Westminster Abbey tickets, opening hours and visitor tips

What Westminster Abbey is

Westminster Abbey is a working gothic abbey church in the heart of London. It has been the coronation church of the British monarchy since 1066 and the site of sixteen royal weddings, including the wedding of Prince William and Catherine in 2011. It is the burial place of seventeen monarchs, and Poets’ Corner holds the graves and memorials of writers including Geoffrey Chaucer, Charles Dickens and Stephen Hawking. The current building is largely thirteenth century.

Where it is

Address: 20 Deans Yard, London SW1P 3PA. The Abbey is directly opposite the Houses of Parliament. The nearest Underground station is Westminster on the Circle, District and Jubilee lines. The closest Big Bus London hop-off stop is Westminster— you cross the road and you are at the front door.

Tickets and what is included

Westminster Abbey is a paid sightseeing attraction. Adult, senior, student, child and family tickets are sold; under-fives enter free. Admission includes the multilingual audio guide narrated by Jeremy Irons, which walks you through:

• The nave and the Coronation Chair
• The Royal Tombs and the Lady Chapel
• Poets’ Corner
• The Cloisters and Chapter House
• The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Galleries (extra time and stairs)

Booking online in advance saves a small amount and locks in a time slot, which matters in summer when walk-up queues can be long. Westminster Abbey is sold directly by the Abbey rather than as part of the Big Bus London bundle.

Opening hours and dress code

The Abbey is generally open to sightseers Monday to Saturday; Sunday is reserved for worship and the Abbey is free to attend services but closed for sightseeing. Last admission is around an hour before closing. Always check the official timetable before you travel as opening hours are reduced for state and church events.

There is no formal dress code, but the Abbey is an active place of worship and visitors are asked to dress respectfully (shoulders covered; no beachwear). Photography is not permitted inside the Abbey itself; the cloisters and exterior are fine.

How to combine with the rest of your day

Westminster Abbey pairs naturally with a morning Big Bus loop: hop off at Westminster, do the Abbey for two hours, walk around the corner to Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, then re-board the bus or cross Westminster Bridge to ride the London Eye in the afternoon. Full plan in the best way to see London in one day itinerary.