United Kingdom London Westminster Abbey Entry Tickets

Yes. A free multimedia audio guide is included with every standard admission ticket to Westminster Abbey. The guide is available in multiple languages and provides expert commentary on the major highlights of the Abbey including the nave, Poets' Corner, the royal chapels, the Grave of the Unknown Warrior, and the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Galleries. The guide is available in English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Japanese, and other languages.

Allow 1.5 to 2 hours for a thorough visit covering the nave, Poets' Corner, the royal chapels, the Coronation Chair, and the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Galleries. History enthusiasts and those following the audio guide in detail may wish to allow the full 2.5 hours. Morning visits on weekdays offer the quietest experience and the most time before the late morning crowds arrive.

Poets' Corner is the south transept of Westminster Abbey, which since the burial of Geoffrey Chaucer in 1400 has become the principal national memorial to British writers, poets, playwrights, and composers. It contains burial places and memorials to Shakespeare, Dickens, Hardy, Kipling, Austen, Tennyson, Handel, and dozens of other celebrated figures of British culture. It is one of the most visited and emotionally resonant areas of the entire Abbey.

Sightseeing tickets are required to explore the interior of Westminster Abbey including Poets' Corner, the royal tombs, the Coronation Chair, and the Jubilee Galleries. However, it is completely free to attend services, Evensong, and other acts of worship. Evensong takes place most evenings and offers a profoundly moving and free musical and spiritual experience in the Abbey's extraordinary acoustic. Free entry is also available for prayer via the Great West Door.

Westminster Abbey is open for sightseeing Monday to Friday from 09:30 to 15:30 with last entry at 14:30. On Saturdays hours are 09:00 to 15:00 with last entry at 14:00. The Abbey is closed to sightseeing on Sundays when it is open for worship only. The Abbey may also close at short notice for state ceremonies and royal events, so checking the official website before your visit is strongly recommended.

Westminster Abbey is located at Westminster, London SW1P 3PA. The nearest Underground stations are Westminster on the Jubilee, Circle, and District lines, approximately a 3-minute walk, and St James's Park on the Circle and District lines, approximately a 5-minute walk. The Abbey is also an easy walk from Victoria station and directly adjacent to the Houses of Parliament and the Palace of Westminster.

The Coronation Chair is an ancient wooden throne housed in St George's Chapel at Westminster Abbey. Made in 1300 for King Edward I, it has been used at every coronation since 1308, making it one of the most historically significant pieces of furniture in the world. The chair originally enclosed the Stone of Destiny, the Scottish coronation stone, which was returned to Scotland in 1996 but brought back to Westminster Abbey for King Charles III's coronation in 2023.

Yes, Westminster Abbey is a wonderful experience for families and children of all ages. Children under 6 enter free and children aged 6 to 17 receive a significant discount. The grandeur, history, and storytelling of the Abbey engage curious children enormously. Parents should be aware that the visit involves considerable walking and the Abbey is a working place of worship requiring a quiet and respectful atmosphere throughout.