Westminster Abbey

Westminster Abbey featuring heritage architecture, night scenes and a church or cathedral

Search stays

Walk down the aisle where the Duchess of York and Princess Diana wowed the watching world.

In a land of fairy-tale kings and queens, Westminster Abbey is where the royal 'happily-ever after' was sealed for many of them. This elegant abbey, opposite the Houses of Parliament, is where England's monarchs come to be crowned and married. It is also the last resting-place of many of the country's most famous rulers – Edward the Confessor, Henry III and Elizabeth I have tombs here. But it is best known for the beautiful modern-day royal weddings that have captured the world's imagination from the ruling Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, to Lady Diana Spencer and Prince Charles, to the recent marriage of Prince William and the Catherine Middleton.

Parts of Westminster Abbey are very old – almost as old as the line of monarchs that have ruled England. The first religious building was an abbey for a monastery of Benedictine monks, built around 960 AD by King Edgar. Edward the Confessor started rebuilding this 'St. Peter's Abbey' in 1042 AD, although it wasn't finished until 1090 AD. Parts of that first abbey and monastery are still visible. It was William the Conqueror who finished it, after he and his Norman army had defeated the English king Harold. But most of the building you see was only completed between the 13th and 18th centuries, in Gothic style.

This royal church not only tells the story of England's kings and queens. It has become the highest honour for an Englishman to be buried here, and many of the country's finest writers and most famous politicians can be found here. William Chaucer, the famous medieval poet is buried in 'Poet's Corner', which also houses Edmund Spenser and Alfred Tennyson, and monuments to Shakespeare and Lord Byron. Both Winston Churchill and Diana, Princess of Wales have had funerals here.

As well as being a beautiful religious building, powerfully connected to English History, Westminster Abbey also has a museum. This is in a crypt underneath it, one of the oldest parts of the building. Here there are collections of the personal belongings of the royals, as well as funeral effigies and items used in royal coronations. There's even a 400-year old royal corset worn by Elizabeth I on display. It seems that, if you want to get close the real-lives and dramas of England's kings and queens, Westminster Abbey is a place without equal in the kingdom.

Plan a trip to see Westminster Abbey

Hotel Riu Plaza London Victoria
St. James' Court, A Taj Hotel, London
The Athenaeum Hotel & Residences
Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Reviews of Westminster Abbey

4.3
Top destination
5 - Excellent
172
" "5 - Excellent 46.612466124661246%
4 - Good
161
" "4 - Good 43.63143631436314%
3 - Okay
29
" "3 - Okay 7.8590785907859075%
2 - Disappointing
2
" "2 - Disappointing 0.5420054200542005%
1 - Terrible
5
" "1 - Terrible 1.3550135501355014%

3/5 - Okay

Verified traveller
17 Sep 2019

Don’t go on a Sunday, it’s shut to visitors

3/5 - Okay

Verified traveller
3 Aug 2019

£23 per adult for admission is way too expensive so we didn't bother.Was prepared to pay up to £15.

5/5 - Excellent

Mandy
3 Jun 2019

If you love history, this is a must! All the most famous people are either in a tomb here or have a memorial! If you love history but don't understand it, that's ok too. They give you headphones and a tablet that explains literally everything as you walk through! I was most excited to see Mary, Queen of Scots's tomb!

1/5 - Terrible

Verified traveller
20 May 2019

Did not go to Westminster Abbey

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller
5 May 2019

The reason for our visit, CASD 50 recognition.

1/5 - Terrible

John
20 Apr 2019

Ichabod if ever He was there, you must be born again.

Popular places to visit


Top Hotel Deals

Zedwell Piccadilly Circus
Zedwell Piccadilly Circus
3 out of 5
Great Windmill Street, London, England
Zedwell Piccadilly Circus
Strand Palace Hotel
Strand Palace Hotel
4 out of 5
372 The Strand, London, England
Strand Palace Hotel
Park Plaza Westminster Bridge London
Park Plaza Westminster Bridge London
4 out of 5
200 Westminster Bridge Road, London, England
Park Plaza Westminster Bridge London
The Tower Hotel, London
The Tower Hotel, London
4 out of 5
St Katharine's Way, London, England
The Tower Hotel, London
Marlin Waterloo
Marlin Waterloo
4 out of 5
111 Westminster Bridge Road, London, England
Marlin Waterloo
The Grand at Trafalgar Square
The Grand at Trafalgar Square
4 out of 5
8 Northumberland Avenue, London, England
The Grand at Trafalgar Square
Assembly Covent Garden
Assembly Covent Garden
3.5 out of 5
27 - 31 Charing Cross Road, London, England
Assembly Covent Garden
Park Plaza County Hall London
Park Plaza County Hall London
4 out of 5
1 Addington Street, London, England
Park Plaza County Hall London
The Royal Horseguards, London
The Royal Horseguards, London
4 out of 5
2 Whitehall Court, London, England
The Royal Horseguards, London
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.