The Abbey in brief

Westminster Abbey, with over a 1,000 years of history is arguably Britain’s most famous church. The oldest parts of the church date from the reign of King Edward the Confessor who re-founded the Benedictine Monastery (consecrated in 1065) and had his royal palace built next to it, making Westminster the royal and spiritual centre of the nation.

Much of the existing structure dates from the rebuilding ordered by King Henry III in the 13th century, in the more flamboyant French Gothic.

The Abbey has been the setting for every Coronation since 1066 and for numerous other royal celebrations, including sixteen royal weddings.

Surrounding the shrine of Edward the Confessor are also tombs of various Medieval Kings and Queens including Edward I, Henry V and Richard II with his wife Anne of Bohemia.

The Lady Chapel was rebuilt in the reign of King Henry VII, a Perpendicular Gothic architectural marvel, which is also the resting place of the half sister queens: Mary Tudor and Elizabeth I.

There are over 3,300 burials and 600 memorials within the Abbey, including those of many important figures in British history.

visiting the abbey

A visit to the Abbey is a journey back in time through celebrations, crisis, conflicts and successes of the nation. The tour covers the history of the Monastery and the Abbey after the Reformation, its architecture, the Coronation ceremony and the Coronation Chair, the Grave of the Unknown Warrior, notable politicians, scientist & authors, the Henry VII Chapel, side chapels and funerary monuments. Protagonists: Edward the Confessor, Henry III, Richard II, Henry VII, Mary Queen of Scots, Mary Tudor, Elizabeth I, Chaucer, Sir Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin, George Friderik Handel, Charles Dickens and many more…

For group visits:

• Duration approximately 2 hours

• Meeting in front of the West Front by the Abbey Shop

• Cost: Adult ticket tour £15 - pre-booked via Eventbrite or by directly contacting me + Adult ticket entry to the Abbey £18 - this is paid on the day upon entry. My groups do not have to queue at the North entrance. We access the Abbey via Dean’s Yard, where I purchase everyone’s ticket at the ticket office.

• Optional: Queen's Diamond Jubilee Galleries entry £5

For dates check calendar below.

Private booking visits:

• Duration approximately 2 hours

• Meeting in front of the West Front by the Abbey Shop

• Cost: Contact me for tour quote and booking. Entry to the Abbey: adult £18; children £7; Families - 1 adult and 1 child £18 - this is paid on the day upon entry. My groups do not have to queue at the North entrance. We access the Abbey via Dean’s Yard, where I purchase entry ticket at the ticket office.

• Optional: Queen's Diamond Jubilee Galleries entry £5

For private bookings please use my contact page: contact