There are few buildings in London that can match the majesty of Westminster Abbey, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
What is Westminster Abbey? A royal church offering daily services and a place to explore over 1,000 years of history.
Very few people leave Westminster Abbey without a sense of awe and wonder.
Top Attractions at Westminster Abbey
1. Poets’ Corner
2. The Coronation Chair
3. The Lady Chapel
4. The Grave of the Unknown Warrior
5. Royal Tombs
6. Pyx Chamber
7. The Quire
8. The Cloisters
9. The Chapter House
All About Westminster Abbey
| WESTMINSTER ABBEY | |
|---|---|
| KIDS FRIENDLY? | Age 5+ |
| HOURS | Mon-Sat 9:30am - 3:30pm Sun - Services only |
| LOCATION | 20 Dean's Yard, London SW1P 3PA |
| WHAT'S THERE | Over 1,000 years of history |
| UNDERGROUND | Westminster (Jubilee, District & Circle Lines) St. James’s Park (District and Circle Lines) |
| BUS | Many bus routes pass the Abbey |
| TRAIN | Victoria (0.8 miles) Waterloo (0.8 miles) |
| RIVER BUS | Westminster Pier |
| VISIT TIME | Allow up two hours |
| ENTRY COST | Adult: £25 Concessions: £22 Child 6-17: £11 Adult + one child 6-17: £25 Child: under 5 free Services: Free |
| FEATURED ACTIVITIES | Audio tour. Tour with a verger |
| GUIDED TOURS | Free audio tour. Guided tours, up to five daily, from £5 |
| SELFIE TIME | Plenty of opportunities |
| QUEUE JUMPING | Pre-booked tickets are timed, so queues should be minimal. Tickets on the day may be subject to capacity queues. |
| WHEELCHAIRS | Via the north door. Some areas are inaccessible |
| FACILITIES | Café and Shop Toilet near Poet's Corner |
| Check for Tickets | |
Is It Just a Big Church?
In some ways, yes, but there is so much more to Westminster Abbey.
A UNESCO World Heritage Site right in the centre of London, the Abbey is open for visitors from Monday to Saturday. There are services on Sunday, where visitors are welcome, but you shouldn’t expect to tour on a Sunday. Evensong and other services take place most late afternoons and evenings.
Poets’ Corner is a place for lovers of literature. More than 100 poets are either buried or have a memorial here. Graves include those of Charles Dickens, Thomas Hardy, and Rudyard Kipling. Geoffrey Chaucer, author of ‘The Canterbury Tales” was the first poet to be buried at Westminster Abbey in 1400. More recent memorials can be seen, for Ted Hughes, Philip Larkin, and C.S. Lewes.
The Coronation Chair can be found in St. George’s Chapel. One of the most precious pieces of furniture in the world, the Coronation Chair has been used for over 700 years. Made to order by King Edward I, the chair was brought to Westminster Abbey in 1296. Westminster Abbey has witnessed the coronations of 39 kings and queens.
The Lady Chapel is a glorious example of late medieval architecture from the 16th century. The fan-vaulted ceiling is spectacular. The chapel is the burial place of 15 kings and queens, including Elizabeth I, Charles II, and William III.
The Grave of the Unknown Warrior is one of the most visited places in the Abbey. The Unknown Warrior, a British soldier, was brought from France and buried on 11 November 1920. The grave contains French soil and the slab of marble is from Belgium.
The Royal Tombs hold the final resting place of 30 kings and queens, the first being Edward the Confessor. Henry III and Richard II are in the Royal Tomb and the last to be buried here was George II, with his queen Caroline.
Pyx Crypt is one of the oldest parts of Westminster Abbey and was used as a Treasury in the 13th century. The two have oak doors date from the early 14th century and some medieval floor tiles can still be seen. The name Pyx, comes from the wooden boxes used to hold gold and silver.
The Quire in the centre of the Abbey has heard music every day for over 1,000 years. There are choral services each day, where the choir will sing from their stalls. The original medieval quire stalls were replaced in the 18th century and the ones you see today, date from 1848.
The Cloisters used to be one of the busiest places in the Abbey, with Benedictine monks spending many hours there. Dating from the 13th and 15th centuries, each cloister is around 100 feet (3o metres) in length. The cloisters contain the graves of a number of abbots and clergymen, along with some actors and actresses who were not allowed to be buried in the main part of the Abbey.
The Chapter House was a meeting place for the monks, where they discussed day-to-day business. Completed in 1255 by Henry III, it has an octagonal shape that is 60 feet (18 metres) across. The Chapter House was used as the House of Commons in the 14th century, the beginning of the English Parliament.
Westminster Abbey is steeped in history and we can barely scratch the surface here. A visit is a step back in history, for both adults and children alike.
What is There for Children to Do?
There is an audio tour that is suitable for children aged six and up. The children’s trail (age five to 12) in multiple languages. For many, a visit to Westminster Abbey will bring their school history lessons to life, and a reminder to parents of their own school days, deep in musty English history books.
Selfies and Pictures
There are many opportunities for photographs. Visitors are asked to be discrete, especially during services and those at prayer.
Food, Drink & Shop
The Cellarium Cafe offers afternoon teas and is located in the cloisters.
There is a toilet close to Poets’ Corner and a shop by the West door.
Disabled Facilities
Wheelchair chair access is through the north door. Certain parts of the Abbey are not accessible for wheelchairs.
How to get to Westminster Abbey
The closest mainline rail stations are Victoria and Waterloo. For the Underground, St. James’s Park or Westminster. From the river bus, use Westminster Pier. Numerous bus routes pass the Westminster Abbey.
CLOSE TO THE WESTMINSTER ABBEY
Downing Street
Houses of Parliament
St. James’s Park
* Entry costs are an indication and may change.