Where Is Westminster Abbey? How to Get There
- From
- anywhere in central London
- To
- Westminster Abbey, Parliament Square, London SW1P 3PA
- By
- Tube to Westminster (Jubilee, District and Circle lines)
- Time
- About 4 minutes' walk from Westminster station
- Cost
- £3.10 peak, £3.00 off-peak (Zone 1, pay as you go)
Open directions in Google Maps
Westminster Abbey is in central London, on the south-west side of Parliament Square, opposite the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben. Its address is Dean's Yard, London SW1P 3PA. The nearest Tube station is Westminster, on the Jubilee, District and Circle lines, about 300 m and 4 minutes' walk away. St James's Park station (District and Circle) is about 500 m away. A Zone 1 Tube journey costs £3.10 at peak times and £3.00 off-peak with a contactless card or Oyster. Visitors enter by the North Entrance on Parliament Square. There is no parking at the Abbey.
Step by step
- 1
Take the Tube to Westminster (Jubilee, District or Circle line)
Touch in and out with a contactless card or Oyster. A Zone 1 journey costs £3.10 at peak times (Monday to Friday 6:30 to 9:30am and 4 to 7pm) and £3.00 at other times. A paper cash single costs £7.00, so do not buy one. St James's Park station, on the District and Circle lines, also works and is about 500 m away.
- 2
Leave Westminster station towards Parliament Square and walk about 300 m south-west
Big Ben is beside the station. Cross Parliament Square towards the twin west towers of the Abbey. The walk takes about 4 minutes. From St James's Park station, walk down Tothill Street towards the Abbey, about 6 minutes.
- 3
Go to the North Entrance on Parliament Square, the visitor entrance
Sightseeing visitors with tickets use the North Entrance (North Door). The Great West Door is used for services and individual prayer. Step-free entry is at the North Door, the Great West Door and the Cloister entrance in Dean's Yard.
- 4
Pass through security with a small bag only
Every visitor goes through walk-through security and a bag check. Bags must be no larger than 40 × 30 × 20 cm; backpacks, luggage and anything with wheels are refused. There is no cloakroom or left luggage at the Abbey; the nearest are at Charing Cross and Victoria stations.
Tips
- On foot, Victoria station is about 1,700 m (24 minutes), Waterloo about 1,400 m (19 minutes) and Charing Cross about 1,100 m (16 minutes) from the Abbey.
- Buses 11 and 148 stop at Parliament Square / Westminster Abbey; 24 and 88 also stop at Westminster Abbey stops nearby.
- There is no car park at the Abbey. A drop-off space is outside the West Doors, useful for visitors with limited mobility.
- The Abbey can close at short notice for services and state occasions; check its day listing before you travel.
- Daily fare capping means you never pay more than the daily cap for your zones, however many trips you make.
Other ways to get there
| Method | Time | Cost | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| From Victoria station by bus 11, 24 or 148 | About 12 to 15 minutes | £1.75 bus fare (£1.85 from 1 November 2026) | All three run along Victoria Street to Westminster Abbey stops. Walking takes about 24 minutes (1,700 m). |
| From Waterloo by Tube (Jubilee line) or bus 11 | One stop, plus a 4-minute walk | £3.10 peak / £3.00 off-peak Tube; £1.75 bus | One stop on the Jubilee line to Westminster. Or walk over Westminster Bridge: about 1,400 m, 19 minutes. |
| From Charing Cross or Trafalgar Square by bus 24 or 88 | About 10 minutes | £1.75 bus fare (£1.85 from 1 November 2026) | Both run down Whitehall to Parliament Square. Walking straight down Whitehall takes about 16 minutes (1,100 m). |
| From Heathrow Airport by Tube | About 85 minutes door to door | £5.90 pay as you go (Piccadilly line, Heathrow to Westminster) | Piccadilly line towards central London, then change to the District line (TfL's planner suggests Acton Town) for St James's Park or Westminster. Heathrow journeys through Zone 1 are always charged the peak fare. |
| By river boat to Westminster Pier | About 13 minutes' walk from the pier | River fare set by the boat operator | Westminster Pier is by Westminster Bridge. From the pier, walk past Big Ben and across Parliament Square. |
| By taxi or car | Depends on traffic | Metered fare; no parking at the Abbey | Ask for the West Doors drop-off space. Central London driving charges apply to private cars. |
Frequently asked questions
Where is Westminster Abbey?
In central London, on Parliament Square in the City of Westminster, opposite the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben. The address is Dean's Yard, London SW1P 3PA.
What is the nearest Tube station to Westminster Abbey?
Westminster, on the Jubilee, District and Circle lines, about 300 m and 4 minutes' walk away. St James's Park (District and Circle) is about 500 m away.
Where is the Westminster Abbey entrance?
Visitors with sightseeing tickets use the North Entrance on Parliament Square. Services use the Great West Door. Step-free entrances are the North Door, the Great West Door and the Cloister entrance in Dean's Yard.
How far is it to walk from Victoria station to Westminster Abbey?
About 1,700 m, roughly 24 minutes along Victoria Street. Buses 11, 24 and 148 cover the same route in about 12 to 15 minutes.
Is there parking at Westminster Abbey?
No. There is a drop-off space outside the West Doors, but no car park. Public transport is the easy option.
Sources