{"id":10941,"date":"2022-11-10T10:02:06","date_gmt":"2022-11-10T10:02:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ulysses.travel\/westminster-abbey-london\/"},"modified":"2024-05-16T08:51:21","modified_gmt":"2024-05-16T08:51:21","slug":"westminster-abbey-london","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ulysses.travel\/en\/westminster-abbey-london\/","title":{"rendered":"Westminster Abbey in London"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Just a stone’s throw from Big Ben and the Parliament, Westminster Abbey is one of Captain Ulysses’ favorites in London. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A must-see for any visitor exploring the English capital!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u26a0\ufe0f Westminster Abbey is incredibly popular, <\/strong>and the queue at the entrance can be endlessly long. To save time<\/strong>, make sure to book your visit in advance with skip-the-line tickets for Westminster Abbey<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\ud83d\udca1 The Captain\u2019s tip<\/strong> \ud83d\udca1<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Want to know more about the history of London?<\/strong> Captain Ulysses highly recommends this free guided tour of the capital<\/a><\/mark>. It\u2019s up to you to choose how much you wish to tip the tour guide!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Looking for a hotel in London?<\/strong> Be sure to check out the Captain’s article: Where to stay in London? Advice & recommendations<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Brief history of Westminster Abbey<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The origins of Westminster Abbey<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Let’s go back in time to the 7th<\/sup> century, shall we? According to legend, Westminster Abbey (also known as St. Peter’s Collegiate Church) was founded in the year 616 on the very spot where a fisherman was said to have had visions of St. Peter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Later, in the 10th<\/sup> century, Saint Dustan (also called Dunstan of Canterbury) established here a community of Benedictine monks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the following century, King Edward the Confessor had a larger abbey dedicated it to St. Peter built on this very site.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Upon his death, William the Conqueror, Duke of Normandy, invaded England and seized the crown. In 1066, he was the first English king to be crowned in Westminster Abbey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The construction of Westminster Abbey<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In the 13th<\/sup> century, King Henry III decided to give Westminster Abbey a facelift and had it rebuilt in the Gothic style.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During the following centuries, the abbey underwent several renovations and modifications, notably during the Renaissance. The fa\u00e7ade, flanked by two Gothic towers, was completed in the 18th<\/sup> century under the direction of architect Nicholas Hawksmoor, a student of Christopher Wren, best known for designing Saint Paul’s Cathedral<\/a> and Kensington Palace<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"Westminster<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Westminster<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Royal Coronations<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Since William the Conqueror, all British monarchs have been crowned at Westminster Abbey, with the exception of Kings Edward V and Edward VIII. The abbey therefore witnessed 38 coronations over the centuries!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Closely linked to the lives of English monarchs, Westminster Abbey also hosted no less than 18 royal weddings!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A royal burial place<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Nearly 3,300 renowned personnalities are buried in Westminster Abbey, including many kings and queens, as well as members of the English royal family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Westminster Abbey also commemorates many historical figures (statesmen, writers, etc.), such as Charles Dickens, William Shakespeare and Isaac Newton.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Unesco World Heritage Site<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In 1985, the Abbey was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site (along with the Palace of Westminster and St. Margaret’s Church).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The architecture of Westminster Abbey in a few words<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Built in the 13th<\/sup> century in the flamboyant gothic style, Westminster Abbey is a wonderful example of medieval architecture. Although the abbey has been renovated and transformed over the centuries, it has retained an incredible architectural harmony.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The building follows more or less the layout of a cathedral (a central nave and a choir flanked by transepts), to which is added an ambulatory (= a circular corridor) and cloisters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Westminster<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Visiting Westminster Abbey<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Westminster Abbey is one of London’s most iconic landmarks: a must-see in the English capital!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Admission tickets include an audio guide. Captain Ulysses found it quite fascinating (which isn’t always the case with audioguides!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During your visit, be sure to take some time to admire:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Inside the church<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udc49 The nave<\/strong>: 10 meters wide and more than 30 meters high, the nave is where the faithful gather during religious ceremonies. It’s also where you’ll find the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier<\/strong>, where was buried an unidentified soldier who died in combat during the First World War.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udc49 Henry VII’s Chapel \/ The Lady Chape<\/em>l<\/strong>: with its spectacular fan-shaped vault and lace-like ornaments carved in the rock, the Lady Chapel<\/em> is a 16th<\/sup> century masterpiece. Queen Elizabeth I, as well as her sister, Mary I, are buried in this chapel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Lady
