Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
14:30 are less congested; come after that time and stay for the 17:00 evensong. The
main entrance, on the Parliament Square side, often has a sizable line.
Dress Code:
There is none, even for services.
Getting There:
Near Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament (Tube: Westminster or St.
James's Park).
Information:
Because special events and services can shut out sightseers, check the web-
site or call ahead to confirm that the Abbey is open, and get the latest schedule for
guided tours, concerts, or services (tel. 020/7222-5152,
www.westminster-abbey.org
)
.
If you have questions about the cathedral, ask any marshal in red or volunteer verger
in green. There's surprisingly little posted information on the Abbey's sights, so you
must rely on the audioguide, the vergers, or this topic.
Music and Church Services: Mon-Fri
at 7:30 (prayer), 8:00 (communion), 12:30 (com-
munion), 17:00 evensong (except on Wed, when the evening service is generally
spoken—not sung);
Sat
at 8:00 (communion), 9:00 (prayer), 15:00 (evensong; May-
Aug it's at 17:00);
Sun
services generally come with more music: at 8:00 (commu-
nion), 10:00 (sung Matins), 11:15 (sung Eucharist), 15:00 (evensong), 18:30 (evening
service). Services are free to anyone, though visitors who haven't paid church admis-
sion aren't allowed to linger afterward. Free
organ recitals
are usually held Sun at
17:45 (30 minutes). For a schedule of services or recitals on a particular day, look for
posted signs with schedules or check the Abbey's website.
Tours:
The included
audioguide
is excellent, taking some of the sting out of the steep ad-
mission fee. To add to the experience, you can take an entertaining
guided tour
from
a verger—the church equivalent of a museum docent (
£
3, schedule posted both out-
side and inside entry, up to 5/day in summer, 4/day in winter, 1.5 hours).
Length of This Tour:
Allow 1.5 hours. If you have less time, focus on the main part of
the church, skipping the cloisters and Abbey Museum.
Services:
WCs are inside the abbey, near Poets' Corner. Outside the abbey, the nearest
public WCs (50p) are in front of Methodist Central Hall, the grand domed building
across the street from the Abbey's west entrance.
Photography:
Photos are prohibited, except in the Little Cloister and College Garden.
Eating:
A
café
with table service and simple fare (
£
7 sandwiches,
£
24 afternoon tea) is
in the abbey's cellar; enter through the cloisters. Other options are nearby:
Wesley's
Café,
the cafeteria in the basement of Methodist Central Hall across the street, serves
£
7-9 lunches (Mon-Fri 8:00-16:00, Sat-Sun 9:00-16:00, good free WC). The
Su-
preme Court
building on Parliament Square has a basic basement café and free WCs
(but you have to go through a security checkpoint to get there; Mon-Fri 9:30-16:30,
