What makes this different from a group tour of Westminster Abbey?

A group tour means sharing your guide's attention and pace with everyone else in line. This Westminster Abbey private tour is just your party and a Blue Badge guide, so the questions, the pace, and the focus of the visit are entirely yours.

Does this private Westminster Abbey tour include the Guard Change?

No. This private tour does not include the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace. It's focused entirely on Westminster Abbey and Parliament Square.

Where do we meet, and where does the tour end?

The tour meets at the Viscount Palmerston Statue in Parliament Square, and ends at Westminster Abbey's Deans Yard.

Can we choose what we see inside the Abbey?

Yes, to an extent. Your guide covers the Abbey's essential highlights, the Coronation Chair, the Grave of the Unknown Warrior, Poets' Corner, and more, but because it's a private tour, you can ask to spend more time in the areas that interest you most.

Can I take photos inside Westminster Abbey?

No. Photography isn't permitted inside Westminster Abbey, with one exception: the Cloisters, where you'll have a chance to take photos.

Can guests with mobility needs join this tour?

Yes. Westminster Abbey is wheelchair accessible, and this tour is suitable for guests with limited mobility, including those using crutches. Hearing aids work well with the guide's commentary throughout.

Is this suitable for children?

This tour works for guests of all ages, and the private format makes it easier to keep younger visitors engaged, since your guide can adjust the pace and depth as needed.

What should I bring or wear?

Wear comfortable walking shoes. Expect to cover about a mile on foot, and note that all guests pass through security and possible bag searches before entering the Abbey.

Is a group (non-private) version of this tour available?

Yes, a group version of this tour is also available if a private experience isn't what you're looking for.

What happens if it rains?

The tour runs rain or shine, so plan accordingly with a coat or umbrella if needed.

Is gratuity included?

Gratuities aren't included in the price, though they're appreciated if your guide made the visit a little easier.

Westminster Abbey Private Tour

Ask anything, see everything

New tour

per tour

Westminster Abbey Private Tour: Ask anything, see everything

Destination

London, UK

Duration

2.5 hours

Tour size

Max 6

Language

English

Overview

A group tour means sharing your guide with twenty strangers and hoping your question gets asked in time. This private tour skips that: skip-the-line entry, a Blue Badge guide, and two and a half hours that are entirely yours.

•Walk through Parliament Square past statues of Churchill, Mandela, and Lincoln before heading inside
•Step past the line with skip-the-line entry into Westminster Abbey
•Stand beside the Coronation Chair, used at every coronation since 1066
•Sit in the Nave for a moment most group tours never get time for
•Shape the visit around whatever in the Abbey you actually want to see

What's included

A Blue Badge private guide for the full 2.5 hours
Skip-the-line entry into Westminster Abbey
A fully private group, just your party and your guide
The flexibility to ask questions and shape the visit as you go

You will visit

Westminster Abbey

What to expect

Parliament Square: statues and a 900-year story

Begin at Parliament Square, surrounded by the Houses of Parliament, the Supreme Court, and Whitehall, a square that's hosted centuries of political demonstration and celebration. Your guide points out the bronze statues of Winston Churchill, Nelson Mandela, Abraham Lincoln, and Millicent Fawcett among the twelve figures standing here. Ahead, Westminster Abbey waits, the only building in Britain that's hosted a coronation every single time one's been needed since 1066.

The Cloisters & Coronation Chair: the one place you're allowed a photo

Skip the line into the Abbey and head straight for the Cloisters, one of the only spots inside where photography is allowed. Your guide points out the Coronation Chair, the seat used at every coronation for the past 900 years, and the Grave of the Unknown Warrior. It's one of the few stretches of the visit where you'll actually get to sit down.

“Group tours rush past the Coronation Chair. Private guests stop, ask why it looks the way it does, and I actually get to answer.”

Michael,

WalksDevour Tour Guide

“We built this so the only limit on what you learn about the Abbey is how many questions you're willing to ask.”

Tom,

WalksDevour Tour Designer