Ceiling of the Lady Chapel – Westminster Abbey<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udc49 Edward the Confessor’s Chapel<\/strong>: the remains of King Edward the Confessor, as well as 5 other kings and queens who reigned in the Middle Ages, are buried in this chapel. Be sure to have a look at King Edward’s Chair<\/strong> (also called Coronation Chair<\/em>), a legendary historical artifact on which (almost) all the English sovereigns have sat at their coronation since 1308.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udc49 Poets’ Corner<\/em>:<\/strong> located in the south transept of the abbey, Poets’ Corner contains the graves and memorials of many of the UK’s greatest writers, including Charles Dickens, Thomas Hardy, Rudyard Kipling, Jane Austen, William Blake, the Bront\u00eb sisters, Lord Byron, William Shakespeare and Oscar Wilde.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udc49 The Statesmen’s Corner<\/strong>: Statesmen’s Corner brings together commemorative plaques in honor of some of the United Kingdom’s greatest statesmen, such as Winston Churchill, Benjamin Dirsraeli, William Gladstone, Neville Chamberlain or Clement Attlee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udc49 Scientists’ Corner<\/strong>: Westminster Abbey also honors great British scientists. You will find plaques\/monuments in honor of Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin or Stephen Hawking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udc49 S t. Peter’s Crypt and Westminster Abbey Museum<\/strong>: St. Peter’s 11th<\/sup> century crypt now houses the Westminster Abbey Museum, which displays vast collections of medieval objects, including artifacts related to the coronation of British monarchs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Around the church<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udc49 The chapter house: <\/strong> to the south of the church, the chapter house, built in the 13th<\/sup> century, still displays frescoes dating from the 15th<\/sup> century. Octagonal in shape, it is famous for its medieval paintings and its mosaic floors dating from the 18th<\/sup> century.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udc49 The cloisters and gardens of Westminster Abbey<\/strong>: you will find 4 gardens around the church:
– Garth<\/em>: a garden where monks used to rest
– Little Cloister<\/em>: a cloister with a fountain reserved for people in convalescence
– College Garden<\/em>: the oldest garden in England, where the monks grew vegetables as well as medicinal plants
– St Catherine’s Garden<\/em>: a garden adjacent to the infirmary<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Westminster<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Access<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Getting to Westminster Abbey<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Westminster Abbey is located just a stone’s throw from the Thames, next to Big Ben and the Palace of Westminster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The nearest subway station<\/strong> is Westminster, served by the Circle, District and Jubilee lines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many bus lines<\/strong> also stop near the abbey: 3, 11, 12, 24, 29, 53, 70, 77, 77A, 88, 109, 148, 159, 170 and 211.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hop-on hop-off tourist buses<\/strong> also stop nearby and are handy to get around the city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udc49 More info: book your hop-on hop-off bus tour + river cruise<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Westminster Abbey opening hours<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Westminster Abbey is open Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. between September and April and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. between May and August. It is also open on Saturdays from 9am to 1pm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On Sundays, the abbey is reserved for religious services and therefore closed to tourists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Admission<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Be prepared: visiting Westminster Abbey isn’t exactly cheap, but it is worth every penny!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/td>Admission rates on site<\/strong><\/td>Admission rates online<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Adults<\/strong><\/td>24 \u00a3<\/td>22 \u00a3<\/td><\/tr>
Reduced rates
<\/strong>Students & visitors over 60<\/em><\/td>		21 \u00a3<\/td>19 \u00a3<\/td><\/tr>
Children 6 to 17 years old<\/strong><\/td>10 \u00a3<\/td>9 \u00a3<\/td><\/tr>
Family pass
<\/strong>1 adult & 1 child<\/em><\/td>		24 \u00a3
+ \u00a39 per additional child<\/td>		22 \u00a3
+ \u00a39 per additional child<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

FYI #1<\/strong>: as you can see in the table above, tickets booked online are less expensive than those purchased on site. You should therefore definitely consider buing your tickets online.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FYI #2<\/strong>: Westminster Abbey receives more than one million visitors per year. The queue at the entrance of the monument can be endless! All the more reason to book your tickets in advance!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udc49 Book your ticket to Westminster Abbey<\/a><\/mark><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\ud83d\udc4d London Pass & London Explorer Pass <\/strong>\ud83d\udc4d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Access to Westminster Abbey is also included in the London Pass and London Explorer Pass. Captain Ulysses has a soft spot for the former. It gives access to 80 attractions, including many of London’s most iconic museums and monuments (the Tower of London<\/a>, the Shard, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Kensington Palace<\/a>, Tower Bridge,<\/a> the Churchill War Rooms<\/a>, Thames river cruise, hop-on hop-off bus tour…). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s an investment that will definitely pay off quickly if you spend a few days in the English capital!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udc49 More info: London Pass<\/a><\/mark> | London Explorer Pass<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\ud83d\udc49 Skip the lines: book your tickets and visits in advance!<\/strong> <\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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\ud83d\udc49 Find the perfect place to stay in London!<\/h4>\n\n\n\n