Westminster Abbey, London

Guided Tours

Verger-led tours of the Abbey are available, in English, for individuals or family groups only (and not for larger parties or school visits). The tours last for approximately 90 minutes and include a tour of the Shrine (containing the tomb of Saint Edward the Confessor), the Royal Tombs, Poets’ Corner, the Cloisters and the Nave.

Verger-led tours are limited to 10 people. The tour times are different each day, so please ask about availability on arrival at the Abbey.

Price: £5.00 per person (in addition to the entrance charge).

Groups

Guided Tours can be accommodated during normal opening hours, provided the group does not exceed 30 and is always accompanied by a Blue Badge Guide. For further information please email: tours@westminster-abbey.org

Because many special services take place at the Abbey, tour details are subject to change, sometimes unavoidably without notice. If you are making a special visit to the Abbey, please phone beforehand and check opening times.

School Visits

All UK Schools can book at educationuk@westminster-abbey.org Further information about UK School visits can be found at www.westminster-abbey.org/education/uk-schools

For overseas school groups, there are two kinds of tour available, unguided and guided. Tours undertaken without pre-booking do not qualify for a discount and the normal concessionary rates apply. To pre-book, visit the website at: www.westminster-abbey.org/education/overseas-schools

Times

Sundays
8.00am Holy Communion (BCP)
10.00am Choral Matins
11.15am Sung Eucharist
3.00pm Choral Evensong
5.45pm Organ Recital
6.30pm Evening Service

Weekdays
7.30am Morning Prayer (9.00am Saturday and Bank Holidays)
8.00am Holy Communion
12.30pm Holy Communion
5.00pm Choral Evensong (3.00 pm Saturday only (5.00 pm June - September). Evening Prayer on Wednesdays)

Everyone is welcome to all regular services. There is no charge to attend services and you do not need to reserve a seat in advance, although it is advisable to arrive early for some services. A collection is taken at Sunday services with the proceeds going to nominated organisations and charities.

Link

Worship page

Food and Drink:
Open for breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea, the Cellarium cafe and Terrace continues the Benedictine tradition of providing hospitality. The Cellarium, part of the 14th century fabric of Westminster Abbey, was where the monks kept their stores of food and drink. It is now a cafe over two floors with a terrace and outdoor seating. Benugo also operate a kiosk on the Sanctuary outside the West Towers of the Abbey. There is an abundance of freshly prepared sandwiches and snacks, fairly traded coffee and loose leaf tea, and a fantastic range of cakes and muffins freshly baked at the Benugo bakery.
www.westminster-abbey.org/visit-us/food-and-drink

Shop:
The Abbey shop is located outside the West Door as you exit the Abbey. The Westminster Abbey Shop sells a range of merchandise inspired by the life, history and architecture of Westminster Abbey, and reflecting its location as a visitor attraction in central London. The online shop showcases a selection of items available for purchase. All purchases made in the shop or online help with maintaining the fabric and mission of the Abbey.
shop.westminster-abbey.org/index.php

Lavatories and baby care:
Public lavatories are situated in the Cloisters.

Wheeled access:
Some areas of the Abbey are unavoidably inaccessible to people permanently confined to wheelchairs. Therefore, we offer free admission to such visitors and their carers. Visitors should enter via the North Door, where there is a small ramped step.
We have our own wheelchairs that are freely available to use. Speak to a Marshal on your arrival and they will arrange it. If you prefer to use your own wheelchair, you will have access to most areas of the Abbey. A stair climber is available which can be used with an electric wheelchair for access to the Henry VII Chapel.

Visually impaired visitors:
A Touch Tour is available for visually impaired visitors in large-print or Braille. We also provide large-print and Braille versions of the Welcome Leaflet for visitors to the Abbey, a Braille booklet covering St Margaret�s Church and tactile maps in Braille of the Abbey.

If you would like to do a Touch Tour of the Abbey on your own there is no need to book in advance. However, you might like to book the services of a volunteer guide, which does need to be pre-booked. We also ask groups to book in advance. Depending on the size of the group, some may require more than one guide.

Visitors with hearing difficulties:
The Abbey is also equipped with a hearing loop system that covers the whole of the Abbey main building. This system is used at all Services.