Westminster Abbey London iconic British historic landmark visit guide

A Guide to Planning Your Visit to Westminster Abbey in London

Trying to do a recap of a visit to Westminster Abbey is a daunting task. You find yourself facing the challenge of recapping over a thousand years of history. They bill themselves as “a royal church” but that is just beginning of all there is to see and do when you tour Westminster Abbey. 

History of Westminster Abbey London

A World Heritage Site, a visit to Westminster Abbey in London can take a large portion of a day. The Abbey is the final resting place for several former Kings like Henry III, Edward II, Richard II and Henry V. Beyond that, that are over 3,000 history makers buried on the grounds and memorialized with statues, memorials and wall tablets displayed throughout.

The current building that makes up present day Westminster Abbey dates back to 1245. The site dates back almost 300 more years to around 960 when a Benedictine monastery was established on the site. Westminster Abbey has been the Coronation church for each British monarch, 40 in all so far dating back to 1066. The building is literally and figuratively packed full of history.

Among the royalty at Westminster Abbey is Edward V, who reigned for less than three months in 1483.
Among the royalty at Westminster Abbey is Edward V, who reigned for less than three months in 1483.

Getting Ready for Your Visit

With so much to see, you might consider doing your homework ahead of your visit. One pro tip to consider if you’re going to Westminster Abbey is make a list of the must see memorials and markers that you want to see prior to arrival. Westminster makes this homework easy and kind of fun. You can take a virtual tour online to get a sense of what you’ll have the opportunity to see, along with the beauty of this magnificent structure. 

In our case, we were most interested in seeing the kings and queens along with a few other specific people. Touring with a purpose to get the most of your time during your visit is a must because you could easily spend a couple days wandering around and reading all the details. With so much to see in and around London, two days at a single destination is just not feasible for most people. 

Historic Westminster Abbey’s website is a great resource for planning your visit.  In our case, we also enlisted the help of a super tour guide for our time at the Abbey. Should you decide to go down a similar path, we strongly recommend you connect with a Blue Badge Tourist Guide. This certification requires that the guide is trained for over two years and must pass a test to gain such certification. 

Our Blue Badge guide helped us plan on time at Westminster, asking questions about our interests in advance. From specific royal families to famous musicians, actors and scientists, we provided some specific names and interests which allowed him to map our time inside the Abbey efficiently. 

Still an Active Church

First and foremost, Westminster Abbey is a church. They hold services there every day, and guests are welcome to join.  The Abbey is also a library and research facility. They make available by appointment their historic collections of books, manuscripts, photographs and more.

As mentioned, The Abbey is also regarded as the royal church, and with such designation this site has been the witness to so much history over the centuries. Every Coronation ceremony for the British crown since 1066 has occurred at this historic site. One of the first things we saw on arrival inside was a historic piece that has played a part of every one of those Coronations – the Coronation Chair.

The Coronation Chair is on permanent display at Westminster Abbey. This chair has been a part of every coronation since 1308. The Abbey itself has been a part of every coronation since 1066.
The Coronation Chair is on permanent display at Westminster Abbey. This chair has been a part of every coronation since 1308. The Abbey itself has been a part of every coronation since 1066.

This beat up wooden chair, which looks highly uncomfortable, plays a big part with each Coronation. Throughout the ceremony, this is where the king or queen, including King Charles II, sits. It is behind glass, so not easy to see but if you look closely you can see where people have carved their names or initials into the chair and other graffiti  from over the centuries. 

Royal History of Westminster Abbey

In recent years, Westminster Abbey has been a familiar site for royal funerals for Queen Elizabeth II and her mother, as well as for Princess Diana. While we remember those because how recent they were and the fact we watched them on TV, the reality is those royal funerals are just the tip of the iceberg of what has happened at this facility. The first royal funeral took place in 1307, with the ceremony for Edward I and Eleanor of Castile. 

The same can be said for royal weddings. Iconic weddings viewed by people from all around the world have been commonplace at The Abbey. Throughout history, royal weddings have taken place here, including Queen Elizabeth II annd Prince Phillip and future king Prince William and Catherine.

Walking through Westminster Abbey seemed familiar, because of all the times we’d seen it on TV over the years. This iconic view shows off the Quire section of The Abbey, with the worship stalls on either side. You can also see the iconic fan ceiling above.
Walking through Westminster Abbey seemed familiar, because of all the times we’d seen it on TV over the years. This iconic view shows off the Quire section of The Abbey, with the worship stalls on either side. You can also see the iconic fan ceiling above.

Royal graves are plentiful at Westminster. Recent deaths of the royal family have not been entombed here, with Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip buried at Windsor Castle, about an hours drive outside of London. But the list is long of royals buried at Westminster. A total of 18 are enshrined there; Edward the Confessor, Henry III, Edward I, Edward III, Richard II, Henry V, Edward V, Henry VII, Edward VI, Mary I, Mary Queen of Scots, Elizabeth I, James I, Charles II, Mary II, William III, Queen Anne, and George II.

There are many beautiful vaults on display. One of the more notable ones is Elizabeth I, daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn.
There are many beautiful vaults on display. One of the more notable ones is Elizabeth I, daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn.

