Westminster Abbey in London, England, is a remarkable sight. Built in 1065, this gorgeous cathedral houses numerous famous tombs. It is a working church with services held regularly. Read on to learn how to visit Westminster Abbey-the "must-see" tombs.
Know the days and times the Abbey is open to visitors. On Sundays and religious holidays like Easter or Christmas, the Abbey is open for worship only. Anyone may enter to worship, but tours are not available. On Monday through Saturday, the church is open from 9:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Other locations within the Abbey such as the gift shop and museum are open different hours than the main church. Please visit the official Westminster Abbey website (see resources below) to double-check the times and admission fees for the date you plan to visit.
Take a tour of Westminster Abbey. Verger-led tours, lasting 90 minutes, are popular. (A verger is a lay minister.) These tours in English are for 25 people or less and cover the Shrine (containing the tomb of Saint Edward the Confessor), the Royal Tombs, Poet's Corner, the Cloisters and the Nave. Handheld audio guides are also available in a variety of languages.
Use public transportation to get to the Abbey. Since it is located in one of the most congested parts of central London, car parking is not available. Take the Tube and use the St James's Park or Westminster stops on the District and Circle Lines or the Westminster stop using the Jubilee line. The large red double-decker London buses also stop close by the Abbey, as do most sight-seeing bus tours.
Familiarize yourself with some of the famous people buried at the Abbey. Sir Isaac Newton, Geoffrey Chaucer, Tennyson, Robert Browning, Charles Dickens, Rudyard Kipling, Thomas Hardy, George Frederic Handel, Laurence Olivier, Henry III, Henry V, Edward I, Edward III, Richard II, Mary I, Elizabeth I, and Mary Queen of Scots all have their final resting places at the Abbey. Maps of the tombs are available to help you use your time wisely.
