Westminster Abbey: Tickets, Hours and Tips
Westminster Abbey: Tickets, Hours and Tips
Every English coronation since 1066 happened inside this building, and the Coronation Chair sitting in it right now, complete with 18th-century schoolboy graffiti carved into the back, has been used for every one since 1308. Adult entry runs GBP 31 online, and the one date to avoid entirely is Sunday, when the Abbey closes to sightseers and opens only for worship.
Westminster Abbey at a glance
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Price | GBP 31 adult online (around GBP 27 during the 25 Jun-1 Sep 2026 summer savings window) |
| Hours | Mon-Sat 9:30am-4:30pm, last entry 2:30pm; closed to tourists Sunday, services only |
| Time needed | 2 hours to do Poets’ Corner, the Lady Chapel and the cloisters properly |
| Booking lead | Book online to save GBP 2 and pick your entry time; midday queues run worst 10am-1pm |
| Getting there | Westminster or St James’s Park stations (Circle, District, Jubilee lines) |
Why does the Abbey close on Sundays if it’s such a major sight?
Because it’s a working church first. Sunday is reserved for worship rather than sightseeing, though services themselves, including the 8am Holy Communion and 5pm Choral Evensong, are open to anyone and cost nothing. If Sunday is your only free day in London, catch Evensong instead of skipping the Abbey entirely.
What’s the one grave most visitors walk straight past?
The Tomb of the Unknown Warrior, just inside the west entrance on the floor. It’s the most visited grave in the world by most counts, a single unidentified WWI soldier buried in 1920 with soil from the main battlefields, and its French Legion d’honneur medal is the only one ever awarded to someone with no name. Most people miss it entirely on the way to Poets’ Corner.
Book tickets and check today’s entry times on the official Westminster Abbey site , or plan the visit in more depth on the plan your visit page . A guided tour bundle is worth it if you want the Poets’ Corner stories explained rather than self-read off the audio guide.
Pair the Abbey with Big Ben and UK Parliament next door, all three within a ten-minute walk of each other, or start from the London guide for the rest of Westminster.
Book the very first slot of the day. The Abbey’s interior is compact enough that a 9:30am entry gets you Poets’ Corner and the Lady Chapel with genuine space to look, something that’s gone entirely by 11am.