London Westminster Abbey Tickets: how to buy and prices
Behind the spectacular façade, the interior of Westminster Abbey leaves no visitor indifferent. Here's how to get tickets
Westminster Abbey | © Justin Horton
Westminster Abbey is world famous and is known as "the church of the Royal Family", being the pantheon of the monarchs and the site of their coronations since 1066.
I advise you to buy your ticket online and in advance or you will face terrible waits at the ticket office. There are two main ways to get into the Abbey, I'll summarise them and give you the details so you can choose which is best for you.
London Westminster Abbey Tickets
Discover Westminster Abbey in the quickest and most convenient way
Tour this iconic building at your own pace and learn the secrets of the British Crown. With your audio guide you will learn all about the history of the Abbey and its surroundings.
Get your tickets to Westminster Abbey in advance and you won't have to worry about queuing at the ticket office once you get there. As one of the most important buildings in London and one that receives thousands of visitors, it is undoubtedly best to buy your tickets to the Abbey in advance and discover the history of the royal coronations behind it.
Thanks to the audio guide included in this pass, you won't miss any detail of the history of the kings buried there, and you can visit every corner of the Abbey at your own pace. You can stop whenever you like and contemplate each of the monuments housed in this mythical church, the site of great royal weddings.
Recommended if... what you prefer is to do the tour at your own pace, without timetables or groups.
London Westminster Abbey and the House of Parliament Guided Tour (optional)
See Westminster Abbey and Big Ben with an expert guide
If you want to complete the experience with a guided tour and also see the Houses of Parliament - where Big Ben is located - this is your option.
The best thing to do when you visit Westminster Abbey is to take the opportunity to visit the Houses of Parliament. The best way to do this is to pre-book a guided tour of Westminster Abbey and the Houses of Parliament and avoid the long queues that form every day to get into two of the capital's major attractions.
This guided tour entitles you to a 4 hour tour of the UK's history in capital letters. You will enter the fascinating Westminster Abbey to see, amongst other wonders, its Coronation Chair, 900 year old University Garden and Poets' Corner, and the Houses of Parliament, home to the famous Big Ben and the meeting place of the British government, with its famous House of Commons and House of Lords.
Recommended if... you want to learn a little more about the history and details of two of the great symbols of the British capital.
The London Pass®: Access to 90+ attractions including London Eye
The city's best attractions, at a special price
If you're not only planning to visit Westminster Abbey, but you're also looking for an inside look at other London attractions, the London Pass will save you time and money during your trip.
As a major attraction, Westminster Abbey is included in several of the tourist passes, such as the London Pass, which you can purchase to see London while saving time and money. If you are going to travel a minimum of 3 or 4 days to the British capital and want to see several of its points of interest, without a doubt, this is the option that I recommend the most.
Tickets, not only for Westminster Abbey, but for the vast majority of London's attractions, are expensive, and the long queues can wear you out. If you feel like considering this option, I have written a detailed article on London Pass with all the information you need to know.
Recommended if... you want to make the most of your stay in London and visit as many attractions as possible. This option will save you money and time as it includes a wide range of options.
In summary, we compare the options
Discover Westminster Abbey in the quickest and most convenient way
Explore this iconic building at your own pace and learn the secrets of the British Crown. With your audio guide you will learn all about the history of the Abbey and its surroundings.
See Westminster Abbey and Big Ben with an expert guide
If you want to complete the experience with a guided tour and also see the Houses of Parliament, this is your option.
The city's best attractions, at a special price
If you're not only looking to visit Westminster Abbey but also to see the sights of London from the inside, the London Pass will save you time and money during your trip.
Westminster Abbey Ticket Prices
Tickets to the Abbey cost approximately 37 euros for adults and 17 euros for children under 17 years of age. It is best to book online in advance to avoid queues at the entrance.
You can also buy a family pass which includes access for two adults and two children for around 73 euros.
Admission is free only for visitors with a disability and their carer and for UK Armed Forces personnel.
