How to Buy Tickets for Westminster Abbey

Planning your visit in advance is essential to make the most of your experience. You will need to know many things to best organize your visit, such as how to purchase tickets for theWestminster Abbey, opening hours, and how to get there. Fortunately, you can find all the necessary information in our detailed guide to buying tickets for Westminster.

For those in a hurry – How to purchase tickets for Westminster Abbey: unless you enjoy spending your holidays waiting in long lines, we highly recommend booking your entrance ticket to Westminster Abbey in advance here. Or, if you want to learn more about the history of the abbey, book a guided tour here.

Best Ways to Purchase Westminster Tickets

As one of London’s most iconic attractions, the Westminster Abbey welcomes a large number of tourists every day and offers several ticket purchase options. It is important to understand each of these options, as they can affect your overall experience at the attraction. Below, we will explain where to buy tickets for Westminster and what is included with each option.

1. Buy on site (not recommended)

Unlike other London attractions, it is still possible to buy tickets for Westminster in person on the same day of your visit. However, we do not recommend following this procedure due to the disadvantages it brings. Not only will you have to wait in line to purchase tickets, which wastes precious time during your London holiday, but you might also risk having to wait for the next available entry time. Tickets for this popular attraction are limited, so waiting until the last minute to buy them carries an inherent risk.

2. Buy online

Instead of waiting until you arrive, we recommend booking your Westminster Abbey tickets online in advance. Booking tickets is easy and allows you to select the exact time of your visit, so you can plan the rest of your sightseeing accordingly. “Skip-the-line” tickets for Westminster can be purchased on the official abbey website. However, these tickets are non-refundable. For this reason, we suggest booking your tickets through this link, as they can be canceled up to 24 hours in advance with a full refund at the same price. Plans can change when traveling and knowing you have this flexibility brings peace of mind.

3. Book a guided tour (recommended)

Visitors who want to get the most out of their trip to Westminster will be glad to know that there are several options for booking a guided tour. The Abbey offers two guided tours: the Highlights Tour and the Verger-guided tour. Both tours include behind-the-scenes areas that are usually off-limits to general visitors. The Highlights Tour can be booked via the official website, while the Verger-guided tour must be booked in person on the day. Both tours have limited spots and are held only on certain days. However, there is another option that runs much more frequently, and that is to book this guided tour. With this tour, a professional tour guide will accompany you through the abbey and you will also benefit from “skip-the-line” tickets for Westminster, for a smoother visit.

4. Purchase a Tourist Pass

If you plan to fill your time in London with lots of sightseeing, you might want to consider purchasing a London Pass. Like other city passes, this city pass is a great way to save money while sightseeing, as it offers free entry to a long list of iconic London tourist attractions. Besides admission to Westminster, pass holders have access to sights such as Buckingham Palace and the View from the Shard. The pass also includes a daily ticket for the Uber Boat by Thames Clippers, which you can use as transport throughout the day.

Useful Information for Visiting Westminster

What Is the Best Time to Visit Westminster?

Popular tourist attractions like Westminster can become very crowded, even with pre-booked entry times. That’s why it’s worth considering when to plan your visit if you want a pleasant and peaceful experience. Early morning is generally the best time to visit the abbey, as you’ll arrive before most other visitors. Visiting in the afternoon, just before closing time, can also be helpful since the number of people inside tends to decrease at that point. As for which day of the week to visit, you shouldn’t notice much difference in visitor numbers between weekdays. Saturday is understandably the busiest day at the abbey, while it is closed on Sundays.

Westminster Opening Hours

Westminster is open every day of the week except Sunday. However, the abbey is also closed on certain days throughout the year, so it’s important to check the calendar on the official website to make sure it will be open on the day you wish to visit. The general opening hours of Westminster usually run from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm. However, these hours can also vary, and there are days when entry ends at 1:30 pm or 2:00 pm, so be sure to check online. The opening hours for other parts of the complex, such as the café, kiosk, and souvenir shop, are independent of general admission and can be found on the official website.

How to Get to Westminster

Tourists have several options for getting to Westminster on the day of their visit. Thanks to its central location, close to other famous London attractions, you might not have to go far to reach the abbey. However, you’ll probably need to use public transportation to get there, so we’ll show you the available options. The exact route to Westminster will depend on where you are in this large city, so we’ll just highlight the most useful options.

You can reach Westminster by underground by taking the Circle, Jubilee, or District lines and getting off at Westminster station. Another option is to take RB1, RB2, or RB6 Thames Clippers ferries and get off at Westminster Pier. Lastly, there are many city buses that pass through this area of London, but buses 11, 24, 88, 148, and 211 all stop at Westminster bus stops.

How Do Tickets for Westminster Work?

