The history of Westminster Abbey is the history of England itself--and a review really can't be pinched into a paragraph. The abbey was consecrated in December 1065 in fulfillment of a vow by Edward the Confessor. Ten months later, the English were defeated by William the Conqueror, whose great-grandson Henry III began rebuilding the old Norman abbey in 1245. This is the Gothic structure that stands today, although in the undercroft several remnants of the older building survive: the Pyx Chamber and an oak door, reputedly the most ancient in England. The new abbey included a Chapter House, later decorated with scenes of the Apocalypse and Last Judgment. But there are many other jewels in this crown: the tomb of Edward the Confessor behind the High Altar (only to be viewed on a verger-guided tour); that of Queen Elizabeth I and Mary, Queen of Scots; those of the ennobled; the fan-vaulted roof of The Lady Chapel; the poppy-bordered grave of the Unknown Warrior; Poets’ Corner, including Chaucer’s tomb; the cloister and garden; the Coronation Chair (inconsiderately carved with the initials of 18th-century schoolboys), in which the monarchs of the realm have sat for their investiture ever since the coronation of Edward II in 1308. High in the abbey’s triforium, The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Galleries (£5) display the funeral shield of Henry V and the Liber Regalis, a 14th-century illuminated manuscript that established the procedure for a coronation—which, in its broader strokes, still is followed. Despite these treasures and the beautiful view along the length of the nave, photography is prohibited—the fear being that, if a fumbled camera were to drop to the abbey floor more than fifty feet below, there would be an insurmountable insurance problem. Finally, evensong is at 5 pm, which allows the visitor actually to sit in the stalls behind the choir. But get in line at least 45 minutes early—and notice the tomb of Isaac Newton in front of the choir screen as you exit.

Stunning abbey packed full of historical statues, amazing tombs and beautiful architecture. We hadn't booked ahead as we had a discount we wanted to take advantage of (no pre-booking with a discount), so I thought we might have trouble getting in on a busy Saturday, especially on seeing the huge crowds outside. We were able to get tickets with no issue, and only queued for a couple of minutes, despite it being very busy inside (crowded but definitely tolerable). We had been travelling and had various large bags etc, which were checked before entry, but not a problem to take in. There is a lot to see and the 1-2 hours suggested is an under estimate, especially if you want to take your time and see everything. There are audio tours available with a headset that guide you in a route around the abbey with numbered signs, but we wandered around at our own pace. There are plenty of places to sit and take it all in or just have a rest while you wait for people to move on. We were pleasantly surprised by how quiet and peaceful it was despite the crowds. The side chambers and the Chapter House were a particular favourite. It's a great experience and a must see if you're interested in history or architecture.

I enjoyed my morning at the Abbey. It's unfortunately a little unclear on the website how you go about joining the Verger's tour, as you can't book in advance and there's only 20 people per tour and (on the day I visited) only one tour per morning and afternoon. But if you can it is well worth doing and I think much better than the numerous other tour guides I saw while there. When I arrived (9.00 am) I asked where I could sign up for the tour and was to directed to a ticket office where I could buy a £10 ticket for the 10:30 am verger tour. I'm still no clearer whether it's a first come first served basis or not, but it is very much worth doing if you can. I was able to do the standard audio tour first which gave me a good overview of what was there (and took me around an hour to complete), but it was very different being guided around by someone who really knows the Abbey and can give their personal take on the history. I did go up to the gallery, which was another £5, so it all adds up, but to be honest the main thing about that was the view of the Abbey from high up. I would advise trying to get to the Abbey as early as you can as it gets busier and busier during the day.

