Timed Entry vs. Tour Westminster/Tower

Posted by mncmom on 06/23/23 07:06 PM

We are heading to London for just a few days in August. I know it will be crowded and do not mind that, but still want to avoid long lines.
I have heard about how great the verger tours are once inside the Abbey, but are wondering if we got the first timed entry in the morning, is it still so crowded and impossible to get a verger tour, or should we go with the London Walks tour which we have heard good things about that supposedly skips the line?

This holds true for the Tower of London the next day. Better to go with a tour that gets you in early and supposedly skips the line or go for the first timed entry which I am concerned is still crowded despite the timed entry?

Thank you for you input.

Posted by Claudia

Land of La

06/24/23 02:05 AM

9261 posts

I’d go with London Walks.

Posted by CL

Salem, Oregon, USA

06/25/23 02:11 PM

2760 posts

I did the London Walks tour of Westminster Abbey in June 2022. The guide (Isobel) was great and skipping the line with the group was helpful on a busy Saturday. Note they only offer the tour on Monday and Saturday and you need to reserve a slot in advance. August dates could be booked, so look into it now if you are there on one of those days. https://www.walks.com/our-walks/westminster-abbey-tour/

Posted by Nigel

Northamptonshire, England

06/25/23 06:26 PM

33991 posts

The Tower of London provides free Beefeater tours - they all live in the Tower - all day, every few minutes, so there is no need to hire a guide there. Buy online and there will be no line. Everybody, no matter who, has to go through security and bag check.

Posted by MaryC

Louisiana, USA

06/25/23 11:34 PM

370 posts

I have done a London Walks tour and a Verger Tour in Westminster Abbey and I preferred the Verger Tour. (I'm not disparaging the London Walks Tour, it was great). The Verger Tour takes you into the Shrine of St. Edward the Confessor, which you don't get with a London Walks Tour.

When I visited Westminster Abbey a few weeks ago (on a Monday), I booked the earliest time slot and when I got in, it was not crowded yet and I got to see Elizabeth the First's grave as well as Mary Queen of Scots and the Lady Chapel with almost no one else there. And the side areas with graves were also not crowded at all. I saw all of this before the Verger Tour started, and by the time the tour was finished, everywhere was very crowded. So I was very satisfied that I had managed it the best way I could.

When I did the London Walks Tour, the Abbey was crowded the entire time.