Visiting Westminster Abbey: tickets, highlights and tips

Westminster Abbey has been at the heart of British history for nearly a thousand years. Every coronation since 1066 has taken place here, and kings, queens, poets and scientists are buried beneath its floor. It is a short walk from Westminster station, across Parliament Square from the Houses of Parliament. This guide covers what you need to know before you go.

Opening times and tickets

• Days: the Abbey is usually open to visitors Monday to Saturday. On Sundays it is open for worship only.
• Tickets: buy a timed ticket online in advance. It is cheaper than at the door and saves time in the queue.
• What is included: the main church, the cloisters and a multimedia guide in several languages.
• Time: allow about two hours.

Opening hours can change at short notice for services and special events, so check the Abbey’s official website on the day.

The highlights

The royal tombs

Behind the high altar lies the shrine of Edward the Confessor, the king who built the first great church here. Around him are the tombs of medieval kings and queens. In the north aisle of the Lady Chapel, Elizabeth I is buried with her half-sister Mary I, and Mary, Queen of Scots lies in the south aisle.

The Lady Chapel

Built by Henry VII in the early 16th century, the Lady Chapel has one of the finest fan-vaulted ceilings in England, hung with the banners of the Knights of the Order of the Bath.

Poets’ Corner

In the south transept, Geoffrey Chaucer, Charles Dickens, Thomas Hardy and many other writers are buried or remembered. Nearby, scientists such as Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin and Stephen Hawking are buried in the nave.

The Coronation Chair

This oak chair, made around 1300, has been used at the coronation of almost every English and British monarch since. It stands near the west door.

The Grave of the Unknown Warrior

Near the west door, a black marble stone covers the grave of an unknown British soldier from the First World War. It is the only grave in the Abbey that visitors are not allowed to walk on.

The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Galleries

High up in the triforium, these galleries display treasures from the Abbey’s collection and have wonderful views down into the church and across to Parliament. They need an extra ticket, and numbers are limited.

Visiting for free

Anyone can attend a service free of charge. Choral Evensong, sung by the Abbey choir on most weekday afternoons, is a beautiful way to experience the building, though you will not be able to walk around during it. You can also visit St Margaret’s Church, next to the Abbey, where Winston Churchill was married.

Tips

• Arrive early: the Abbey is busiest from late morning to mid-afternoon.
• Check the photo rules: photography inside the church has long been restricted, so check the current policy when you arrive.
• Plan the day: combine the Abbey with Parliament and the Changing of the Guard. See our one-day Westminster itinerary, our guide to visiting Parliament and when to see the Changing of the Guard.
• Eat nearby: the Abbey has a café, and our guide to where to eat near Westminster has more choices.