The shortest way to see inside Westminster Abbey is to walk it as a line: door, nave, Poets’ Corner, the chairs and chapels, then the cloisters. This page gives you a map of the area, my route through the building, a note on each place and the access rules, so you know what to see in Westminster Abbey before the security queue. If you have not booked yet, my guide to tickets for Westminster Abbey compares every option.
Westminster Abbey Map: Entrance, Stations and Sights Around It
The map below shows the Abbey with its nearest stations and the sights around Parliament Square, from Google Maps data.
The Abbey is at Dean’s Yard, London SW1P 3PA, beside Parliament Square. Westminster Underground station is the closest, about 5 minutes on foot, and Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament are across the square. Those walking times are my estimates: straight-line distance multiplied by 1.3, at 4.8 km per hour. Sightseers go in through the North Entrance on Parliament Square, per the official visit page, and the entry ticket voucher is redeemed at the North Door.
I searched for an official floor plan and did not find one. The visit page has no map of the interior, only a Google Maps directions link, so I have not linked an official map. The plan you get is the multimedia guide that is included in the price of admission, which the Abbey says you can pick up on arrival or download in a shortened version. The route below is my own reading order, built from the Abbey’s access pages, Wikipedia and the tour listings.
The Route I’d Take Inside Westminster Abbey
This is what I’d see inside Westminster Abbey, in order, which is also what to see in Westminster Abbey if you have only two hours. I give no times, because no source gives one per area; the whole visit is listed at 2 hours. Follow the stewards if the Abbey directs you differently, since it is a working church and can change the route at short notice.
My route inside Westminster Abbey
1North Door and securityWalk-through security at every door
2NaveEleven bays under the vault
3Poets' CornerWriters buried and memorialised
4Coronation ChairMade in 1296 for coronations
5Henry VII Lady ChapelTombs of Elizabeth I and Mary I
6CloistersEntry steps from the nave or Poets' Corner
7Chapter HouseOctagonal room, built 1250 to 1259
North Door and Security
Every door has walk-through security where bags and rucksacks are inspected, per the official page. Anything larger than 55 cm by 40 cm by 20 cm stays out, and dangerous objects are banned. Left luggage is at Victoria station, not at the Abbey, so travel light. The step-free entrances are the North Door, the Great West Door and the Dean’s Yard cloister entrance, and free manual wheelchairs are available from an Abbey Marshal on request.
The Nave
The nave is the first thing you see inside Westminster Abbey, and it is tall. Wikipedia describes an eleven-bay nave, the highest of any Gothic church in England, with a vault about 31 m (102 feet) high. Henry III began the rebuilding on 6 July 1245 and the church was consecrated on 13 October 1269. Look up, then look down: Wikipedia notes that Henry III also commissioned the Cosmati pavement in front of the high altar. The shrine of Edward the Confessor behind the altar is closed to the public except for special events.
Poets’ Corner
Poets’ Corner is the section named for the writers buried or commemorated there. The Amigo Tours UK listing names Charles Dickens, Geoffrey Chaucer and Rudyard Kipling. Take your time reading the floor and the walls; inside Westminster Abbey this is where most visitors slow down. The Abbey’s ticket listing says the Abbey is the resting place of monarchs, poets, musicians, scientists and politicians, and Wikipedia counts more than 3,300 people buried or commemorated.
Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey Entrance Ticket
★4.6 (14,765 reviews)
2 hours
Free cancellation
My pick: The Abbey's own entry ticket with a multimedia guide: $43, about 2 hours, 4.6 from 14,765 reviews.
What you get, where you meet, what reviewers say
Included
✓ Westminster Abbey entry ticket
✓ Multimedia guide for each visitor
Not included / not suitable
✕ Tour guide
✕ Skip-the-line entry
Meeting point: Please present your voucher at the ticket office at the North door entry point on the map (on the North Green). London SW1P 3JX, UK
Duration: 2 hours
Cancellation: Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
“Tons of people, but moving orderly. Very helpful audioguide. Amazing experience if you can appreciate beauty and history.” – GetYourGuide review
The Coronation Chair is the oldest piece of furniture in the country still used for its original purpose, according to the entry ticket listing. Wikipedia says Edward I had it made in 1296 to hold the Stone of Scone. The Abbey has hosted the coronation of 40 English and British monarchs since 1066, which is why visitors queue to see a wooden chair. Read the label for what you are looking at inside Westminster Abbey; I did not find dimensions in my sources.
