Westminister Abbey

Westminister Abbey

The Abbey is in the heart of London. Westminster Abbey is one of the not to miss London attractions in your London day tour. This Gothic Structure of Westminster Abbey is one of the prime example of the early medieval architecture. 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. A treasure house of paintings, stained glass, pavements, textiles and other artefacts, Westminster Abbey is also the place where some of the most significant people in the nation's history are buried or commemorated. Taken as a whole the tombs and memorials comprise the most significant single collection of monumental sculpture anywhere in the United Kingdom.

The Abbey has a fine series of monumental brasses dating from the late 13th century onwards. A brass consists of engraved metal plates, shaped and cut to fit into a matrix prepared for them on a tomb.  Brasses are important for the history of costume and armor. The great pavement in front of the High Altar of Westminster Abbey is a unique and remarkable object. The complexity and subtlety of the design and workmanship can be seen nowhere else on this scale. Westminster Abbey is steeped in more than a thousand years of history. Benedictine monks first came to this site in the middle of the tenth century, establishing a tradition of daily worship which continues to this day. The Abbey has been the coronation church since 1066 and is the final resting place of seventeen monarchs. The present church is one of the most important Gothic buildings in the country, with the medieval shrine of an Anglo-Saxon saint still at its heart. The Library and Monument Room houses the important (and growing) collections of archives, printed books and manuscripts belonging to the Dean and Chapter of Westminster, providing a centre for their study and for research into all aspects of the Abbey's long and varied history.

ABBEY ATTRACTIONS:

VISITORS INFORMATION:
Westminster Abbey is usually open to visitors from Monday to Saturday throughout the year. On Sundays and religious holidays such as Easter and Christmas, the Abbey is open for worship only.

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 languages
Toilets

Tours and demonstrations:
Educational visits accepted
Guided tours available for individuals
Guided tours available for groups

Booking and payment details:
American Express  & MasterCard accepted
Groups accepted & Special group rates
Sterling travellers' cheques accepted
Maestro accepted
Visa accepted

Accessibility:
Guide dogs permitted
Facilities for hearing & visually impaired visitors
Ramp/level access  &  Toilets for disabled visitors

Prices for Westminster Abbey