Westminster Abbey is the Gothic church next to the Houses of Parliament where English and British monarchs have been crowned since 1066, most recently Charles III in 2023. It is a working place of worship, so tourist visiting hours are limited and it closes to sightseers on Sundays.
The medieval oak Coronation Chair, and behind the high altar the shrine of Edward the Confessor, ringed by the tombs of medieval kings and queens.
Memorials and graves of Chaucer, Dickens, Hardy and others in the south transept, and the burials of Newton, Darwin and Stephen Hawking in the nave.
A museum space in the medieval triforium, high above the abbey floor, with objects from its history and a view down into the church.
Entry is by timed ticket, usually including a multimedia guide, with verger-led tours for an extra charge. The abbey is closed to tourist visits on Sundays and may close at short notice for services and state occasions. Attending a service is free. Confirm on westminster-abbey.org.
Advance tickets are cheaper and skip the ticket queue. Verger tours are limited in number and sell out early in the day.
It is an active church. Sightseeing is not possible on Sundays, and weekday visiting can pause for prayers or a funeral. Check the day's schedule.
Parliament, Big Ben, the Churchill War Rooms and the river are all a few minutes' walk, so the abbey slots into a wider Westminster morning or afternoon.
Can I visit on a Sunday?
Not as a sightseer. On Sundays and some religious holidays the abbey is open only for worship, which anyone may attend free of charge.
Is a guided tour included?
A multimedia guide is normally included with admission. Vergers run guided tours for an additional fee, booked on the day at the abbey.
Should I book ahead?
Yes. Timed online tickets cost less than the door price and save queuing, and verger tours are limited.
How long does a visit take?
Most visitors spend 90 minutes to two hours, longer with a verger tour or the Jubilee Galleries.
Westminster Abbey, formally the Collegiate Church of Saint Peter at Westminster, is a mainly 13th to 16th century Gothic church in central London. It is a Royal Peculiar, under the direct authority of the Crown rather than a diocese.
It has been the coronation church of English and British monarchs since 1066 and the setting for royal weddings and funerals, and it holds the graves and memorials of monarchs, statesmen, writers and scientists. It is run by the Dean and Chapter of Westminster.
This page is an independent guide for visitors. It is not affiliated with the Dean and Chapter of Westminster.
