Westminster Abbey

Visit one of London's most important historical buildings and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Westminster Abbey.

Visit Westminster Abbey with Go City®

• With us, there are no entry fees on the day – all you've got to do is show your pass.
• A free multimedia guide.
• A visit to the tombs of Charles Darwin, Elizabeth I and Charles Dickens.

Kings and queens, statesmen and soldiers, poets and priests, heroes and villains - Westminster Abbey has witnessed them all. This must-see living pageant of British history is the spiritual home of British royal events – a place where 16 royal weddings have taken place and almost every British monarch has been coronated, including Queen Elizabeth II. Step into the glorious Gothic abbey church and walk in the footsteps of many kings and queens throughout history.

You'll explore the venue's opulent period architecture – think dramatic vaulted ceilings, striking sculptures and stained-glass windows that throw rainbow-colored light across the room. Tour Poets' Corner and the Nave and see strange life-like effigies on the tombs of famous poets, scientists and royals. The free multimedia guide will give you all the facts, history and information you need while you explore, and it's available in 14 languages. After you've ticked off the otherworldly interiors, head outside to take some time out in the pretty College Garden, which are said to be the oldest cultivated gardens in the UK.

Westminster Abbey Highlights

The Coronation Chair – made for King Edward I, the coronation chair has been used at the coronation ceremony since 1308 and is one of the oldest pieces of furniture in England.

Poets' Corner – one of the most popular and best-known parts of the abbey, explore the hundreds of tombs and memorials to some of the most famous literary figures in history. Over 100 poets and writers are buried and commemorated here, including Geoffrey Chaucer, Robert Browning, Charles Dickens and William Shakespeare.

The Nave – completed in 1517, the Nave houses the coronation chair, the memorial of Sir Isaac Newton, and the Grave of the Unknown Warrior – an anonymous British soldier who represents the thousands killed in WWI.

The Lady Chapel – considered the last great masterpiece of medieval English architecture, the Lady Chapel features a magnificent fan-vault ceiling with carved pendants and houses the shared tomb of Elizabeth I and her half-sister Mary I.

Sermons – Westminster Abbey is still a working church and includes daily services in its schedule. From Morning Prayer and Evensong to the Eucharist, these memorable services of worship are open to the public.

FAQs

Where is Westminster Abbey?

The Abbey is located in the heart of the City of Westminster, just west of the similarly impressive Palace of Westminster. 

How old is Westminster Abbey?

The Abbey has existed for over 1060 years, making it one of the oldest religious places of worship in England. A church was founded on the site of the Abbey in the 7^th Century, and construction of the present church began in 1245, on the orders of King Henry III.

Where is the nave in Westminster Abbey?

The visually stunning nave is at the far western end of the Abbey and has become a place of homage thanks to the numerous graves and memorials of famous people that exist here. 

Did you know:

• Westminster Abbey has been the Coronation Church since the crowning of William the Conqueror in 1066, with 38 coronations taking place and the most recent being on 2 June 1953 for Queen Elizabeth II.
• The Chapter House has one of the oldest doors in the world, dating back to 1050.
• 16 royal weddings have taken place at Westminster Abbey with the most recent being on 29 April 2011 for Prince William and Kate Middleton.
• If you look closely at the coronation chair, you'll see schoolboy graffiti from the 18th and 19th centuries.

Getting in: enter via the North Green, which runs between the Abbey and Broad Sanctuary. Before entering the Abbey, you will pass through security/bag check. On busy days, it might be necessary to continue queuing after security. Your passes will be scanned and validated at a ticket booth inside the Abbey and you will be issued with a paper ticket as proof of admission.

Please note:

• Pass customers do not need to pre-book but admission to the Abbey is always subject to availability.
• We recommend visiting early in the day.
• Tuesdays to Thursdays tend to be less busy.

For more information, please visit the Westminster Abbey website.