Free things to do

Westminster Abbey Evensong: how to attend for free

You can go inside Westminster Abbey for free by attending Choral Evensong. It is a real service, not a tour, and there is no ticket and no booking. Turn up at the North Door about 30 minutes before the service starts, tell a marshal you are there for Evensong, and you will be shown to a seat to hear one of the finest choirs in the world sing in a building where monarchs have been crowned since 1066.

Written and maintained by Dee · About this guide · Last updated 24 July 2026

What is Evensong?

Evensong is the sung form of Evening Prayer in the Church of England. It has been sung in English since the Book of Common Prayer of 1549, and at Westminster Abbey the pattern of daily prayer stretches back to the Benedictine monks who lived here from 1065. The service is mostly sung by the choir rather than the congregation: psalms, two canticles (the Magnificat and the Nunc Dimittis), an anthem, prayers and a short set of readings.

You are not expected to know any of it. You will be handed an order of service that tells you when to sit and stand, and it is completely fine to simply listen. Visitors of every faith and none attend, and nobody will ask you anything about your beliefs.

The music is the reason most people come. The Westminster Abbey Choir is made up of around 30 boy choristers from the Abbey’s own choir school and 12 professional adult singers known as lay vicars. Hearing them in the Quire, under the medieval vaulting, is a very different experience from walking round the same building with an audio guide.

Evensong times

The usual weekly pattern is below. Times do change — the choir is away during school holidays, and major feast days, state occasions and special services can replace or move Evensong. Always check the official services page for the exact date you are planning.

Service times verified 12 August 2026, against the official Westminster Abbey prices and entry times page. Times can change at short notice, so please check before you travel.

How to attend, step by step

1. 1. Check the day’s service. Look at the official Westminster Abbey services page the day before. Confirm that Choral Evensong is being sung (rather than said Evening Prayer) and note the start time.
2. 2. Plan your arrival. Be in the queue around 30 minutes before the start. On summer Saturdays, Sundays and in December, give yourself 45 to 60 minutes if you want a seat in the Quire.
3. 3. Go to the North Door. This is the entrance facing Parliament Square, not the visitor entrance used by ticket holders. Say you are attending Evensong and a marshal will direct you.
4. 4. Expect a security check. Bags are searched and large luggage is not allowed. There is no cloakroom, so travel light.
5. 5. Take the seat you are offered. Marshals fill the Quire stalls first, then the transepts and nave. You cannot choose your own seat, and you should not wander off to look at monuments.
6. 6. Switch your phone off. Not silent — off. Photography, filming and recording are not permitted during the service.
7. 7. Stay to the end. The service runs about 45 minutes. Leaving early is disruptive, and you will be guided out afterwards through the same door.

Where you sit, and why it matters

The best seats are the Quire stalls: carved wooden stalls facing each other in the centre of the church, only a few metres from the choristers. If you arrive early you have a good chance of one, and the sound there is extraordinary.

Once the Quire is full, later arrivals are seated in the transepts and the nave. You will still hear everything clearly, but you may not see the choir. If sitting close matters to you, a quiet weekday in January or February is far easier than a Saturday in August.

What you can and cannot see

In short: Evensong is the best free way to experience the Abbey as a living church, and a sightseeing ticket is the only way to see its monuments and royal history up close. If you want both, book a morning ticket and come back for Evensong the same day. Full prices and timings are on our visiting guide.

Dress code and etiquette

There is no strict dress code. Smart casual is the norm, with shoulders and knees covered as a courtesy. The Abbey is a stone building and can be genuinely cold even in July, so bring a jumper or jacket. Men are asked to remove hats inside.

• Arrive quietly and stay seated once the service begins.
• Phones off, no photography, no filming, no recording.
• Join in or simply listen — both are perfectly welcome.
• A collection may be taken; contributing is optional.
• No food or drink inside, and no large bags or suitcases.

More practical answers are on our visitor FAQ.

Accessibility

Step-free access is available and wheelchair users should speak to a marshal at the North Door, who will arrange seating and, if needed, a different entrance. A hearing loop covers much of the church — switch your hearing aid to the T setting. Large-print orders of service can usually be requested. If you have specific access needs, it is worth emailing the Abbey in advance so they can plan for you.

Getting there and timing your day

The nearest Tube is Westminster (Jubilee, District and Circle lines), about three minutes on foot. St James’s Park is a five-minute walk. For a 5.00pm weekday Evensong you will be travelling into the start of rush hour, so allow extra time. Full directions are on our getting there guide.

A day that works well: arrive for the Abbey’s morning opening with a pre-booked ticket, spend two to three hours seeing Poets’ Corner, the royal tombs and the Coronation Chair, break for lunch and a walk along the river, then return for Evensong in the late afternoon. If you are also planning the Tower of London, see our Abbey and Tower of London ticket comparison.

Other free services at the Abbey

Evensong is the best known, but every act of worship at Westminster Abbey is free to attend. Matins, Holy Communion and the shorter said services are all open to the public, and they are usually far quieter than Evensong. Sunday has a fuller pattern of services through the day. On weekdays there are also short services of prayer on the hour, which last only a few minutes and are announced inside the Abbey.

If a free visit is what you are after, note that neighbouring Westminster Cathedral is free to enter all day and is a five-minute walk away.

Special services

Some services are exceptions to the turn-up-and-walk-in rule. Christmas carol services, Easter liturgies and national or state occasions are often ticketed, balloted or closed to the general public, and the Abbey may be shut to sightseeing on those days too. Check the Abbey’s own calendar before travelling if your date falls near a major festival.

Frequently asked questions

Is Evensong at Westminster Abbey free?

Yes. Choral Evensong is a public act of worship and there is no charge to attend. You do not need a ticket, and you do not need to book. You simply join the queue at the North Door before the service and are shown to a seat. A collection may be taken, but giving is entirely voluntary.

What time is Evensong at Westminster Abbey?

Choral Evensong is usually sung at 5.00pm from Monday to Friday and at 3.00pm on Saturdays and Sundays. Times change during school holidays, on major feast days and when the choir is away, so always check the official Westminster Abbey services page for the day you plan to visit.

Do I need to book Evensong tickets?

No booking is required for ordinary weekday or weekend Evensong. Seats are given out on a first-come, first-served basis when the doors open. A small number of special services, such as Christmas carol services, are ticketed or balloted in advance.

How early should I arrive for Evensong?

Aim to be in the queue about 30 minutes before the service starts — so around 4.30pm for a 5.00pm Evensong. In peak summer months, at weekends and around Christmas, arriving 45 to 60 minutes early gives you a better chance of a seat in the Quire itself rather than the nave.

Which entrance do you use for Evensong?

Worshippers use the North Door, on the Parliament Square side of the Abbey, not the visitor entrance used by ticket holders. