April 22, 2025 • 14 mins
In episode 146 of the UK Travel Planning Podcast, Tracy delves into one of London's most iconic landmarks: Westminster Abbey. With its rich royal history and stunning Gothic architecture, this working cathedral is a must-visit for anyone exploring the capital.
Tracy provides a comprehensive guide to planning your visit, including essential tips on ticket purchasing, the best tours, and must-see sites within the Abbey. From the Coronation Chair to Poets' Corner, discover the treasures that make Westminster Abbey a living history book.
Learn about the significance of the Abbey, which has hosted every British monarch's coronation since 1066 and is the final resting place of numerous notable figures. Tracy shares her personal highlights and practical advice to ensure you make the most of your visit, including optimal timing to avoid queues, accessibility options, and the best places to grab a bite nearby.
Whether you're a history buff or simply seeking a beautiful space to reflect, this episode is packed with insights to enhance your experience at Westminster Abbey.
📝 Show Notes - Episode 146
🎧 Listen to next
- Episode #142 - Guide to visiting the Tower of London
- Episode #133 - Top 5 London experiences for 2025
- Episode #126 - London Pass Itinerary Challenge
- Episode #84 - Exploring London with Walks Tours
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Tracy (00:00):
Are you planning a visit to Westminster Abbey, one of
London's most famous landmarks?
Welcome to the UK TravelPlanning Podcast.
Today I'm talking about theiconic Westminster Abbey, a
working cathedral packed withraw history and British culture.
It's one of London's unmissableattractions.
Intro (00:17):
Welcome to the UK Travel Planning Podcast.
Your host is the founder of theUK Travel Planning website,
Tracy Collins.
In this podcast, Tracy sharesdestination guides, travel tips
and itinerary ideas, as well asinterviews with a variety of
guests who share their knowledgeand experience of UK travel to
help you plan your perfect UKvacation.
(00:39):
Join us as we explore the UKfrom cosmopolitan cities to
quaint villages, from historiccastles to beautiful islands,
and from the picturesquecountryside to seaside towns.
Tracy (00:56):
Hello and welcome to this week's episode of the podcast.
Today we're diving intoWestminster Abbey.
Whether you're a historyenthusiast, a fan of the British
royal family or just lovebreathtaking architecture, this
episode has everything you needto plan the perfect visit.
I'll guide you througheverything you need to know to
get the most of your visit, fromhow to buy your tickets and the
best tours to must-see sites.
(01:17):
You'll learn my practical tipsfor visiting Westminster Abbey.
So get comfy and let's journeythrough British history together
with a visit to WestminsterAbbey.
So first question I'm going toanswer is why visit Westminster
Abbey?
Well, the Abbey has been at theheart of British history for
over 1,000 years.
Every monarch since 1066 hasbeen crowned here.
It's also home to the tombs of18 monarchs, poets' Corner and
(01:41):
the coronation chair, which wasmost recently used in the
coronation of King Charles.
Sixteen royal weddings havetaken place here, including that
of Prince William and PrincessCatherine.
The church also hosts state androyal funerals, including that
of the late Queen Elizabeth II,and more than 3,000 Britons are
actually buried in the abbey.
(02:02):
Now, the Anglican Abbey'sproper name is the Collegiate
Church of St Peter atWestminster.
So whether you're visiting toadmire its stunning fan-vaulted
ceilings or to walk in thefootsteps of royalty and great
literary figures.
This is a must-see Londondestination.
Honestly, it's like walkinginto a 3D history book.
(02:22):
It's been the site of keyevents of British history, such
as suffragette protests.
And a 3D history book.
It's been the site of keyevents in British history, such
as suffragette protests andbombing during World War II.
There's been a church on thissite since the 10th century.
The current church was built inthe 13th century and it's a
stunning example of Gothicarchitecture.
Together with the nearby Palaceof Westminster, house of
Parliament and St Margaret'sChurch, westminster Abbey became
(02:45):
a UNESCO World Heritage Site in1987.
