Where is the Coronation Chair in Westminster Abbey?

The Coronation Chair sits in St George's Chapel, just inside the Great West Door of Westminster Abbey. It's the first major exhibit visitors see on arrival and is kept behind a glass display case so you can walk right up to it.

How old is the Coronation Chair?

The Coronation Chair was commissioned in 1300 by King Edward I, making it more than 700 years old. It is one of the oldest pieces of furniture in the world still used for its original purpose — the coronation of a British monarch.

Is the Stone of Scone still in the Coronation Chair?

No. The Stone of Scone was returned to Scotland in 1996 and now lives at Edinburgh Castle. It travels back to Westminster Abbey only for coronations, most recently for the crowning of King Charles III in May 2023.

Highlight

The Coronation Chair at Westminster Abbey

The Coronation Chair at Westminster Abbey is a 700-year-old oak throne, commissioned by King Edward I in 1300 and used at every English and British coronation since 1308 — including King Charles III in May 2023.

Key facts

Location: St George's Chapel, Westminster Abbey
Made in: 1300–1308 (oak)
First used: Coronation of Edward II, 1308
Most recent use: King Charles III, 6 May 2023

The Coronation Chair at Westminster Abbey in St George's Chapel

A chair built for a stone

Edward I commissioned the Coronation Chair in 1300 to house the Stone of Scone — the ancient sandstone block used to crown Scottish kings — which he had seized from Scotland four years earlier. The stone was returned to Scotland in 1996 but travels back to the Abbey for each coronation.

Signatures in the oak

Look closely and you’ll see graffiti scratched into the seat and legs, mostly by Westminster schoolboys and choristers in the 18th and 19th centuries. “P. Abbott slept in this chair 5–6 July 1800” is the most famous.

Where to find it

The chair sits in its own display case in St George’s Chapel, just inside the Great West Door. You’ll pass it as you enter — a good moment to pause before the crowds gather around it. See our Westminster Abbey opening hours and ticket prices for the best time to arrive, or plan the journey with our guide to getting to Westminster Abbey by Tube, bus and river.

Tips for your visit

The chair is behind protective glass, but you can walk right up to it.
Photography is allowed here (though not everywhere in the Abbey).
Ask a verger to point out the surviving gilded lion feet and the empty space where the Stone of Scone would sit.

Coronation Chair FAQ

Where is the Coronation Chair in Westminster Abbey?: The Coronation Chair sits in St George's Chapel, just inside the Great West Door of Westminster Abbey. It's the first major exhibit visitors see on arrival and is kept behind a glass display case so you can walk right up to it.
How old is the Coronation Chair?: The Coronation Chair was commissioned in 1300 by King Edward I, making it more than 700 years old. It is one of the oldest pieces of furniture in the world still used for its original purpose — the coronation of a British monarch.
Is the Stone of Scone still in the Coronation Chair?: No. The Stone of Scone was returned to Scotland in 1996 and now lives at Edinburgh Castle. It travels back to Westminster Abbey only for coronations, most recently for the crowning of King Charles III in May 2023.