Westminster Abbey has stood at the center of British national life for nearly a thousand years, serving as the coronation church for English and British monarchs since William the Conqueror in 1066. The current Gothic building was largely rebuilt starting in 1245 under Henry III, replacing an earlier church founded around 960 AD, and its soaring nave remains one of the finest examples of medieval English architecture anywhere in the country.
Inside, the Abbey is as much a museum of British history as a working church. Poets’ Corner honors writers from Chaucer to Dickens, the tombs of monarchs from Elizabeth I to Mary, Queen of Scots line the side chapels, and the historic Coronation Chair has been used at every coronation since 1308. Royal weddings, state funerals, and Remembrance services are still held here today.
Tourist visiting hours generally run Monday to Friday from 9:30am to 3:30pm and Saturday from 9am to 3pm, with the last entry roughly 30 minutes before closing; the Abbey is closed to sightseers on Sundays, when it is open only for worship. Hours can shift around services and state events, so it’s worth checking ahead for the day of your visit.