Tickets for major tourist attractions are often overly complex and confusing, but fortunately that’s not the case with tickets for Westminster. There is only one type of ticket for visiting the abbey, so you don’t have to choose which parts to visit. However, during the booking process you can choose some extras, such as a guided tour or a tour guide. When booking, you’ll select a day for your visit and a time slot from those available. Note that children under five years old do not need a ticket. Once your tickets are confirmed, you will receive them by email and you can present them on the day of your visit, either on your smartphone or printed. A multimedia guide is included in the ticket price and is provided at the entrance.

How Much Does a Ticket to Westminster Cost

The cost of a ticket to Westminster depends on what you want to do. For tourists in general who want to visit all areas accessible to visitors, the following ticket prices apply:

• £25.00 for adults
• £22.00 for concession tickets (over 65s and students with valid ID)
• £11.00 for children aged 6 to 17
• £25.00 for a family ticket (1 adult and 1 child)
• Free for children under 5 years old

It is also possible to purchase two different tours offered by the abbey, the Highlights Tour and the Verger-guided tour, each with its own costs. The Highlights Tour costs £19 for adults, concessions, and students over 65, while the children’s ticket costs £8. The Verger-guided tours have a fixed cost of £10 per person.

Best Hotels for Westminster

Choosing to stay near Westminster in London is an excellent decision if you want to visit many attractions during your trip. By staying in this area of Inner London, you’ll be able to easily walk to the main sights of the city and take advantage of great public transport options to explore the rest of the city. Although there are many fantastic accommodation options, let us recommend a few to simplify your search.

• The Guardsman is a fantastic new luxury hotel in the Westminster district, ideal for travelers looking for a special stay. The rooms and suites at this five-star hotel feature luxurious design and plenty of high-quality comforts, while guests can also enjoy dishes at the hotel’s in-house restaurant.
• Sanctuary House Hotel is a cozy and affordable option for those seeking comfort and value for money. Located less than five minutes’ walk from Westminster, this three-star hotel offers comfortable and elegant rooms, as well as a traditional pub on the ground floor.
• It’s always difficult to find budget accommodation in central London, which is why the Walrus Bar and Hostel is a convenient choice. Located across the Thames, near Waterloo station, this hostel is a 15-minute walk from the abbey and offers clean and welcoming rooms at great rates. 

Current Exhibitions at Westminster

Throughout the year, Westminster hosts many different events, services, and special exhibitions that may interest visitors. Many of these events are not included with regular tickets, so it’s usually necessary to purchase separate tickets if you wish to participate. There are too many different activities in a year to list them all here, but you can find them all on the official website.

Security at Westminster

To make sure you don’t have any problems when you arrive at Westminster, it’s useful to know the rules and security procedures in place for visitors. Before entering the abbey, all visitors must go through a security check similar to those at airports, during which luggage will be inspected. Visitors are not allowed to bring bulky items, such as suitcases, backpacks, or wheeled bags, inside the abbey. This is important to know since there is no luggage storage on site, so make sure to leave them elsewhere before you arrive. While personal photography is allowed inside the church during regular visits, it is not permitted during services. Video recording, flash photography, selfie sticks, and tripods are prohibited. Finally, since it is a place of worship, please make sure to dress respectfully during your visit.

Visiting Westminster with a Disability

Westminster has introduced measures to make the site more accessible for visitors with disabilities and mobility issues. However, it is important to remember that this is a historic site, which is why some sections of the abbey have limited accessibility for visitors with reduced mobility. Visitors with disabilities are entitled to a reduced ticket price, while a companion or caregiver can enter Westminster free of charge.

People with reduced mobility are advised to use the North Door as it has a small sloped step. Inside the abbey, elevators are also available to reach the State Apartments. Only powered wheelchairs and mobility scooters compatible with the elevators are allowed.

Wheelchairs are available on site for visitors who need them. Multimedia guides are equipped with descriptive audio guides for visitors with visual impairments, while printed transcripts and video tours in British Sign Language are available for those with hearing impairments. A sound amplification system is also installed throughout the abbey building. Guide dogs and assistance dogs are the only animals allowed inside the abbey.

Curiosities about Westminster

What is Westminster?

Westminster is an abbey church that hosts the coronations of British monarchs and is the burial place of thousands of prominent British figures.

When was Westminster built?

The current Gothic-style project for Westminster started in 1245 and continued in several phases until the end of the 14th century.

Who built Westminster Abbey?

The original Westminster Abbey was built under the reign of King Edgar, but the current Gothic version was begun by King Henry III.

Where is Westminster Abbey located?

The abbey is located at Dean’s Yard in the City of Westminster, in central London.

Conclusions

Purchasing tickets for Westminster is an essential step to truly enjoy your visit to this extraordinary attraction in London. Choosing the best option for you, such as buying online or booking a guided tour, will help you save time and better plan your sightseeing itinerary. Remember to check opening hours and adjust your visit according to tourist flows. With the information and tips provided in this guide, you’ll be ready to experience an unforgettable visit to Westminster. Have a great trip!