So that's why you need to visit.
So what should you see when youactually go to Westminster Abbey
?
Well, there's so much to seeinside that, honestly, it's
impossible to cover all in thispodcast.
And I've visited again.
It's a bit like the Tower ofLondon.
I've visited numerous times,numerous, numerous times, and
I've visited again.
It's a bit like the Tower ofLondon.
(03:05):
I've visited numerous times,numerous, numerous times, and I
love, absolutely love,westminster Abbey.
So here are some of my personalfavourites.
So I love Poets Corner.
It's home to the who's who ofBritish literature.
There are memorials forliterary legends like Chaucer,
dickens, shakespeare and JaneAusten, though she isn't buried
there.
Do you know where Jane Austenis buried?
Let me know in the speakpipe.
(03:26):
If you know where Jane Austenis buried.
You can also see the coronationchair which is located in St
George's Chapel.
This is a surprisingly plainchair, but it's been used at
every coronation since 1399.
Also, see if you can spotgraffiti on the chair, which was
apparently carved there byWestminster schoolboys and
visitors in the 18th century.
Also see if you can spotgraffiti on the chair which was
apparently carved there bywestminster school boys and
(03:46):
visitors in the 18th century.
Also, not to miss the queen'sdiamond jubilee galleries.
Now these are perched 16 metershigh above abbey floor and
these are newly opened medievalera galleries and they honestly
give you a unique view of theAbbey and display incredible
treasures.
You're not allowed to takephotos.
(04:08):
I'm not even going to tell youwhat's up there, but honestly,
it's absolutely worth going tothe Diamond Jubilee Galleries
and it only costs you an extra£5 price.
That's the price of a separateticket.
You've got to buy a separateticket, but that's the price, so
it's not expensive andabsolutely worth going there.
It's also worth stopping at thegrave of the unknown warrior the
(04:28):
West End of the nave.
It's the tomb of an unknownsoldier from World War I, but it
represents all the servicemenand women who fell in the world
wars and whose graves areunknown.
It's deeply moving and it's theonly part of the Abbey floor
that you can't walk on.
I also recommend the LadyChapel.
(04:48):
It has breathtaking fan-vaultedceiling and huge stained glass
windows.
The tombs of several monarchsare located here, including
Elizabeth I and Mary Queen ofScots, and it is really one of
the most impressive parts of theAbbey.
You can also see the medievalcloisters where monks once
walked and the octagonal chapterhouse, the statues of modern
martyrs over the Great West Door, and try to make time for the
(05:12):
Pix Chapel, which is one of theoldest parts of the Abbey.
Now you probably want to knowall about tickets and tours, so
let's talk about best ways toexplore Westminster Abbey.
Of course, you can tour theAbbey on your own, but you'll
learn so much more on a guidedtour.
Now I've done both and Ihonestly would recommend a
guided tour, as you'll get somuch more out of your visit.
(05:33):
So all the tours I'm about torecommend can be found on our
website.
So my top tour pick is theWestminster Abbey tour with
Diamond Jubilee Galleries withTake Walks.
Your ticket price includes skipthe line entry to the Abbey,
which is important, I need tosay, if you're going to visit in
London in a busy peak time thequeues to go into Westminster
Abbey can be crazy.
(05:53):
So this ticket includes skipthe line entry, so it will save
you time.
It's a small group guided tour.
It lasts about three hours andyou get pre-reserved access to
the stunning Diamond JubileeGalleries.
Its small group sizes areessential, really, as the Abbey
can get very busy and the touris perfect for history buffs who
want a deeper dive into theAbbey can get very busy and the
tour is perfect for historybuffs who want a deeper dive
into the Abbey's treasures.
And I've done this tour anumber of times and it was one
(06:15):
of the best Abbey tours that Ihave done.
