Westminster Abbey
About Westminster Abbey
Kings, queens, statesmen and soldiers; poets, priests, heroes and villains - the Abbey is a must-see living pageant of British history. Every year Westminster Abbey welcomes over one million visitors who want to explore this wonderful 700-year-old building which is the coronation church of England. Thousands more flock to the Abbey for worship at daily services.
| Opening Times | Monday – Friday 0930 – 15.30, Saturday 0930 – 13.30. Closed for worship: every Sunday, Christmas Day and Good Friday. |
|---|---|
| Catering |
On-site café/restaurant Picnic site |
| Provider facilities |
Audio commentary in foreign languages Conference facilities Foreign languages spoken Printed material in foreign langauges Toilets |
| Tours and demonstrations |
Educational visits accepted Guided tours available for individuals Guided tours available for groups |
| Booking and payment details |
American Express accepted Groups accepted MasterCard accepted Special group rates Sterling travellers' cheques accepted Maestro accepted Visa accepted |
| Accessibility |
Guide dogs permitted Facilities for hearing impaired visitors Ramp/level access Toilets for disabled visitors Facilities for visually impaired visitors |
Westminster Abbey Address
| Address: |
20 Dean's Yard, Chapter Office, London
London
SW1P 3PA
|
|---|---|
| Telephone: | +44 (0)20 7222 5152 |
| Fax: | +44 (0)20 7654 4891 |
| Email: | info@westminster-abbey.org |
| Website: | http://www.westminster-abbey.org |
Location Information for Westminster Abbey
| Address: |
20 Dean's Yard, Chapter Office, London
London
SW1P 3PA
|
|---|---|
| Telephone: | +44 (0)20 7222 5152 |
| Fax: | +44 (0)20 7654 4891 |
| Email: | info@westminster-abbey.org |
| Website: | http://www.westminster-abbey.org |
| Public transport: | Westminster, London Underground |
| By Road: | Proceed to Parliament Square. The Abbey can be found on the south side of the Square Buses: 11, 24, 88, 148, 211 |
Getting There
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© Collins Bartholomew 2009What else is near Westminster Abbey?
Traveller Rating:
Based on 84 reviews
Latest 5 reviews of Westminster Abbey
A suprise
This place suprised me a little. i did expect something extraordinary, but even so, I waas suprised. The place is an intriguing place to explore. The audio guide is very informative even if it doesn't talk so much about all the tombs of famous people. This part of the Abbey was very interesting. Once again - arriving early is a great advantage! The "No photos policy" pulls down the grade one step.
23 October 2009
For me, a very secular experience
What amazed me about Westminster Abbey was that touring it felt like walking right through the last thousand years of British history. The people who are buried here are not all Anglicans. Many of them were not even good Christians, but they all made a contribution to British government, society, or culture in some way that bears remembering. I love that about this place. I suppose a visit to this vast church could be a religious experience for some, but I just found it to be spiritual in that it offers a profound sense of the continuity of human history and achievement. I was moved by the opportunity to stand at the grave of Elizabeth I, one of the most remarkable women of all time. I was also impressed that the Abbey proudly houses the tombs of several scientists whose works are considered by some to be in conflict with Christianity. That, to me, was the ultimate beauty of this place. Come here to be impressed by a connection to history, and you will not be disappointed.
Oh, and by the way- despite the comments of a previous reviewer, Henry VIII is not buried here. You'll find him at Windsor Castle. His daughters, Mary I and Elizabeth I are here. So, too, are his son Edward VI and his short-term wife Anne of Cleaves, but that's it for the Tudor family.
16 October 2009
from jackie. just got back.
Westminster Abbey was one of my favourite aspects of London. The fact that Henry the 8th's tomb is there was the main attraction, however I was amazed at the history and the other beauties of this amazing building. I really felt a sense of the depth of a spiritual experience while I was in there. There are tombs everywhere and a very strong sense of a higher power.
8 October 2009
Do the walk in the Gardens as well!!
The audio guides are the best I've seen. Narrarated by Jeremy Irons, they conveniently correspond to the numbered areas to view. It has an on/off switch, so you can pause when you want or travel at your own direction. No need to follow a planned route. I couldn't help but think of Princess Diana's Funeral there & wished there was some recognition of it. Perhaps there was, but i didn't see it. The Gardens are beautiful & well worth a walk through & sit. The Abbey is dark & historical & awe inspiring, but it is nice to sit outside in the gardens & cloisters to rest your feet & have an moment of reflection amongst the beautiful plantings.
5 October 2009
Disappointing and overpriced
Even though I am a lover of history, art, and architecture, I must take the minority view that Westminster Abbey was a disappointment. Yes, it's tombs and monuments make it a "Who's Who" of British history and culture... and yes, it is an impressive building. But, frankly, I would not list it anywhere near the top of my list of the most awe-inspiring churches and cathedrals that I have seen in the course of many years of travel. I felt that the admission price of 15 pounds (nearly $50 US for the 2 of us) was overpriced. Never in my life have I paid such a price to visit a church. Is the Anglican Church milking the Abbey for all it's worth, or have they set the admission so high in hopes of cutting down on the high tourist volume? If the later is the case, it hasn't helped. Which brings me to my next complaint, the abbey is so jammed with tourists (you truly have to squeeze through the crowds in some tight spots) that you lose the sense of being in a church. Finally, I am very respectful of restrictions on photography in churches... after all it is a place of worship. But after paying that admission price, and seeing the hordes of visitors trooping through the place, the restriction seemed ridiculous. Non-flash photography would not have distracted one iota from its dignity (or lack thereof).
5 October 2009
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Events at Westminster Abbey
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Classic FM Music Makers Charitable Trust Christmas Concert
Music15 Dec 2009 to 15 Dec 2009
A varied selection of seasonal choral music and congregational carols interspersed with readings from Classic FM presenters
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Advent Lecture 2009: Dante and the Human Journey: Heaven
Lecture17 Dec 2009 to 17 Dec 2009
Dante's great poem about his imagined journey through Hell, Purgatory and Heaven formed the Western imagination of what comes after death. Nowadays, we tend to be more concerned about how we live before we die. In these three Advent lectures, they shall examine what Dante has to teach us about our human journey in this life - how we experience now something of hell, purgatory and heaven.
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Advent Lecture 2009: Dante and the Human Journey: Hell
Lecture1 Dec 2009 to 1 Dec 2009
Dante's great poem about his imagined journey through Hell, Purgatory and Heaven formed the Western imagination of what comes after death. Nowadays, we tend to be more concerned about how we live before we die. In these three Advent lectures, they shall examine what Dante has to teach us about our human journey in this life - how we experience now something of hell, purgatory and heaven.
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Advent Lecture 2009: Dante and the Human Journey: Purgatory
Lecture8 Dec 2009 to 8 Dec 2009
Dante's great poem about his imagined journey through Hell, Purgatory and Heaven formed the Western imagination of what comes after death. Nowadays, we tend to be more concerned about how we live before we die. In these three Advent lectures, they shall examine what Dante has to teach us about our human journey in this life - how we experience now something of hell, purgatory and heaven.
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