Should I buy my tickets at home, or can I wait until the day before (or even the morning of) my visit to purchase the tickets? Are they timed? Do they run out of tickets? Also, I won't have access to a printer, so do I need printed tickets or can I just show my phone receipt? We'll be in London for 6 days, so I would like to leave as much flexibility as possible so that we can rearrange our sites by the weather and our energy level, however these are two must sees for me.
Posted by
Downingtown, USA
2457 posts
Can only tell you our experience from three weeks ago so not sure what it would be like in the summer but we had no one in line at St. Paul's and maybe three of four people in front of us at the Abbey. This was mid week in the afternoon. Hope this helps.
Posted by
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, USA
14822 posts
I bought mine at the door last year but we went in the afternoon after lunch. (May) The prior year I bought ahead and then added the verger tour when I got there.
I do suggest you download the Westminster Abbey app before you leave home and cue yourselves to have your earbuds with you. It's an excellent app and much easier to hold than the free audio devices they have in the cathedral.
Posted by
Lynnwood, Washington
8913 posts
Another vote for adding the verger tour at Westminster Abbey.
Posted by
Long Beach, California, USA
3398 posts
If you get there 15-20 minutes before they open there will won't be much of a line compared to later on. Definitely purchase the verger tour...these people are dedicated to all aspects of the abbey and have deep knowledge - so absolutely fascinating. It's only on this tour that you can go up into the space where the tomb of Edward the Confessor is.
Posted by
Los Angeles
980 posts
I think it matters when you will be there. From what I understand, June, July and August are very crowded with tourists. People have likened it to Disneyland. If that's the case, there could be a long line to buy tickets, then a second long line to get through security. Buying tickets in advance save one line. And... yes, the Westminster Abbey has timed entry periods. Not sure about St. Paul's.
People on this board and TripAdvisor recommend going first thing in the morning or late in the afternoon, although the afternoon still worries me with long lines that will zap the fun out of these two places (for my family). We plan to be at the Tower of London and Westminster Abbey before they open in the morning and I will be buying advance tickets as our trip gets closer.
Posted by
11608 posts
There were no lines for St. Paul’s in August while Westminster Abbey had long lines.
Posted by
3 posts
St. Paul's tickets are for the specific day and not timed.