Another option I recommend isto join a combined guided tour
of Westminster Abbey and theHouses of Parliament, which Doug
and I did a couple of years agoand thoroughly enjoyed.
That's the first time we'dactually been in the Houses of
Parliament.
You'll get to explore twoiconic landmarks in one tour
(06:37):
with a knowledgeable guide, andthe tour lasts between three and
a half to four hours and has amaximum group size of 15.
And we found the tour workedreally, really well when we did
that.
Just note that in the Houses ofParliament the guide, the walks
guide, has to hand over to anofficial Houses of Parliament
guide at that point, but weabsolutely, we thoroughly,
enjoyed it.
So you can find links to bookthese tours in the show notes or
on the website.
Please do use our links.
(06:57):
We appreciate that.
If you do, it supports our work.
You can also turn up and buy aWestminster Abbey entrance
ticket on the day, but I reallywould strongly recommend buying
a ticket in advance to avoidlong queues and to guarantee
entry.
Book your ticket in advance.
I use Get your Guide.
You can find the link on ourwebsite because you get the
flexibility of free cancellationup to 24 hours before your
(07:18):
visit.
As this is one of London's mostpopular attractions, I
recommend booking your ticketwell in advance of your visit.
Don't risk turning up on theday.
Currently, booking through ourwebsite with Get your Guide is
the same price as booking onlineon the Abbey website, but with
the added bonus of freecancellation.
A great feature included withyour entry ticket is the
multimedia guide, and this guideis available in 14 languages
(07:41):
and provides lots of informationabout the Abbey's history and
architecture.
So you can either download theapp in advance it's available
for both Apple and Android oruse one of the headphone devices
provided when you enter.
Either way, this guide willmake your visit more immersive
and engaging.
So, whilst it's not as good ashaving your own personal guide,
I would highly recommend takingadvantage of that.
(08:04):
There's also the option ofbooking a 90-minute tour with
one of the Abbey's vergers, andthis tour includes a visit to
the Shrine of St Edward theConfessor, which is not
generally open to generalvisitors.
Now that tour starts at 11o'clock.
It's limited to 20.
And make sure that when you gointo the Westminster Abbey, that
you put your name down and thatyou pay, because they will stop
(08:24):
at 20.
That's the maximum they willtake on that tour.
Intro (08:27):
And it is very popular.
Tracy (08:30):
Tickets to Westminster Abbey currently cost £30 for
adults, with a small concessionfor seniors and students with ID
.
So this is February 2025, atthis time of recording.
Children aged 6 to 17 yearscost £13 and under files are
free and there are familytickets available.
Tickets are pricey, but you caneasily spend a few hours inside
(08:52):
the Abbey, plus, the Abbeyreceives no funding from the UK
government, so your ticket pricedoes go towards the upkeep of
this just remarkable and amazingsite.
On selected days, you can bookan unlocked tour which takes
place in the morning before theAbbey opens to the general
public.
Additionally, on Wednesdaysduring the summer months, you
can buy a ticket called AbbeyLate, which allows access for
(09:13):
one and a half hour self-guidedtours after the Abbey is closed
to the general public.
Finally, don't forget thatentry to Westminster Abbey is
also included in the London Pass, which is another great reason
to consider buying this Londonsightseeing pass.
However, the unmissable Queen'sDiamond Jubilee Gallery is not
included in the pass, but youcan buy an add-on ticket once
inside, which costs £5 foradults, whereas children aged 17
(09:37):
and under are free.
So that's good.
Now, in this next part of thepodcast, I'm going to share some
of my top tips for visitingWestminster Abbey.
It's a popular attraction, sothese are my top tips to help
you make the most of your visit.
Now, getting to WestminsterAbbey is easy.
It's just a five minute walkfrom Westminster Tube Station so
(09:58):
you can ride by bus, byoverground train to London,
victoria, or even Uber boat atWestminster Pier.
Now, timing is everything.
Visit as early in the day aspossible or book a skip the line
tour to avoid those lengthyqueues and I'm not joking, there
are queues.
