Best for
History and royal-history fans, architecture enthusiasts
Time needed
1.5–2.5 hours
Worth it?
Yes — a working church with almost 1,000 years of coronation and burial history
Skip if
You're visiting on a Sunday, when sightseeing access isn't available
About Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey has hosted every coronation since William the Conqueror's in 1066, and the current Gothic building dates largely from a rebuilding begun by Henry III in 1245, with the western towers not completed until the 1740s under Nicholas Hawksmoor — meaning the building itself spans five centuries of Gothic and Gothic Revival style.
Beyond coronations, the Abbey has hosted 16 royal weddings, most recently William and Kate's in 2011, and remains the burial site of 17 monarchs alongside Poets' Corner, where Chaucer, Dickens, Hardy and Tennyson are buried or memorialised, and the Grave of the Unknown Warrior, an unidentified WWI soldier whose tomb is the only floor grave in the Abbey no one is permitted to walk on.
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The Lady Chapel, built by Henry VII in the early 1500s, is considered one of the supreme achievements of English Gothic architecture, with an extraordinary fan-vaulted ceiling. The Queen's Diamond Jubilee Galleries, opened in 2018 in the medieval triforium 16 metres above the floor, added a new museum space with previously unseen treasures and one of the best interior views of the Abbey available anywhere.
As a working church, the Abbey's sightseeing hours are more restricted than most London attractions — no visitor sightseeing on Sundays, when the building is reserved for services, and periodic closures for state and royal events.
What to See: Highlights
- 1Coronation site for every English and British monarch since 1066
- 2Poets' Corner, burial and memorial site for Chaucer, Dickens and Hardy
- 3Henry VII's Lady Chapel and its fan-vaulted ceiling
- 4The Grave of the Unknown Warrior
- 5The Queen's Diamond Jubilee Galleries, 16 metres up in the medieval triforium
- 616 royal weddings held here, including William and Kate's in 2011
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Insider Tips
No sightseeing on Sundays — the Abbey is reserved for services that day
Book timed tickets online in advance; walk-up queues can be long
A multimedia guide is included with admission — worth using for context on the tombs and memorials
Check for occasional closures around state and royal events before planning your visit
Combine with Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, a 2-minute walk away
Book a Guided Tour
Get the most from your visit with a local expert guide.
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Getting There
20 Deans Yard, London SW1P 3PA
Open in Google Maps →- 1Westminster (Circle, District, Jubilee lines) — directly outside, a 2-minute walk.
Where to stay
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Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know before you visit.
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Should You Visit?
Visit if...
- You want to see where British monarchs have been crowned since 1066
- You're interested in Poets' Corner and England's literary history
- You appreciate Gothic architecture, particularly the Lady Chapel's fan vaulting
- You're visiting on a weekday when sightseeing hours apply
Skip if...
- Your only free day in London is a Sunday
- You've already visited comparable Gothic cathedrals and want variety
- You're very short on time — the Abbey rewards an unhurried visit
Ready to Book Your Visit?
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