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What days are Westminster Abbey closed?

Westminster Abbey Opening Times
  • Monday to Friday: 9:30 AM to 4 PM (last entry at 3:30 PM)
  • Saturday: 9:00 AM to 4 PM (last entry at 1:00 PM)
  • Sunday: Closed for sightseeing.
  • Monday to Friday: 10:00 AM to 2:45 PM (last entry)
  • Saturday: 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM (last entry)
  • Sunday: Closed.
  • Apr to Oct: Tue, Wed, Thu, and Fri.




Westminster Abbey is primarily closed to tourists on Sundays and during significant religious holidays, as it remains an active place of daily worship. On Sundays, the Abbey is open exclusively for those attending scheduled church services, which are free and open to all, though sightseeing is not permitted during these times. Additionally, the Abbey may close or have restricted hours on short notice for special royal events, state funerals, or national celebrations. For instance, it traditionally closes to the public on Good Friday, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day. Prospective visitors are strongly encouraged to check the official "Opening Times" calendar on the Westminster Abbey website before their visit, as the schedule is frequently adjusted to accommodate weddings, memorial services, and the various liturgical requirements of the Church of England.

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Unless you're visiting the abbey for individual prayer, you will need to buy a ticket to enter Westminster Abbey. As the abbey is a working church, it may be closed partially or completely for events or ceremonies. It is better that you check the abbey's schedule and pre-book your online tickets to ensure entry.

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Is Westminster Abbey worth it? With its burial sites for kings, queens, writers, and scientists, its long, rich history, and its importance as a coronation site for English and British monarchs, Westminster Abbey is one of the most awe-inspiring churches in the world to visit.

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Westminster Abbey and Westminster Cathedral are two separate buildings. Westminster Abbey is an Anglican Church, whereas Westminster Cathedral is a Roman Catholic one. The two buildings are separated by 400m not to mention almost 1,000 years of history, with Westminster Cathedral consecrated in 1910.

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Pages in category Weddings at Westminster Abbey
  • Wedding of Prince Albert and Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon.
  • Wedding of Princess Alexandra and Angus Ogilvy.
  • Wedding of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson.
  • Wedding of Princess Anne and Mark Phillips.


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Visitors will be able to book a maximum of eight tickets per person, depending on availability. The Big Ben tour is not suitable for everyone. Visitors must be aged 11 and over and be comfortable climbing 334 steps and experiencing high noise levels from the clock mechanism and bells - earplugs will be provided.

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Around 3,330 people are buried at the abbey, among them some of the great figures of British history. They include Charles Dickens, Geoffrey Chaucer, Samuel Johnson, Rudyard Kipling, Alfred Tennyson, Henry Purcell, William Wilberforce, Laurence Olivier, Thomas Hardy and eight prime ministers.

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Westminster Abbey is an Anglican Church. Westminster Cathedral is a Roman Catholic Church, situated about 400 m (437 yd) west of the Abbey. The Cathedral site was reclaimed by the Benedictine monks who were the builders of Westminster Abbey and used as a market.

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11 Things You Can´t Miss in Westminster Abbey
  • The Lady Chapel. Walking through The Lady Chapel| ©Jim Dyson. ...
  • The Coronation Chair. The Coronation Chair| ©Can Pac Swire. ...
  • The Royal Tombs. Queen Elizabeth's Tomb| ©Jacob Truedson Demitz. ...
  • Poets' Corner. ...
  • The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. ...
  • Pyx Chamber. ...
  • The Choir. ...
  • The Cloisters Cloisters.


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The cost for this tour is £42 for adults, and £35 for seniors over 65 and full-time students, and £17 for children 5 -15, which includes admission to the Abbey and a slightly higher fee for the guide as the Abbey restrict the numbers allowed. Simple, really. Westminster Abbey. England's greatest building.

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The Big Ben tour is 90 minutes long so you must be comfortable completing the 334-step climb within this time. There will be limited seating at specific rest points.

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