WESTMINSTER ABBEY ULTIMATE GUIDE

Open: Mon-Fri: 9:30AM to 3:30PM

Open: Sat: 9:00AM to 3:00PM

Time Needed: 2.5 hours

Price: £29

Nowadays, Westminster Abbey is perhaps best known for being the venue of Kate Middleton and Prince William’s spectacular royal wedding (which was viewed by over two billion people all over the world); but Westminster Abbey is an important stop in any free tour of London and has a rich history that dates back nearly 1,000 years.

Sometime around 1050, Benedictine monks first travelled to the site where the Abbey sits today to set up a coronation church. The church was eventually expanded upon, and Westminster Abbey as we see it today was constructed between 1245 and 1272. Since then, it has been a key location for countless important events in English history, and some even believe it’s the most important Gothic church in England.

Westminster Abbey Highlights

Not only is Westminster Abbey still used as an active place of worship, it also serves as a fascinating historical museum, as well as the final resting place of some of the most notable people in England’s history.

Out of all the attractions to see inside the Abbey, no two are as popular as the Royal Tombs and Poet’s Corner sections, which contain the tombs of Elizabeth I, Mary Queen of Scots, as well as Charles Dickens, Robert Burns, T.S. Eliot, John Keats, and many, many more. Other notable tombs include those of Charles Darwin, and thousands of others ranging from famous prime ministers and politicians, to industrialists and even actors.

The oak door near the Abbey’s Chapter House is also an important attraction inside Westminster Abbey. It is said to be the only surviving Anglo-Saxon door in England, and can be dated all the way back to the time of Edward the Confessor (sometime between 1032 and 1064 AD).

There are also three gardens within Westminster Abbey (The Garth, The Little Cloister and College Garden and St. Catherine’s Garden). College Garden has been cultivated for over 900 years, and visitors can still see its original stone precinct wall today (at the far end on the eastern side), which was built in 1376.

Special Tips

If you want to avoid large crowds, try to skip national holidays and visit Westminster Abbey on weekdays, especially in the morning hours before large organized groups arrive.

Before you visit, download the free Westminster Abbey Tour app, available both for Android and iPhone, to learn more about the various attractions inside the Abbey.

If you're only in London for a short period of time and want to see as many attractions as possible, the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben are only a one-minute walk away, and it's a beautiful 15-minute walk to Buckingham Palace from Westminster Abbey as well. You can also join a free tour of Westminster to see all these landmarks with an expert guide.

Getting There

Address: 20 Deans Yd, London SW1P 3PA, United Kingdom.

By Tube: The nearest underground stations are St. James's Park (a five-minute walk away) and Westminster (also a five-minute walk away).

By Train: The nearest stations are Victoria (an 18-minute walk away) and Waterloo (a 16-minute walk away).

By Bus: Routes 11, 24, 88, 148 and 211 pass the Westminster Abbey entrance. Routes 3, 12, 53, 53X, 87, 88, 109, 159 and 453 also stop nearby.

By car: Be advised that there are no parking facilities at Westminster Abbey. The closest car park is located on Great College Street, which is a three-minute walk away from Westminster Abbey.

Visiting Westminster Abbey

Visitors are kindly asked to dress in a “respectful manner” during their visit to the Abbey, especially if they wish to sit in on worship services like Morning Prayer, Evensong and the Eucharist. During the winter months the Abbey can get incredibly, so try to dress warmly and wear comfortable walking shoes (especially as you may be standing outside in a queue for up to one hour during the busy periods).

Visitors will not be allowed to enter the Abbey with large or bulky items (if you need to leave your luggage somewhere, there are facilities at both the Charing Cross and Victoria stations). Be aware that your bag may be searched by security personnel upon entry.

Photography, filming and the use of mobile phones inside the Abbey is strictly forbidden, however visitors will be allowed to take photographs and use their mobiles in the Cloisters and College Garden.

If you need some refreshments during your visit, the Cellarium Cafe and Terrace is open from Mondays to Fridays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Be prepared to wait in a queue for as long as an hour during holidays, weekends or afternoon hours. To avoid the queues, it may be a good idea to go to Westminster Abbey at least 30 minutes before opening times.

Ticket prices and Opening hours

Westminster Abbey is open from:

• 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. from Mondays to Fridays
• 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Saturdays

Admission tickets cost:

• £29 for adults
• £26 for adults aged 65+ and students
• £13 for children between the ages of 6 and 17
• £29 for families (one adult and one child)

Children under the age of five are allowed to enter for free as long as they are accompanied by an adult.

All visitors will be provided with a hand-held free audio guide when they enter through the North Door, so they can tour Westminster Abbey at their own pace and hear more about the various attractions inside the Abbey.

If you are interested in taking a tour inside Westminster Abbey, there are Verger-led tours from Monday to Saturday that last about 90 minutes. These tours visit the Shrine (including the tomb of Saint Edward the Confessor), the Royal Tombs, Poet’s Corner, the Cloisters, and the Nave. Space is limited to 20 people and the commentary is in English only. You can call 24 hours in advance to get information about the schedules but tickets must be booked on the spot. For a Verger-led tour, you’ll pay the Abbey entry price plus £10.

The Abbey is only open for worship on Sundays, as well as religious holidays like Easter and Christmas. On these days, visitors are welcome to attend services for free, but will not be allowed to roam around the Abbey on their own. Visitors will also be asked to provide donations to the Abbey, and all proceeds will go towards nominated organizations and charities. To view the scheduled service times on Sundays or religious holidays, visit the Abbey’s official website.

If you want to visit Westminster Abbey, you might want to take a look at the list of free tours of London that run daily.