I was there it's February.
I was there on earlier thisweek and there were the queue.
(10:18):
There was a huge big line.
Now you need to allocate atleast, please, at least one and
a half to two hours to fullyexplore the Abbey.
Don't think you can just pop inin 10 minutes that you're going
to export it.
You won't.
It's an amazing, amazing placeto visit, so please do not cut
your time down.
Opening hours are monday tofriday from 9 30 am, with last
(10:39):
entry at 3 30 pm.
On saturdays, the abbey is openfrom 9 am to the last entry at
3 pm, and on sundays it's openfor services but not for
sightseeing.
Occasionally, occasionally,some or all of the Abbey has to
be closed for special events, sodo please check the website
before visiting.
So you can take a camera, butplease respect the rules.
(11:00):
Photography is limited insidethe Abbey, so look out for signs
telling you where you can andcan't take photos.
For example, you can't takephotos in the Queen's Diamond
Jubilee Gallery.
Flash photography and videosforbidden throughout the Abbey,
and visitors cannot take photosduring services.
Tripods and selfie sticks arealso banned.
(11:20):
I recommend that you wearsensible footwear.
The Abbey's floors and stepscan be uneven, so it's a good
idea to wear comfortable,supportive shoes.
Trust me, your feet will thankyou.
Bag checks are carried outbefore you enter the Abbey and
there's no facility to storelarge bags or suitcases.
Large bags are not permitted,so only bring small day packs if
(11:41):
you can.
Bags with wheels are notallowed, as they can damage the
stone floor.
Now, there isn't a formal dresscode, but visitors are asked to
dress respectfully Think smart,casual or comfortable clothing,
without offensive slogans orgestures on them Just something
appropriate for a sacred spaceAccessible at the Inabi is quite
good.
(12:01):
There's free admission toregistered disabled visitors and
the carer, and fast trackaccess can be pre-arranged for
anyone who needs it.
You'll need to enter via thenorth door, where there's a
small ramped step.
There are wheelchairs availableto borrow and a visual British
Sign Language guide and hearingloops for hearing impaired
visitors.
You'll also find accessibletoilets inside the Abbey.
(12:23):
Now, when it comes to foodoptions, there's the Solarium
Cafe and Terrace, or there's akiosk selling snacks and drinks.
The Solarium Cafe serves hotand cold breakfast and lunches,
plus a roast dinner on a Sunday.
I haven't tried that.
I need to add that onto myitinerary at some point.
Their afternoon tea is alsosurprisingly affordable.
The restaurant is open everyday from 8am till 4pm, and if
(12:49):
you want to bring your ownpicnic you can, but you have to
eat it in the designated area inthe cloisters.
The lovely Westminster Abbeyshop isn't inside the Abbey,
it's on the outside, but followthe signs and you won't miss it.
The shop is open seven days aweek.
I would also recommend to attenda service, if you can.
The Abbey is an active churchand attending one of its free
public services, like the dailyEvensong or Morning Prayer, is a
special experience.
(13:10):
Note that no sightseeing isallowed during the service, so
you can check up-to-dateinformation for services on the
Westminster Abbey website.
You can also visit the Abbey topray for free at any time via
the Great West Door, but youcannot go sightseeing once
inside.
Another tip is to make the mostof your trip to Westminster
Abbey by exploring nearbyattractions.
(13:30):
Grouping your sightseeing bylocation saves time and money
when visiting London and I saythat all the time.
And if you visit WestminsterAbbey, the House of Parliament,
a Big Ben, churchill War Rooms,buckingham Palace and the London
Eye are all within easy walkingdistance.
So there you have it, yourultimate guide to explore
Westminster Abbey.
So whether you're booking aguided tour or simply wandering
(13:51):
through this historic site,westminster Abbey is sure to
leave a lasting impression.
