What to see at Westminster Abbey?
Westminster Abbey is one of the oldest and most famous religious buildings in London - alongside St. Paul's Cathedral.
A key site of the British monarchy, it welcomes over a million visitors from around the world each year.
It is the burial place (necropolis) for some of England's kings and queens, as well as famous men and women. Nearly 3,300 people are buried there.
35 English monarchs (almost all) have been crowned in this abbey.
Westminster Abbey features both medieval and gothic architecture and has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1985.
History of Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey traces 1,000 years of UK history, closely linked with the British royal family.
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Its construction mainly dates back to the 13th century, under Henry III.
Built in the mid-10th century to house Benedictine monks, the abbey was initially a Romanesque-style monastery.
In honor of the apostle Saint Peter, it was expanded by King Edward and consecrated on December 28, 1065, under the name « West Minster » (meaning « Abbey of the West » - as opposed to Eastminster: a Cistercian monastery located east of the City, beyond the Tower of London, on the site of the current Royal Mint).
In the mid-13th century (between 1245 and 1517), King Henry III decided to enhance the church by giving it a new Gothic style.
The two towers at the main entrance were added to the building during the 18th century.
During the dissolution of the monasteries in 1540, the abbey was seized by Henry VIII. As part of the Anglican Reformation, it was later closed but escaped destruction thanks to the control of the Crown of England, which was not under the jurisdiction of the Church.
The Crown also protected the abbey from attacks by iconoclasts in 1640.
Since the coronation of William the Conqueror in 1066, all the kings of England, and later the United Kingdom, have been crowned in the abbey church of Westminster Abbey, on the coronation throne (dating from the 11th century) - except for Edward V and Edward VIII, who were never crowned.
The most recent coronation was that of Queen Elizabeth II, on June 2, 1953.
Sixteen royal weddings have been celebrated at Westminster Abbey. Special events, such as births or anniversaries (royal, national, or related to the abbey), are also marked by the ringing of its bells.
The latest significant events celebrated at the abbey include the funeral of the Princess of Wales (Lady Diana Spencer) in 1997, the 80th birthday of Queen Elizabeth II in 2006, and the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, on April 29, 2011.
The real name of the abbey church is « Collegiate Church of Saint Peter ».
Visiting Westminster Abbey
With its architectural and decorative wonders preserved through the centuries, Westminster Abbey is one of the most prestigious churches in London and one of the finest examples of medieval London architecture.
Audio guides are available at the entrance of the abbey.
It is forbidden to film or take photos inside the abbey.
Main Nave
It is in the nave that the faithful gather during services and ceremonies.
The main nave of Westminster Abbey is particularly narrow (10 meters wide) but rises to a height of over 30 meters.
The vast majority of royal funerals are held in this nave, among the most recent: the funeral of the Princess of Wales (Lady Diana Spencer) in 1997, and that of the Queen Mother Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon in 2002.
The tomb of the British Unknown Soldier, who fell during the First World War, has been located at the entrance of the church since 1920.
It is the only tomb in the abbey on which it is forbidden to walk. It is covered with artificial poppies.
David Livingstone (1813-1873), the famous explorer who discovered the Zambezi Valley and dedicated part of his life to searching for the sources of the Nile, is also buried in the central aisle of the abbey.
Henry VII Chapel: Lady Chapel
The Henry VII Chapel is a large Lady Chapel located at the eastern end of Westminster Abbey, built by King Henry VII in the early 16th century. It is separated from the rest of the abbey by brass gates and a staircase and has five apsidal chapels.
It is particularly famous for its fan-vaulted ceiling - dating from 1512 - finely decorated with gilding.
The structure of the chapel is a three-aisled nave composed of four bays.
In its apse, behind the altar, are the tombs of Henry VII and his wife, as well as James I. The tombs of other English monarchs (Edward VI, Mary I, Elizabeth I, Charles II, and Mary, Queen of Scots) are also present in the chapel.
The Henry VII Chapel also houses the effigy (funerary sculpture) of Queen Elizabeth I (1558-1603) and her elder sister, Queen Mary I (1553-1558), buried in the same tomb.
It is also the mother church of the Order of the Bath* since 1725 (the flags of the members hang above its famous stalls).
Built in a very late perpendicular Gothic style, the Henry VII Chapel is one of the most impressive chapels of Westminster Abbey. John Leland called it the miraculum orbis (the wonder of the world).
"Lady Chapel" is a traditional British term for a chapel dedicated to Our Lady: Mary, mother of Jesus - particularly those inside cathedrals or large churches.
* Third British order of chivalry in the order of precedence.
King Edward's Chair
King Edward's Chair - also called the Coronation Chair - is located in the Edward the Confessor Chapel.
It is the medieval coronation throne (dating from the 11th century), used for all the enthronements of British sovereigns by the Archbishop of Canterbury - since Edward I.
Until 1996, the Stone of Destiny (or Stone of Scone) was placed under the seat of King Edward's Chair and used during the coronation of the kings of Scotland. This stone is now displayed at Edinburgh Castle in Scotland.
In the event of a future coronation, the ceremonial wishes it to be placed again in the choir of the church, facing the altar.
Edward the Confessor Chapel
It is in the chapel of Edward the Confessor that King Edward the Confessor is buried (in the center of the room).