Famous Graves at Westminster Abbey

The graves and shrines that you can visit span well beyond the royalty. Famous people honored at Westminster Abbey is a who’s who of historic figures. 

Literary giant Charles Dickens is one of the many famous graves you can visit at Westminster Abbey.
Literary giant Charles Dickens is one of the many famous graves you can visit at Westminster Abbey.

Literary giants can be found through, including Charles Dickens. Perhaps known best for his short story A Christmas Carol, Dickens was a longtime London resident and is buried at The Abbey.  William Shakespeare is buried at Stratford On Avon, but his work and his life are memorialized at The Abbey too. Jane Austin is buried here, along with many other famous authors from throughout history.

Shakespeare, who passed away in 1616 is memorialized at Westminster Abbey. He is buried at Stratford On Avon.
Shakespeare, who passed away in 1616 is memorialized at Westminster Abbey. He is buried at Stratford On Avon.

Music and pop culture is also well represented at Westminster Abbey too. Among the many to consider visiting from this category include composer George Frederic Handel and acclaimed actor Sir Laurence Olivier.

Famed actor Sir Laurence Olivier is memorialized along with other great musicians and entertainers at Westminster Abbey.
Famed actor Sir Laurence Olivier is memorialized along with other great musicians and entertainers at Westminster Abbey.

Come prepared to take tons of photos of famous people you’ve heard of your entire life, whose life and careers expand well beyond royalty. 

We think of Stephen Hawking as a character on TV’s Big Bang Theory, but his contribution to science is worthy of inclusion with the world best at Westminster Abbey.
We think of Stephen Hawking as a character on TV’s Big Bang Theory, but his contribution to science is worthy of inclusion with the world best at Westminster Abbey.

This was especially enjoyable, seeing side by side great scientists from centuries ago along with greats from the recent past.  The brilliant work of Sir Isaac Newton is honored at his grave inside The Abbey. As fans of the American TV sitcom The Big Bang Theory, we were pleased to see a familiar marker. Physicist Stephen Hawking was buried at Westminster following his death in 2018.

The final resting place of Sir Isaac Newton is at Westminster Abbey with an impressive display.
The final resting place of Sir Isaac Newton is at Westminster Abbey with an impressive display.

Political Heroes Memorialized

Winston Churchill is not buried at Westminster Abbey, though his family was offered that distinction. Winston declined, reportedly saying that there are many people already at The Abbey that he didn’t get along with in life, and did not want to spend eternity with them. However, Churchill is remembered with a memorial. If you’re a Churchill fan, check out some of our other England trips where he is featured.

Another political figure memorialized at Westminster that we found interesting was Nelson Mandela following his passing in 2013. Mandela was an anti-apartheid champion in South Africa, renowned for his commitment to peach. His marker reads “Forgiveness Reconciliation”.

“Forgiveness Reconciliation” are the words engraved to symbolize the life of Nelson Mandela, memorialized at Westminster Abbey.
“Forgiveness Reconciliation” are the words engraved to symbolize the life of Nelson Mandela, memorialized at Westminster Abbey.

Of course the two world wars play a significant role in British history, and that is also very noticeable throughout Westminster. It is also very touching the reverence shown to the United States via a number of memorials devoted to the United States service men and women who served during those conflicts. There are several memorials worth seeing, including an impressive one to US President Franklin Roosevelt. 

There are several memorials devoted to United States Armed Forces, who served in both WW I and WW II. In addition, this memorial is specific to President Rsosevelt for his leadership during WW II.
There are several memorials devoted to United States Armed Forces, who served in both WW I and WW II. In addition, this memorial is specific to President Rsosevelt for his leadership during WW II.

It might seem odd walking on grave markers – it did for us. It would be nearly impossible to navigate through Westminster if you didn’t. But there is one grave marker where you are not allowed to walk over. In fact, if you have a chance to watch past events held at Westminster, you will notice a black marker surrounded by red flowers that is blocked off even for coronations and funerals as sacred ground where people cannot pass. 

Much like the reverence you see at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Washington DC’s Arlington Cemetery, the same is true for its British counterpart at The Abbey. The Tomb of the Unknown Warrior has been in place since 1920, when a British soldier who fought in France during World War I was interred at this memorial. 

The British Tomb of the Unknown Warrior is sacred ground at Westminster Abbey. While other markers can be walked on, this specially designated grave is set aside.
The British Tomb of the Unknown Warrior is sacred ground at Westminster Abbey. While other markers can be walked on, this specially designated grave is set aside.

With all that we’ve covered in this post, we’ve barely scratched the surface of what you can see and do at Westminster Abbey. We took a large number of photos, as literally everywhere you turn and look you see history.

We spent several hours at The Abbey, and could easily have spent much more time. If you’re considering a visit, plan ahead and that includes booking your tickets in advance. You will save yourself a lot of time by avoiding the walk up line for tickets, as obviously this is a large tourist attraction in Central London.

Getting there is easy, if you’re using public transportation. The closest subway stop is the Westminster Station, which is only a few minutes walk then to The Abbey.

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