Timing and Westminster Abbey/Queen's Jubilee Exhibit

Yes, you must have a ticket to enter the Abbey before you can continue to the Queen's Galleries.

You've lost me with your question. Are you saying that if you book the 2-2:30 Abbey slot, there are no Galleries tickets for 2:30 or later?

If you're flight arrives on time and there are no issues with the Elizabeth Line that day, you will likely make the deadline of 1:30 for your 1-1:30 time slot.

Is there any way you could go to the Abbey a different day? After a transatlantic flight I know that my attention span in the afternoon would be wasted on all the history of Westminster Abbey.

Are you saying that if you book the 2-2:30 Abbey slot, there are no Galleries tickets for 2:30 or later?

- Yes, that's correct. I know the gallery closes at 3:00, but even a half hour would've been great.

And, it is our only day to see Westminster Abbey. We are usually pretty good about taking in one 'big' event on our first day after international travel, as long as it's not in the evening. It's our only 'must see' of this first day.

If you have never been to Westminster Abbey before and this is your only day to see it, skip the Queen's Galleries entirely and book the 2-2:30 slot.

Just touring the Abbey on your own with the included audioguide can easily take 90 minutes without going up to the Galleries.

Enjoy your visit!

Yes, looking at several dates well into the future that they can only be purchased in succession.
However several times I can see that getting general admission for 2.30 you can get the Queens Gallery for 2.00.
It is also interesting that consistently, even today, 2pm for the Galleries, seems to be available.
However, and it is a big however, there is very sustained evidence looked at over a long time that buying general Abbey entrance tickets ahead of time for later in the day simply isn't necessary.
It is always, and you can track this, the early times that sell out. Take today, 19 August, still peak season. As of 5am only the time slots up to 11.30 are sold out.
Everything beyond 12 noon still has availability,increasing the later in the day you go.
That is totally counter to what you usually read here, where earlier is seen as better.
I also get a general feeling that this buying in advance (as general admission) is all a bit of a misnomer and a regrettable Covid legacy given that London Pass holders and local residents don't have to specify a time, but just use special entrances.

Thanks so much for the insights, I really appreciate them.

And isn31c, you bring up a really good point about advance ticket buying. For the day I'm considering (not that far off!), there are over 200 tixs available for each of the afternoon time slots - and still some available for early in the day. At this point, I may just keep an eye on those numbers and if they stay the same, it may be best to just get our tixs when we get there. And, if tix availability begins to drop, I'll be safe and get the later 2:00 entry.

Rebecca, from my experience in March, those with advance tickets had priority over those without. You also need a couple minutes for security line. Small purse, quick. Daypacks, longer.

Your plan to monitor tickets is good.