the Parliamentary Dining Room

While planning our trip to Victoria, I came across a few recommendations to have a meal in the Parliamentary Dining Room. Apparently the food is great and the prices are very reasonable, making it one of the best value restaurants in Victoria.

Plus, it’s cool to dine in this beautiful building amongst politicians and lawmakers!

The Dining Room is open for breakfast and lunch, with hours varying depending on whether the legislature is in session or not. Unfortunately, the timing didn’t work out for us to eat here. But it’s on my list for our next trip!

You can check out the menu for the Parliamentary Dining Room here and click here to reserve your table.

Watch a performance by the the Parliamentary Players

If you’re visiting the BC Legislature in the summer, check out the Parliamentary Players and their summer shows.

The Parliamentary Players put on interactive, family-friendly shows on the front steps of the BC Parliament Buildings. The shows are 20 minutes long and completely free to attend.

For summer 2026, there are two shows being performed. You can learn more about the shows and see the performance schedule here.

We were able to catch a bit of both shows before and after our tour. While Baby C was too young to grasp what was going on, she enjoyed watching the performers and so did we.

It’s quite an informal environment – the audience sits on the steps and the performers stand in front of them with minimal props and no set. We didn’t stay for the entire show, but it was no problem to leave early or come late.

I think adding these free little plays to your itinerary is a great idea, especially if you have younger kids and can combine it with a tour of the BC Parliament Buildings. Some of the kids in the audience were asked questions or given roles in the show, which seemed really fun.

PS: Visiting in October? The Parliamentary Players also put on a spooky Halloween show! Stay tuned to this webpage for more info.

Buy a souvenir in the Parliamentary Gift Shop

I was very excited to visit the Parliamentary Gift Shop after our tour but unfortunately, the closest I got was this elevator sign that lists it being on the first floor.

We went on a 4:00pm tour and by the time our tour was over, the gift shop was closed. I later learned they close at 4:30pm so we just missed them; click here for up to date hours and more info.

From photos online, it looks like quite a small gift shop, but with a well-curated collection. They specialize in Canadian and BC-made goods. Plus there’s a pair of socks with the Parliament Buildings on them that I’d love to own!

Attend a debate

If you want to get up close and personal with the BC Legislature, you can actually attend a debate inside the Legislative Chamber.

The upper floor of the chamber houses the Public Galleries where visitors can observe debates and question periods happening on the chamber floor.

These galleries are only open when the Legislative Assembly is sitting, at specific times of day, and seated on a first-come-first-served basis. You can check the opening times and Parliamentary Calendar here.

Just like going on a tour, you’ll need to pass through a security screening before you enter the Public Galleries. However, this is taken a step further with strict rules prohibiting bags, electronics and recording devices.

The rules state, “Bags, backpacks, cameras, notepads, cell phones and all other electronic devices are not permitted and must be checked at the security station before entering.”

The Legislative Assembly was not in session when we visited in June; they seem to only be in session about 16 weeks of the year. I also don’t think attending a debate would’ve been that fun for our 15 month old.

But if you want to get a front row seat to the legislative process, time your visit right and let me know how it is!

Take part in a special event

The Parliament Buildings host special events and programs throughout the year that visitors can take part in. And best of all, most are free to attend!

Events and programs include:

• Treasures from the Library Vault: themed visits to the Legislative Library to learn more about politics, history and geography
• Tea and Tour: Combine a classic afternoon tea in Victoria with a tour of the Parliament Buildings
• And for the holidays you can trick-or-treat at the Parliament Buildings, attend a concert and the annual lighting of the Christmas tree, or join in on family fun for Family Day!

You can check out the full schedule of events here.

The photo above was taken during our 2016 trip to Victoria when we happened to stumble upon a choir performance on the steps of the Parliament Buildings.

We didn’t catch any special events on our more recent 2026 visit, but fingers crossed we can make something work for next time!

Visit the memorials, statues and gardens around the Parliament

You’ve admired the buildings from the outside, you’ve toured the inside, and now it’s time to explore the grounds around the Parliament Buildings where you’ll find memorials, trees, gardens, statues, fountains and a large totem pole.

Atop the main dome of the buildings you’ll see a statue of Captain George Vancouver and closer to the sidewalk is a 13-foot tall bronze statue of Queen Victoria. In between them is the Centre Fountain, which was built in 1905.

Fun fact: The Queen Victoria statue was supposed to replace the Centre Fountain, which one newspaper called a “silly little fountain that is neither ornamental nor useful.”

But despite public preference for the statue over the fountain, plans changed! The statue’s sculptor was so offended that his statue would be right by the road that he refused to attend the unveiling.

The Knowledge Totem Pole, which was refurbished in 2021, sits on the righthand side of the grounds while the Cenotaph honouring Canadians who lost their lives in past wars sits on the left.

There’s also the B.C. Emergency Services Garden of Honour, The Last Alarm: Fallen Firefighters’ Memorial, the Chinese empress tree, the Premier’s Rose Garden and many more points of interests around the grounds.

Discover more about the exteriors of the Parliament Buildings here.

Watch the BC Parliament Buildings light up at night

One thing you must add to your Victoria itinerary is a walk by the Parliament Buildings at night. Because as stunning as the buildings are during the day, they’re that much cooler when they’re lit up at night!

The lights outlining the Parliament Buildings were first lit in 1897 in honour of Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee. In 1965, they went from only being turned on for special occasions to now being lit every night.

So no matter when you visit Victoria, you can catch the Parliament Buildings all lit up (between sunset and 1:00am and again for two hours at sunrise). It’s the perfect backdrop for a stroll along the Inner Harbour!

Fun fact: The architect who designed the Parliament Buildings, Francis Mawson Rattenbury, was only 25 years old when his design was selected. The Parliament Buildings were his first major commission.

He’d later go on to design the Empress Hotel, another iconic Victoria building right across the street!

Wrapping up: Are the BC Parliament Buildings worth visiting?

I would bet almost everyone who visits Victoria passes by the Parliament Buildings and snaps a few photos of the impressive exterior. So why not get a little closer and see more of the Parliament for free?

If you’re interested in history, politics or architecture, the free guided tour is for you. Don’t miss spotting important statues and memorials around the grounds.

If you’re not interested in the full 40-minute guided tour, I still think it’s worth poking your head into the BC Parliament Buildings and having a quick look around. Pick up the self-directed guide book and snap photos of the gorgeous ceilings and windows.

Or if you really want to make a day of it, book in for a meal at the Parliamentary Dining Room, attend a special event or watch a Parliamentary Players performance, and pick up a souvenir at the Parliamentary Gift Shop.

As a British Columbian, it was really cool for me to learn more about my province and admire the beautiful home of the BC Legislature. But even if you’re not from BC, I think there’s lots of budget-friendly fun to be had at the Parliament Buildings in Victoria!