How to buy tickets to Westminster Abbey
You can buy tickets for Westminster Abbey online or you can buy them on the spot at the ticket office. Honestly, I don't recommend the second option, as it is one of the most visited attractions in London and you may encounter long queues and waiting times, or even run out of tickets.
The best option for this type of sightseeing is to book your tickets online in advance. This way, you will be assured access to the Abbey, as well as being able to choose your day and time and better organise your London sightseeing plan.
Westminster Abbey Opening Hours
If you're thinking of buying tickets in advance, please note that Westminster Abbey is generally open daily from 9.30am to 3.30pm, with Wednesdays, for example, opening until 6pm.
However, opening times for some of the interior areas vary and the opening times of the Abbey may change as it is a church in use.
What you should know about Westminster Abbey
As a key site for British royalty, this is where, for example, the coronation of the current Queen of England, Elizabeth II, and the funeral of the Princess of Wales took place. In addition to its original gardens and four cloisters, at the heart of this impressive temple, its High Altar, lie the remains of medieval kings and queens such as Edward I and Eleanor of Castile, and monarchs such as Mary Queen of Scots and Henry VII.
Throughout its 31-metre nave, we find art treasures, the most important collection of monumental sculpture in the United Kingdom and the 'scientists' corner', where illustrious names such as Issac Newton and Charles Darwin are buried. Meanwhile, its South Aisle holds one of its most celebrated areas, 'poets' corner', with the tombs of unforgettable names such as Charles Dickens and Rudyard Kipling.
The history kept within the walls of this Gothic-style religious building is truly fascinating. Located at the centre of England's political and religious power for over a thousand years, the Whitehall and Westminster district, the long queues are now part of the monumental ensemble of Westminster Abbey. Today, it is visited by more than a million tourists every year. That's why I recommend you book your tickets in advance and make sure you visit this icon of English history.
Vicky's Traveller Tip
Westminster Abbey is a working church, so remember to dress appropriately (or bring a scarf to cover shoulders and necklines).
How to get to Westminster Abbey
Located in the heart of central London, there are many ways to get to Westminster Abbey, with the city's public transport being the most convenient.
- Underground: The nearest tube stations to Westminster Abbey are Westminster (Jubilee, District and Circle Lines) and James's Park (District and Circle Lines).
- Bus: There are a multitude of bus routes to Westminster Abbey's doorstep. You can find them all on the useful official Transport Of London website. Also, all tour buses, which you can access with a London Pass, stop at Westminster Abbey.
- Train: London Victoria and London Waterloo are the best options for getting to Westminster Abbey by train.
- Cycle: There are several cycle routes that take you into central London. On the Transport for London website you will find the most comfortable and safest routes.
Some services available at Westminster Abbey
- Admission for wheelchair users and their companions is free as not all of the Abbey is accessible.
- Braille tours for the blind and visually impaired are available on request with prior booking.
- The Abbey is also adapted with a hearing loop system for the hearing impaired.
- It is possible to enter with a pushchair and there is even a special tour for the little ones (in English).
- You can have a quick snack and a coffee in the 'Kiosk' or have lunch or even dinner in the 'Cellarium Café and Terrace'.
Vicky's Traveller Tip
Take the opportunity to explore the area around the Abbey: the River Thames and the London Eye.
Other points of interest in the area around Westminster Abbey
The important area in which the formidable Westminster Abbey is located is full of other must-see sights to explore on your visit to London. Next to it, just 160 metres away, is the Palace of Westminster, home to the Houses of Parliament and the legendary Big Ben.
From there you can embark on one of the Thames river cruises, a good plan to rest after visiting the Abbey. This is the article I wrote about it: 7 Best Thames River Cruises in London.
A little further on, about 450 metres away, you can rest from your long visit to these two architectural wonders thanks to the wonderful gardens of the oldest and most beloved park in London, St James's Park, ideal to enjoy with children.
You can also take in the London skyline from the heights of Europe's tallest Ferris wheel, the London Eye, less than 700 metres from Westminster Abbey, or take in centuries of the finest British art at the renowned Tate Britain Museum, less than a kilometre from the Abbey. Here is the guide I wrote about London Eye Tickets: how to buy, prices and schedules.