Westminster Abbey

Visit the most important religious building in London, Westminster Abbey, and discover the tombs of royals and literary greats through the ages. As you walk into the abbey, you’ll be greeted by striking gothic architecture, which is all explained by your free audio guide.

To see the majority of the abbey you’ll need to buy a ticket, although it’s free to attend the services. Discover the place where royal coronations, funerals and weddings have taken place over the centuries, including the marriage of Prince William and Kate Middleton in 2011.

After looking at the main altar, go to the chapel behind to see the burial place of Saint Edward the Confessor who built the original church during the 11th century. One of the most popular sights at Westminster Abbey is Poet’s Corner. Look out for the burial places of famous authors including Charles Dickens, Tom Hardy, Geoffrey Chaucer and Rudyard Kipling, alongside memorials to other great British writers. The abbey’s also the resting place of Sir Isaac Newton and Charles Darwin.

Go through the doors in the South Choir Aisle to visit the Great Cloisters and Nave, where you’ll see the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. At the Abbey Museum, you’ll see eerie effigies from historic royal funerals.

After your visit to the Abbey, go to St Margaret’s Church on Parliament Square to see the beautiful stained glass windows and ornate arches inside. Westminster Abbey’s right next to the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben, so you’ll have plenty of photo opportunities before getting back on the tube at St James’s Park or Westminster.

More Things To Do ideas

Find More Things To Do in London: British Museum | Camden Market | Madame Tussauds | Tate Modern Gallery | The London Eye