We booked (which I highly recommend) for 9.30 in the morning, first public entry, which allows you to save a lot of time (booking) by avoiding many queues outside. The church is enormous, and inside, included in the ticket, an excellently structured audio guide is provided (also for children, with games and curiosities that make them passionate about the visit) in almost all the main languages of the world. There are many rooms to visit as well as many famous historical figures whose tombs are located inside (Stephen Hawking, Charles Darwin, Henry James, etc.). You can take photos but without flash. In addition to the central nave, I particularly loved an area where there are suspended banners which, together with the light entering from the windows, provide a truly fabulous view. PS. For those who use the English National Railway System (for example with Thameslink shuttles, East Midlands Railways, Southern Midlands Railways, etc., to and from London airports, basically ALL tickets with the English Railways logo), it is possible take advantage of the 2X1 offer on adult tickets, which is definitely a very important saving! For details you can use the website created by English Railways daysoutofguide

Even my history- ambivalent daughters liked it. Definitely pre purchase as it sells out days (weeks?) in advance. Read up on a few of the monarchs as it makes it more interesting (Eliz I , Mary I and Mary queen of Scots are a starting point). Or just let the sense of history walk over you. The attic gallery is GBP 5 extra but worth it. Budget 2 hours and brace for the shoving crowds and swinging selfie sticks And brace for the entry fee , which is much higher than I recall pre covid.

There was a massive amount to see and I felt the 1-2 hours suggested as time taken to visit was an under estimate. There's also the Queens Diamond Jubilee Gallery to visit which costs extra but has some interesting artefacts. Well worth a visit. We did the two for one as we arrived by train. This made it half price.

The abbey is architecturally interesting even if it is not worth some Italian or French cathedrals. Historically, however, it is incredible. And for our part, that's what we'll remember first. It takes about 1h30 to 2h00 maximum to go around and take the time. What to do

A must-see, but therefore crowded 🙂 get tickets ahead as they do sell out, and try to get in the first time slot of the day to avoid a long wait to enter. This was one of the priciest admissions of anything we did in London, but an audio guide is included. Signage was limited, so do get an audio guide to help know what you’re looking at. I felt the audio guide helped limit noise from all the people in a good way, since nearly everyone has the audio guide on. There were certainly a lot of people, but it also wasn’t as bad as I was expecting, you just may have to wait your turn or squeeze your way in for a closer look at your areas of interest. I wish I had done more research beforehand as there are other tombs I’d like to have seen like the scientist area — Steven Hawking is the most recent burial at the Abbey (maybe all tombs aren’t in public areas?) and there are plenty docents stationed around for questions. It’s beautiful, and I’d plan a half day for taking it in.

It is the UK's most venerable church, where royal weddings and funerals are also held. We made Reservations for 9:30am tickets from the official website in advance. The price is 29￡. Reservations give priority access from the front of the church's north entrance. (You will then be admitted if you have a ticket lined up on the east side.) Once inside, you will go to the west side of the right hand side and look at world-renowned grave markers such as Newton, Darwin and Hawking, then go back and look at the centre choir, the main altar, the tombs of previous kings in the back, then look clockwise at the tombs of poets, go out into the cloister and then again into the west side of the church and finally the coronation chairs and there is an exit to the west. I have seen a number of churches in Europe and they are very prestigious and I think they are the best places to see in London. I'll upload more photos.

Our visit to Westminster Abbey was truly unforgettable, offering a glimpse into centuries of British history and tradition. Stepping through its ancient doors, we were immediately struck by the grandeur and solemnity of this iconic place of worship. One of the highlights of our experience was opting for the Verger-guided tour, for which we paid a little extra (this option is not available for purchase online; it must be arranged in person on the day of the visit). This decision proved invaluable as our knowledgeable guide led us through the abbey's hallowed halls, sharing fascinating insights and stories at every turn. From the magnificent Gothic architecture to the intricately carved tombs of monarchs and statesmen, every corner of Westminster Abbey seemed to whisper secrets of the past. The tour also provided us access to behind closed doors and roped-off areas. Throughout the tour, our Verger offered a wealth of historical anecdotes and insider knowledge, bringing the abbey's rich tapestry of history to life in vivid detail. From the coronations of kings and queens to the solemnity of royal weddings, each event seemed to echo through the ages within these hallowed walls.