Westminster Abbey

About Westminster Abbey

Westminster Abbey has stood at the heart of English royal and religious life for nearly a thousand years. The present Gothic church was begun in 1245 under Henry III, built over an earlier abbey founded centuries before, and it has been the setting for every English and British coronation since 1066. It is also a working church, holding daily services, so it sits somewhere between a national monument and a living place of worship. The soaring nave, the fan vaulting of the Lady Chapel, and the sheer density of history packed into one building are what most people remember.

The Abbey doubles as a kind of national burial place and memorial hall. More than 3,000 people are buried or commemorated here, including monarchs, poets in Poets' Corner, and scientists such as Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin, and Stephen Hawking. You'll also find the tomb of the Unknown Warrior near the west entrance and the Coronation Chair, used in coronations for some 700 years. The Queen's Diamond Jubilee Galleries, up in the medieval triforium, give a high-level view down into the church along with objects drawn from the Abbey's long history.

Westminster Abbey sits right beside the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben, so it pairs easily with a walk along the Thames or a stop at nearby St James's Park. Entry requires a paid ticket, and photography rules and queues can vary, so it's worth checking current visiting arrangements before you go. Most visits run between one and a half and two hours, longer if you join a guided tour or spend time in the galleries. An audio guide is usually included with admission, and booking a timed slot ahead tends to save a long wait at the door in busy months.