Westminster Abbey Guided Tour with Skip-the-Line Entry

Step inside one of Britain’s most important churches with skip-the-line entry and a guided tour that explains what you’re actually looking at.

Getting started

Meet your guide just outside the Westminster Abbey Shop, where your group gathers before entering together. After a short introduction, you head straight inside Westminster Abbey using your priority access.

What to expect

Inside Westminster Abbey, you stand beneath high vaulted ceilings and walk across stone floors worn by centuries of ceremonies. Every British coronation since 1066 has taken place here. Your English-speaking Blue Badge guide explains how this church became the setting for royal crowning moments, state occasions, and national farewells.

Features:

• Shrine of St. Edward the Confessor: Visit the shrine of the Abbey’s founder, a richly decorated medieval structure that became one of England’s most important pilgrimage sites and remains a focal point of the church.

• Royal tombs: Walk past the tombs of kings, queens, and notable figures, noticing carved effigies, detailed inscriptions, and symbols that reflect power, belief, and changing artistic styles.

• Coronation Chair: See the historic Coronation Chair, used in every British coronation since 1308, including the crowning of King Charles III in 2023.

• Royal weddings: Hear how the Abbey has hosted royal weddings, including the ceremony of Prince William and Catherine Middleton, held beneath the church’s tall Gothic arches.

Extras

• Changing the Guard and Big Ben walk: Enjoy a close-up view of the Changing the Guard ceremony at Buckingham Palace and enjoy a guided introduction to Big Ben as you walk past it.

• Refreshments: Depending on the option selected, you may include access to refreshments such as coffee, tea, and pastries after your tour.