Don't forget to check out theshow notes for links to tickets
and tours, and if you've visitedbefore, I'd love to hear about
your experience.
Thank you for joining me thisweek on this journey through one
of London's most iconiclandmarks.
And that just leaves me to say,as always, happy UK travel
planning.
Thank you for tuning in to thisweek's episode of the UK travel
(14:16):
planning podcast.
As always, show notes can befound at UK
travelravelplanningcom.
If you've enjoyed the show, whynot leave us feedback via text
or a review on your favouritepodcast app?
We love to hear from you, andyou never know, you may receive
a shout out in a future episode.
But as always, that just leavesme to say until next week.
(14:36):
Happy UK travel planning.
Are you planning a visit to Westminster Abbey, one of
London's most famous landmarks?
Welcome to the UK TravelPlanning Podcast.
Today I'm talking about theiconic Westminster Abbey, a
working cathedral packed withraw history and British culture.
It's one of London's unmissableattractions.
Intro (00:17):
Welcome to the UK Travel Planning Podcast.
Your host is the founder of theUK Travel Planning website,
Tracy Collins.
In this podcast, Tracy sharesdestination guides, travel tips
and itinerary ideas, as well asinterviews with a variety of
guests who share their knowledgeand experience of UK travel to
help you plan your perfect UKvacation.
(00:39):
Join us as we explore the UKfrom cosmopolitan cities to
quaint villages, from historiccastles to beautiful islands,
and from the picturesquecountryside to seaside towns.
Tracy (00:56):
Hello and welcome to this week's episode of the podcast.
Today we're diving intoWestminster Abbey.
Whether you're a historyenthusiast, a fan of the British
royal family or just lovebreathtaking architecture, this
episode has everything you needto plan the perfect visit.
I'll guide you througheverything you need to know to
get the most of your visit, fromhow to buy your tickets and the
best tours to must-see sites.
(01:17):
You'll learn my practical tipsfor visiting Westminster Abbey.
So get comfy and let's journeythrough British history together
with a visit to WestminsterAbbey.
So first question I'm going toanswer is why visit Westminster
Abbey?
Well, the Abbey has been at theheart of British history for
over 1,000 years.
Every monarch since 1066 hasbeen crowned here.
It's also home to the tombs of18 monarchs, poets' Corner and
(01:41):
the coronation chair, which wasmost recently used in the
coronation of King Charles.
Sixteen royal weddings havetaken place here, including that
of Prince William and PrincessCatherine.
The church also hosts state androyal funerals, including that
of the late Queen Elizabeth II,and more than 3,000 Britons are
actually buried in the abbey.
(02:02):
Now, the Anglican Abbey'sproper name is the Collegiate
Church of St Peter atWestminster.
So whether you're visiting toadmire its stunning fan-vaulted
ceilings or to walk in thefootsteps of royalty and great
literary figures.
This is a must-see Londondestination.
Honestly, it's like walkinginto a 3D history book.
(02:22):
It's been the site of keyevents of British history, such
as suffragette protests.
And a 3D history book.
It's been the site of keyevents in British history, such
as suffragette protests andbombing during World War II.
There's been a church on thissite since the 10th century.
The current church was built inthe 13th century and it's a
stunning example of Gothicarchitecture.
Together with the nearby Palaceof Westminster, house of
Parliament and St Margaret'sChurch, westminster Abbey became
(02:45):
a UNESCO World Heritage Site in1987.
So that's why you need to visit.
So what should you see when youactually go to Westminster Abbey
?
Well, there's so much to seeinside that, honestly, it's
impossible to cover all in thispodcast.
And I've visited again.
It's a bit like the Tower ofLondon.
I've visited numerous times,numerous, numerous times, and
I've visited again.
It's a bit like the Tower ofLondon.
(03:05):
I've visited numerous times,numerous, numerous times, and I
love, absolutely love,westminster Abbey.
So here are some of my personalfavourites.
So I love Poets Corner.
It's home to the who's who ofBritish literature.
