Quick Facts
Westminster Abbey is a UNESCO World Heritage site, England's coronation church since 1066, and the resting place of 30 monarchs, 17 royal weddings and 8+ centuries of British history. Charles III was crowned here in May 2023.
- Address: 20 Deans Yard, SW1P 3PA
- Nearest Tube: Westminster (3 min walk)
- Open: 9:30am-3:30pm Mon-Sat (last admission). Closed Sundays except for services.
- Cost: £29 adult online, includes audio guide
Top Highlights
- Coronation Chair (1296) — every monarch crowned on it for 700+ years
- Henry VII Lady Chapel — fan-vaulted Tudor masterpiece
- Tomb of Elizabeth I — and her sister Mary I in the same tomb
- Tomb of Mary Queen of Scots — surprisingly grander than Elizabeth's
- Poets' Corner — Chaucer, Dickens, Hardy, Kipling, Tennyson, T.S. Eliot, Newton, Darwin, Hawking
- Tomb of the Unknown Warrior — only floor in the abbey not walked on
- The Queen's Diamond Jubilee Galleries — triforium, abbey treasures, panoramic views
- Cloisters — peaceful 13th-century walkway
Tickets & Tours
| Ticket | Online | At gate |
|---|---|---|
| Adult | £29 | £32 |
| Child (6-17) | £14.50 | £16 |
| Family (2+1) | £60 | £68 |
| Verger-led tour (+£10) | From £39 | From £42 |
| Galleries (+£5) | From £34 | From £37 |
🎫 Verger-led tour: 90-min guided tour from a verger (cleric in dark robes). £10 extra but takes you behind ropes including the High Altar and Edward the Confessor's tomb. Best paid upgrade.
Free Alternatives
- Evensong service — 5pm Mon-Fri, 3pm Sat-Sun. Free entry. Choir at the world-class level. Sit in the Quire if you arrive early.
- Sunday morning service — free, longer (90 min), no tourists
- Cloisters — free access most of the day; peaceful and atmospheric
- Exterior + College Garden — College Garden is England's oldest garden in continuous cultivation; free Tuesday/Thursday afternoons
Tips for Visiting
- Allow 2-3 hours; audio guide adds depth — use it
- Closed Sundays for tourists (open for services only)
- No photography inside — soak it in instead
- Modest dress required — covered shoulders and knees
- Combine with Big Ben + Houses of Parliament (3 min walk) and Westminster Bridge for one full day
- St Margaret's Church (next door, free) — Westminster Abbey's parish church