The Henry VII Lady Chapel
This is the chapel for the royal tombs. Wikipedia says work began in 1503 and the main structure was completed by 1509, with decoration continuing for several years. The north sub-chapel holds the monument of Elizabeth I, and both her coffin and that of Mary I are in it. The official access page lists the tombs of Elizabeth I, Mary I and Mary, Queen of Scots, and notes 12 steps up to the chapel plus 3 more into each space, so plan for stairs if you have limited mobility.
The Cloisters
Few people think of the cloisters as part of inside Westminster Abbey, but they are. The cloisters are the quiet part of the visit. Wikipedia dates the north and the northern east walks to around 1250, with the rest from 1352 to 1366. Entry from the Abbey involves 5 steps from Poets’ Corner and 5 from the nave, per the official page, and there is a step-free entrance from Dean’s Yard. This is a good place to sit for a moment after the crowds of the nave, and it is the calmest part inside Westminster Abbey.
Chapter House and Pyx Chamber
Two more rooms sit inside Westminster Abbey off the cloisters. The Chapter House was built from 1250 to 1259, is octagonal and nearly 60 feet (18 m) across, per Wikipedia, making it one of the largest in Britain. The official access page lists steps to enter it. The Pyx Chamber is the undercroft of the monks’ dormitory from the late 11th century, with a marked step at the door. I could not confirm from the ticket page whether either is open on your day, so check the Abbey’s calendar, which lists closures for individual areas.
The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Galleries
The Galleries opened in 2018 in the medieval triforium, high above the floor, and display the Abbey’s treasures. The official page says they have their own opening hours and does not say whether standard admission includes them. Go City London Pass holders must buy Gallery tickets on arrival, per the same page. Confirm the Galleries before you plan around them.
Amigo Tours UK
Westminster Abbey Tour with a Royal Heritage Guide
★4.7 (817 reviews)
2 hours
Free cancellation
My pick: A guided walk inside the Abbey with entry, covering the Coronation Chair and Poets' Corner: $93, 2 hours, English or Spanish, 4.7 from 817 reviews.
What you get, where you meet, what reviewers say
Included
✓ Entry to Westminster Abbey
✓ Guide inside Westminster Abbey
Not included / not suitable
✕ Hotel pickup and drop-off
✕ Additional expenses like tips or souvenirs
Meeting point: Abbey Shop, at Westminster Abbey. Your guide will be waiting outside the Abbey Shop with a sign of Amigo Tours. Please do not look for the guide inside the shop and try to arrive at least 10 minutes prior to check in. Broad Sanctuary, Westminster, London SW1P 3JS, Reino Unido
Languages: Spanish, English
Duration: 2 hours
Cancellation: Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
“Thank you so much Jane!!! We had the loveliest time, you were so knowledgeable and funny. Take care!” – GetYourGuide review
Getting Around Inside Westminster Abbey: Access and Services
Moving around inside Westminster Abbey is easier than the age of the building suggests. The official page says the majority of the self-guided visitor route is step free. Guide, hearing and assistance dogs are welcome, and the visitor experience team can answer access questions on +44 (0)20 7222 5152. I did not find rules on photography on the pages I read, so check the Abbey’s photography policy before you take your camera out. The Abbey is also a place of worship, so quiet is the sensible default.
Inside Westminster Abbey you see the Gothic nave, the Coronation Chair, Poets' Corner, the Henry VII Lady Chapel with the tombs of Elizabeth I and Mary I, the cloisters, the Chapter House and the Pyx Chamber. The Queen's Diamond Jubilee Galleries high in the triforium have their own opening hours.
Is there an official Westminster Abbey map?+
I could not find a floor plan or map on the Abbey's visit pages, which carry only a Google Maps directions link. Your ticket includes a multimedia guide, which is the official way to find your way around, and the visitor team (+44 (0)20 7222 5152) can answer route questions.
What to see in Westminster Abbey?+
My list is the Coronation Chair, Poets' Corner, the Lady Chapel of Henry VII, the cloisters and the Chapter House. The Abbey has hosted the coronations of 40 English and British monarchs since 1066, per Wikipedia, and holds more than 3,300 burials and memorials.
How long do you need inside Westminster Abbey?+
The entry ticket lists 2 hours, and the guided tours I compared are also listed at 2 hours. One reviewer wrote that you need close to two hours to explore it. Allow extra for the security queue.
Can you take a bag inside Westminster Abbey?+
Only a small one. The official visit page bans bags larger than 55 cm by 40 cm by 20 cm, and every door has walk-through security. Left luggage is available at Victoria station.
Is Westminster Abbey step-free?+
Mostly. The official page says the majority of the self-guided visitor route is step free, with step-free entry through the North Door, the Great West Door and the Dean's Yard cloister entrance. The Lady Chapel tombs involve 12 steps, and the Chapter House involves steps too.
