Westminster Abbey

Highlight

Royal Tombs & the Lady Chapel

Westminster Abbey is the final resting place of 17 monarchs, from Edward the Confessor in 1066 to George II in 1760. Most lie in the Henry VII Lady Chapel — a Tudor masterpiece often called “the wonder of the world”.

The interior of Henry VII's Lady Chapel at Westminster Abbey

The Henry VII Lady Chapel

Begun in 1503 and completed in 1516, the Lady Chapel was designed as a burial place for Henry VII and his queen, Elizabeth of York. Their gilded bronze tomb by the Florentine sculptor Pietro Torrigiano sits at the centre — the earliest Renaissance work of art in England.

The fan-vaulted ceiling of Henry VII's Lady Chapel

Kings and queens you’ll find here

  • Edward the Confessor (d. 1066) — behind the High Altar in the shrine he built himself.
  • Henry III (d. 1272) — the king who rebuilt the Abbey in Gothic style.
  • Edward I “Longshanks” (d. 1307) — his tomb is plain black Purbeck marble, at his own request.
  • Henry V (d. 1422) — the victor of Agincourt, in his own chantry chapel above the Confessor’s shrine.
  • Henry VII and Elizabeth of York (d. 1509 / 1503) — the founders of the Tudor dynasty.
  • Mary I and Elizabeth I (d. 1558 / 1603) — the half-sisters share a tomb in the north aisle.
  • Mary, Queen of Scots (d. 1587) — moved here by her son James I in the south aisle.
  • Charles II, William III & Mary II, Anne and George II — the last monarch buried here, in 1760.

Not just royals

The nave and choir hold the graves of Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin, Stephen Hawking and dozens of other scientists, statesmen and composers. The Grave of the Unknown Warrior in the west end of the nave is the only tomb no visitor is ever allowed to walk across.

Tips for your visit

  • Look up in the Lady Chapel — the fan vault is the highlight, and easy to miss if you keep your eyes on the tombs.
  • Photography is not permitted inside the Abbey. Bring your eyes, not your lens.
  • The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Galleries above give a rare medieval triforium view down onto the Coronation Theatre. Timed tickets, worth the extra £5.