There are memorials forliterary legends like Chaucer,
dickens, shakespeare and JaneAusten, though she isn't buried
there.
Do you know where Jane Austenis buried?
Let me know in the speakpipe.
(03:26):
If you know where Jane Austenis buried.
You can also see the coronationchair which is located in St
George's Chapel.
This is a surprisingly plainchair, but it's been used at
every coronation since 1399.
Also, see if you can spotgraffiti on the chair, which was
apparently carved there byWestminster schoolboys and
visitors in the 18th century.
Also see if you can spotgraffiti on the chair which was
apparently carved there bywestminster school boys and
(03:46):
visitors in the 18th century.
Also, not to miss the queen'sdiamond jubilee galleries.
Now these are perched 16 metershigh above abbey floor and
these are newly opened medievalera galleries and they honestly
give you a unique view of theAbbey and display incredible
treasures.
You're not allowed to takephotos.
(04:08):
I'm not even going to tell youwhat's up there, but honestly,
it's absolutely worth going tothe Diamond Jubilee Galleries
and it only costs you an extra£5 price.
That's the price of a separateticket.
You've got to buy a separateticket, but that's the price, so
it's not expensive andabsolutely worth going there.
It's also worth stopping at thegrave of the unknown warrior the
(04:28):
West End of the nave.
It's the tomb of an unknownsoldier from World War I, but it
represents all the servicemenand women who fell in the world
wars and whose graves areunknown.
It's deeply moving and it's theonly part of the Abbey floor
that you can't walk on.
I also recommend the LadyChapel.
(04:48):
It has breathtaking fan-vaultedceiling and huge stained glass
windows.
The tombs of several monarchsare located here, including
Elizabeth I and Mary Queen ofScots, and it is really one of
the most impressive parts of theAbbey.
You can also see the medievalcloisters where monks once
walked and the octagonal chapterhouse, the statues of modern
martyrs over the Great West Door, and try to make time for the
(05:12):
Pix Chapel, which is one of theoldest parts of the Abbey.
Now you probably want to knowall about tickets and tours, so
let's talk about best ways toexplore Westminster Abbey.
Of course, you can tour theAbbey on your own, but you'll
learn so much more on a guidedtour.
Now I've done both and Ihonestly would recommend a
guided tour, as you'll get somuch more out of your visit.
(05:33):
So all the tours I'm about torecommend can be found on our
website.
So my top tour pick is theWestminster Abbey tour with
Diamond Jubilee Galleries withTake Walks.
Your ticket price includes skipthe line entry to the Abbey,
which is important, I need tosay, if you're going to visit in
London in a busy peak time thequeues to go into Westminster
Abbey can be crazy.
(05:53):
So this ticket includes skipthe line entry, so it will save
you time.
It's a small group guided tour.
It lasts about three hours andyou get pre-reserved access to
the stunning Diamond JubileeGalleries.
Its small group sizes areessential, really, as the Abbey
can get very busy and the touris perfect for history buffs who
want a deeper dive into theAbbey can get very busy and the
tour is perfect for historybuffs who want a deeper dive
into the Abbey's treasures.
And I've done this tour anumber of times and it was one
(06:15):
of the best Abbey tours that Ihave done.
Another option I recommend isto join a combined guided tour
of Westminster Abbey and theHouses of Parliament, which Doug
and I did a couple of years agoand thoroughly enjoyed.
That's the first time we'dactually been in the Houses of
Parliament.
You'll get to explore twoiconic landmarks in one tour
(06:37):
with a knowledgeable guide, andthe tour lasts between three and
a half to four hours and has amaximum group size of 15.
And we found the tour workedreally, really well when we did
that.
Just note that in the Houses ofParliament the guide, the walks
guide, has to hand over to anofficial Houses of Parliament
guide at that point, but weabsolutely, we thoroughly,
enjoyed it.
So you can find links to bookthese tours in the show notes or
on the website.