His shrine (coffin-reliquary) is surrounded by the tombs of five other kings and three queens from the Middle Ages.
Poets' Corner
Located in the south transept of Westminster Abbey, the famous Poets' Corner hosts the funerary monuments (tombs and mausoleums) of the main writers of the Kingdom of England: Geoffrey Chaucer (1340-1400), William Shakespeare (1564-1616), Alexander Pope (1688-1744), Georg Friedrich Handel (1685-1759), Samuel Johnson (1709-1784), Matthew Gregory Lewis (1775-1818), Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772-1834), William Wordsworth (1770-1850), Charles Dickens (1812-1870), Lewis Carroll (1832-1898), Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936), etc.
Statesmen's Corner
Here you will find commemorative plaques in memory of the main statesmen of the Kingdom of England: Robert Peel (1788-1850), Benjamin Disraeli (1804-1881), Winston Churchill (1874-1965), etc.
The six Prime Ministers of Great Britain are also buried in the abbey: William Pitt the Younger (1759-1806), George Canning (1770-1827), William Ewart Gladstone (1809-1898), Andrew Bonar Law (1858-1923), Neville Chamberlain (1869-1940), and Clement Attlee (1883-1967).
Scientists' Corner
Here you will find the tombs and commemorative plaques in memory of the main scientists of the Kingdom of England: Isaac Newton (1643-1727), James Watt (1736-1819), William Herschel (1738-1822), George Stephenson (1781-1848), John Herschel (1792-1871), Charles Darwin (1809-1882), Paul Dirac (1902-1984), James Prescott Joule (1818-1889), and Stephen Hawking (1942-2018).
St Peter's Crypt: the Westminster Abbey Museum
It is in St Peter's Crypt that the Westminster Abbey Museum is located. It is situated in one of the oldest parts of the abbey, dating from the 11th century.
The exhibition notably includes a unique collection of royal and funerary effigies and a 13th-century altar piece, known as the "Westminster Retable".
Chapter House
The Chapter House, located a few meters south of the church, dates from 1248-1253 and houses 15th-century frescoes.
It is an octagonal room 18 meters in diameter featuring lierne and tierceron vaults resting on a central pillar with 8 Purbeck marble columns. Its walls are partly covered with medieval paintings and it still retains its mosaic floors dating from the 13th century.
Cloister
The cloister of Westminster Abbey was built between the 13th and 14th centuries, then underwent modifications in the 19th century. It connects the Abbey church to the rest of its dependencies.
Several personalities (abbots or musicians) - such as Muzio Clementi (1752-1832), the "father of the piano-forte", and Pelham Humfrey (1647-1674), presumed student of Jean-Baptiste Lully and teacher of Henry Purcell - are buried under its slabs.
The visit to the small cloister garden and its fountain is independent of that of the abbey and free.
Westminster Abbey Gardens
At the back of Westminster Abbey are 4 gardens:
- The Garth: once a place of rest for the monks
- The Little Cloister: once reserved for convalescents
- The College Garden: once used to grow medicinal herbs and food for the abbey's inhabitants
- With over 900 years of existence, the College Garden is the oldest park in England. Its visit is independent of that of the abbey and free.
- St Catherine's Garden: created more recently
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Westminster Abbey Admission Fees
Enjoy the best price by purchasing your tickets for Westminster Abbey through one of our partners:
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The ticket includes entry to the abbey, as well as an audioguide.
Due to its popularity among tourists, the queue can be long... It is highly recommended to book your tickets in advance, online.
Entry to Westminster Abbey is included in the London Pass and the London Explorer Pass.
Westminster Abbey opening hours
Westminster Abbey is open all year round:
- Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday: from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm
- Wednesday: from 9:30 am to 6:00 pm
- Sunday: reserved for religious services
The College Garden is also open all year round:
- In summer: Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday: from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm
- In winter: Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday: from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
Entry to Westminster Abbey is free during religious services (on Sunday or weekdays for morning prayer, evening service, Holy Communion, Eucharist, or during Anglican vespers), however, the guided tourist visit is not possible.
Find detailed opening hours (galleries, café, souvenir shop, etc.) on the official Westminster Abbey website.
Getting to Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey is located in the heart of London, in the Westminster district, on the north bank of the Thames, near Big Ben and the Palace of Westminster.
Address: Westminster, SW1P 3PA, London
To get there, 6 options:
- Underground:
- District and Circle lines - stops Westminster or St. James's Park (7 min walk)
- Jubilee line - stop Westminster (4 min walk)
- Train: stations Victoria (15 min walk) and Waterloo (18 min walk).
- Bus: lines 3, 11, 12, 24, 29, 53, 70, 77, 77A, 88, 109, 148, 159, 170, and 211.
- Tourist bus "Hop On Hop Off"
- Bicycle: numerous cycling paths pass through the Westminster district.
- Car: Q-Park Westminster parking (free) on Great College Street
Near Westminster Abbey
Take advantage of your visit to Westminster Abbey to explore:
- Palace of Westminster: 190 m (3 min walk)
- Big Ben: 350 m (5 min walk)
- St James's Park: 500 m (7 min walk)
- London Eye: 950 m (13 min walk)
- Buckingham Palace: 1.1 km (14 min walk)
- Tate Britain: 1.1 km (14 min walk)