Westminster Abbey vs St Paul's Cathedral
Updated October 27, 2026
Verdict
Pick Westminster Abbey if you care about British royal history: the Coronation Chair, the tombs of monarchs, Poets' Corner and the place where 40 monarchs were crowned. Pick St Paul's if you want the dome and the view: 528 steps to the Golden Gallery, included in the ticket, and longer hours (open from 8:30am, last entry usually 4pm). St Paul's is £5 cheaper for an adult. If you can do both, do the Abbey in the morning when it is quietest and St Paul's in the afternoon. They are about 30 minutes apart by Tube. On a Sunday, neither is open for normal sightseeing, but both welcome you to services free.
Westminster Abbey and St Paul's Cathedral are London's two great Church of England churches, about 2.6 km apart. They are very different visits. The Abbey is a Gothic church begun in 1245, the coronation church since 1066, with more than 3,300 people buried or commemorated inside. St Paul's is Sir Christopher Wren's Baroque cathedral, built from 1675 to 1710, and its high point is literal: a dome you climb. The Abbey costs £32 (about $43) for an adult. St Paul's costs £27 (about $36). If you have time for only one, the choice comes down to whether you want history around you or a view over London.
| Criterion | Westminster Abbey | St Paul's Cathedral |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Royal church and coronation site; a Royal Peculiar of the Church of England | Cathedral of the Diocese of London, seat of the Bishop of London |
| Built | Present church begun 1245 under Henry III | 1675–1710, designed by Sir Christopher Wren |
| Style | Gothic | English Baroque, with a dome 365 ft (111 m) high |
| Adult ticket | £32 (about $43) | £27 (about $36) |
| Child ticket | £14 (ages 6–17); free with one paying adult | £10.50 |
| Hours (Mon–Sat) | Opens 9:30am; last admission 3:30pm weekdays, 3:00pm Saturday | Opens 8:30am; last entry usually 4pm; Dome Galleries 9:30am to 4:15pm last entry |
| The high point | Queen's Diamond Jubilee Galleries: 108 steps or a lift, £5 extra | Whispering, Stone and Golden Galleries: 528 steps, stairs only, included |
| Sunday | Worship only, no sightseeing | Dome Sundays gallery tickets (£13.50 adult after 1 September 2026) when offered |
| Choral Evensong | Usual pattern 5pm on most weekdays, 3pm Sunday; free | Most days 5pm, 3pm Sunday; about 45 minutes; free |
| Time to allow | 1.5 to 2 hours for the highlights; 2 to 3 hours with the Galleries | Plan extra time if you climb to all three galleries |
What each one is
Both belong to the Church of England, but they do different jobs. Westminster Abbey is a Royal Peculiar: since 1560 it has answered to the sovereign, not a bishop. It has hosted 40 coronations since 1066, and more than 3,300 people are buried or commemorated there. St Paul's is the cathedral of the Diocese of London. The present building is Wren's, put up after the Great Fire, and it has hosted state occasions of its own, such as Winston Churchill's state funeral in 1965 and the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer in 1981.
What you see inside
Inside the Abbey you walk among tombs and memorials: royal tombs, Poets' Corner, the Coronation Chair, the Lady Chapel, the Cloisters and the Chapter House, all on one ticket with a multimedia guide in 14 languages. St Paul's is about space and light. Its ticket covers the cathedral floor, the Crypt and the three Dome Galleries, plus a free multimedia guide and free tours, according to its own site. The Abbey is dense with names and stories. St Paul's is one huge, open room under a dome.
The dome climb vs the Galleries
St Paul's dome is the bigger physical experience. Its own site counts 257 steps to the Whispering Gallery, 376 to the Stone Gallery and 528 in total to the Golden Gallery, by stairs only. It advises against the climb for people with mobility difficulties or a fear of heights. The Abbey's high point is the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Galleries in the triforium: 108 steps or a lift, over 300 objects, and a view down into the church. They cost £5 more and allow no photography. For a view over London, St Paul's wins. For objects and history, the Abbey's Galleries do.
Price and time
An adult pays £32 (about $43) at the Abbey and £27 (about $36) at St Paul's. Children pay £14 at the Abbey, and one child goes free with each paying adult. At St Paul's they pay £10.50. Both cathedrals let disabled visitors in free with a companion. Time is the bigger difference. The Abbey's last weekday admission is 3:30pm (3:00pm Saturday). St Paul's opens at 8:30am and usually admits until 4pm. On Sundays the Abbey has no sightseeing. St Paul's has offered gallery-only Dome Sundays tickets. Check its site for your date.
Which to choose if you do only one
First trip to London and interested in the monarchy: the Abbey. Travelling with teenagers who want a challenge and a view: St Paul's. Short on daylight in winter: St Paul's, for its longer hours. Want to hear the choir without a ticket: either, because Evensong is free at both. Book a timed Abbey ticket with free cancellation if your day might change. Want the Abbey explained? See the best Westminster Abbey tours.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, Westminster Abbey or St Paul's Cathedral?
For royal history, Westminster Abbey: coronations since 1066 and the tombs of monarchs. For architecture and a view, St Paul's: Wren's dome and 528 steps to the Golden Gallery. St Paul's is cheaper for an adult (£27 against £32).
Is Westminster Abbey the same as St Paul's Cathedral?
No. They are two different churches about 2.6 km apart. Westminster Abbey is in Westminster, by Parliament Square. St Paul's is in the City of London, on Ludgate Hill.
Can you visit Westminster Abbey and St Paul's in one day?
Yes. Go to the Abbey at its 9:30am opening and St Paul's after lunch, since St Paul's usually admits visitors until 4pm. The Tube (District or Circle line from Westminster to Blackfriars) takes about 30 minutes door to door.
Which has the better Evensong?
Both are free and sung most days. St Paul's says its Evensong is most days at 5pm (3pm on Sunday) and lasts about 45 minutes. At the Abbey, the usual pattern is 5pm on most weekdays and 3pm on Sunday. Times change, so check each church's service listing for your day.
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