Please do use our links.
(06:57):
We appreciate that.
If you do, it supports our work.
You can also turn up and buy aWestminster Abbey entrance
ticket on the day, but I reallywould strongly recommend buying
a ticket in advance to avoidlong queues and to guarantee
entry.
Book your ticket in advance.
I use Get your Guide.
You can find the link on ourwebsite because you get the
flexibility of free cancellationup to 24 hours before your
(07:18):
visit.
As this is one of London's mostpopular attractions, I
recommend booking your ticketwell in advance of your visit.
Don't risk turning up on theday.
Currently, booking through ourwebsite with Get your Guide is
the same price as booking onlineon the Abbey website, but with
the added bonus of freecancellation.
A great feature included withyour entry ticket is the
multimedia guide, and this guideis available in 14 languages
(07:41):
and provides lots of informationabout the Abbey's history and
architecture.
So you can either download theapp in advance it's available
for both Apple and Android oruse one of the headphone devices
provided when you enter.
Either way, this guide willmake your visit more immersive
and engaging.
So, whilst it's not as good ashaving your own personal guide,
I would highly recommend takingadvantage of that.
(08:04):
There's also the option ofbooking a 90-minute tour with
one of the Abbey's vergers, andthis tour includes a visit to
the Shrine of St Edward theConfessor, which is not
generally open to generalvisitors.
Now that tour starts at 11o'clock.
It's limited to 20.
And make sure that when you gointo the Westminster Abbey, that
you put your name down and thatyou pay, because they will stop
(08:24):
at 20.
That's the maximum they willtake on that tour.
Intro (08:27):
And it is very popular.
Tracy (08:30):
Tickets to Westminster Abbey currently cost £30 for
adults, with a small concessionfor seniors and students with ID
.
So this is February 2025, atthis time of recording.
Children aged 6 to 17 yearscost £13 and under files are
free and there are familytickets available.
Tickets are pricey, but you caneasily spend a few hours inside
(08:52):
the Abbey, plus, the Abbeyreceives no funding from the UK
government, so your ticket pricedoes go towards the upkeep of
this just remarkable and amazingsite.
On selected days, you can bookan unlocked tour which takes
place in the morning before theAbbey opens to the general
public.
Additionally, on Wednesdaysduring the summer months, you
can buy a ticket called AbbeyLate, which allows access for
(09:13):
one and a half hour self-guidedtours after the Abbey is closed
to the general public.
Finally, don't forget thatentry to Westminster Abbey is
also included in the London Pass, which is another great reason
to consider buying this Londonsightseeing pass.
However, the unmissable Queen'sDiamond Jubilee Gallery is not
included in the pass, but youcan buy an add-on ticket once
inside, which costs £5 foradults, whereas children aged 17
(09:37):
and under are free.
So that's good.
Now, in this next part of thepodcast, I'm going to share some
of my top tips for visitingWestminster Abbey.
It's a popular attraction, sothese are my top tips to help
you make the most of your visit.
Now, getting to WestminsterAbbey is easy.
It's just a five minute walkfrom Westminster Tube Station so
(09:58):
you can ride by bus, byoverground train to London,
victoria, or even Uber boat atWestminster Pier.
Now, timing is everything.
Visit as early in the day aspossible or book a skip the line
tour to avoid those lengthyqueues and I'm not joking, there
are queues.
I was there it's February.
I was there on earlier thisweek and there were the queue.
(10:18):
There was a huge big line.
Now you need to allocate atleast, please, at least one and
a half to two hours to fullyexplore the Abbey.
Don't think you can just pop inin 10 minutes that you're going
to export it.
You won't.
It's an amazing, amazing placeto visit, so please do not cut
your time down.
Opening hours are monday tofriday from 9 30 am, with last
(10:39):
entry at 3 30 pm.
On saturdays, the abbey is openfrom 9 am to the last entry at
3 pm, and on sundays it's openfor services but not for
sightseeing.
