Westminster Abbey vs Westminster Cathedral
Updated October 27, 2026
Verdict
If you came for coronations, royal tombs and Poets' Corner, you want Westminster Abbey, on Parliament Square next to the Houses of Parliament. Book a timed ticket and go Monday to Saturday. If you want a free, quiet visit to a huge church covered in marble and mosaics, or a Catholic Mass, go to Westminster Cathedral, near Victoria Station. It is open every day from 7:30am to 7pm. Many visitors do both in one morning: the Cathedral first, then a 15-minute walk down Victoria Street to the Abbey.
Westminster Abbey and Westminster Cathedral are two different churches, and mixing them up is one of the most common mistakes visitors make in London. Westminster Abbey is the Church of England's royal church on Parliament Square, begun in 1245, where monarchs are crowned. Westminster Cathedral is the Catholic cathedral on Victoria Street, finished in 1903, with a striped brick front and a tall bell tower. The Abbey charges £32 (about $43) for sightseeing. The Cathedral is free to enter. They are about 1.1 km apart, roughly a 15-minute walk. Is Westminster Abbey a cathedral? No. It is a Royal Peculiar, a church that answers to the monarch rather than a bishop.
| Criterion | Westminster Abbey | Westminster Cathedral |
|---|---|---|
| Denomination | Church of England (Anglican); a Royal Peculiar | Roman Catholic; the cathedral of the Archbishop of Westminster |
| Where | Parliament Square, by the Houses of Parliament | Off Victoria Street, near Victoria Station |
| Age | Present church begun 1245 | Completed 1903 |
| Style | Gothic | Byzantine-inspired, by John Francis Bentley, red brick and Portland stone |
| Entry | £32 adult (about $43); timed ticket Monday to Saturday | Free; open every day |
| Hours | Opens 9:30am; last admission 3:30pm weekdays, 3:00pm Saturday; Sunday worship only | 7:30am to 7pm daily |
| Tower or high point | Queen's Diamond Jubilee Galleries, £5 extra | Bell tower viewing gallery by lift: £10 adult, tickets from the Cathedral Shop |
| Known for | Coronations since 1066, royal tombs, Poets' Corner | Marble and mosaics; a choir that sings daily Mass and Vespers |
Anglican abbey vs Catholic cathedral
Westminster Abbey belongs to the Church of England. Since 1560 it has been a Royal Peculiar, which means it answers directly to the sovereign, not to a bishop. That is why it is not a cathedral. Westminster Cathedral is the largest Catholic church in England and Wales and the seat of the Archbishop of Westminster. Its choir is, in its own words, the only Catholic cathedral choir in the world to sing daily Mass and Vespers. If you are looking for a Catholic Mass in Westminster, it is the Cathedral you want, not the Abbey. More on this at is Westminster Abbey Catholic.
Where each one is
The Abbey stands on Parliament Square, across the road from the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben. Its visitor entrance is the North Entrance on the square, and Westminster Tube station is about 300 m away. The Cathedral stands back from Victoria Street, a few minutes from Victoria Station. Its own site names Victoria and St James's Park as the nearest stations. Between the two it is about 1.1 km, or about 15 minutes on foot along Victoria Street. Buses 11, 24 and 148 run along Victoria Street and stop at both, for a £1.75 bus fare (£1.85 from 1 November 2026).
Age and style: Gothic vs Byzantine
The Abbey's present church was begun in 1245 under Henry III, in Gothic style: pointed arches, stone vaults and stained glass. The Cathedral is more than 650 years younger. It was finished in 1903 to designs by John Francis Bentley, who based it on early Christian and Byzantine churches. Its front is striped in red brick and Portland stone, and its three domes are concrete. Its bell tower rises 284 feet, and a lift takes visitors to a viewing gallery near the top.
Tickets: paid vs free
The Abbey charges for sightseeing: £32 for adults, £29 for over-65s and students, £14 for children 6–17. Services are free. The Cathedral says it is free to enter and open every day. Its bell tower lift is the only paid part: £10 for adults, £5 concessions and £22 for a family, with tickets sold in the Cathedral Shop (open 10:30am to 4:30pm, Wednesday to Sunday). Ready to book the Abbey? Book a timed Westminster Abbey ticket, or see all tickets and tours.
Which to visit
Choose the Abbey for history: royal coronations, the tombs of monarchs and the memorials of Poets' Corner. Choose the Cathedral for a free visit, for Sunday (when the Abbey is closed to sightseers), or for Catholic worship. Mass is said there several times every day. Short on time? Both fit into one morning. Arrive at the Cathedral after it opens, walk to the Abbey for its 9:30am opening, and be done before the late-morning crowds.
Frequently asked questions
Is Westminster Abbey the same as Westminster Cathedral?
No. Westminster Abbey is the Anglican royal church on Parliament Square. Westminster Cathedral is the Catholic cathedral off Victoria Street, finished in 1903. They are about a 15-minute walk apart.
Is Westminster Abbey a cathedral?
No. It has no bishop's seat. It is a Royal Peculiar of the Church of England, answering directly to the sovereign since 1560.
Is Westminster Cathedral free to enter?
Yes. Its own site says it is free to enter and open every day; the home page lists 7:30am to 7pm. Only the bell tower lift is paid (£10 adult).
Which one has coronations?
Westminster Abbey. It has hosted 40 coronations since 1066, including King Charles III's in 2023.
Can you go to Mass at Westminster Cathedral?
Yes. Its site lists Mass several times a day, for example 8am, 10:30am (Latin), 12:30pm and 5:30pm on weekdays, and five Masses on Sunday. Check its calendar for your day.
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