Occasionally, occasionally,some or all of the Abbey has to
be closed for special events, sodo please check the website
before visiting.
So you can take a camera, butplease respect the rules.
(11:00):
Photography is limited insidethe Abbey, so look out for signs
telling you where you can andcan't take photos.
For example, you can't takephotos in the Queen's Diamond
Jubilee Gallery.
Flash photography and videosforbidden throughout the Abbey,
and visitors cannot take photosduring services.
Tripods and selfie sticks arealso banned.
(11:20):
I recommend that you wearsensible footwear.
The Abbey's floors and stepscan be uneven, so it's a good
idea to wear comfortable,supportive shoes.
Trust me, your feet will thankyou.
Bag checks are carried outbefore you enter the Abbey and
there's no facility to storelarge bags or suitcases.
Large bags are not permitted,so only bring small day packs if
(11:41):
you can.
Bags with wheels are notallowed, as they can damage the
stone floor.
Now, there isn't a formal dresscode, but visitors are asked to
dress respectfully Think smart,casual or comfortable clothing,
without offensive slogans orgestures on them Just something
appropriate for a sacred spaceAccessible at the Inabi is quite
good.
(12:01):
There's free admission toregistered disabled visitors and
the carer, and fast trackaccess can be pre-arranged for
anyone who needs it.
You'll need to enter via thenorth door, where there's a
small ramped step.
There are wheelchairs availableto borrow and a visual British
Sign Language guide and hearingloops for hearing impaired
visitors.
You'll also find accessibletoilets inside the Abbey.
(12:23):
Now, when it comes to foodoptions, there's the Solarium
Cafe and Terrace, or there's akiosk selling snacks and drinks.
The Solarium Cafe serves hotand cold breakfast and lunches,
plus a roast dinner on a Sunday.
I haven't tried that.
I need to add that onto myitinerary at some point.
Their afternoon tea is alsosurprisingly affordable.
The restaurant is open everyday from 8am till 4pm, and if
(12:49):
you want to bring your ownpicnic you can, but you have to
eat it in the designated area inthe cloisters.
The lovely Westminster Abbeyshop isn't inside the Abbey,
it's on the outside, but followthe signs and you won't miss it.
The shop is open seven days aweek.
I would also recommend to attenda service, if you can.
The Abbey is an active churchand attending one of its free
public services, like the dailyEvensong or Morning Prayer, is a
special experience.
(13:10):
Note that no sightseeing isallowed during the service, so
you can check up-to-dateinformation for services on the
Westminster Abbey website.
You can also visit the Abbey topray for free at any time via
the Great West Door, but youcannot go sightseeing once
inside.
Another tip is to make the mostof your trip to Westminster
Abbey by exploring nearbyattractions.
(13:30):
Grouping your sightseeing bylocation saves time and money
when visiting London and I saythat all the time.
And if you visit WestminsterAbbey, the House of Parliament,
a Big Ben, churchill War Rooms,buckingham Palace and the London
Eye are all within easy walkingdistance.
So there you have it, yourultimate guide to explore
Westminster Abbey.
So whether you're booking aguided tour or simply wandering
(13:51):
through this historic site,westminster Abbey is sure to
leave a lasting impression.
Don't forget to check out theshow notes for links to tickets
and tours, and if you've visitedbefore, I'd love to hear about
your experience.
Thank you for joining me thisweek on this journey through one
of London's most iconiclandmarks.
And that just leaves me to say,as always, happy UK travel
planning.
Thank you for tuning in to thisweek's episode of the UK travel
(14:16):
planning podcast.
As always, show notes can befound at UK
travelravelplanningcom.
If you've enjoyed the show, whynot leave us feedback via text
or a review on your favouritepodcast app?
We love to hear from you, andyou never know, you may receive
a shout out in a future episode.
But as always, that just leavesme to say until next week.
(14:36):
Happy UK travel planning.
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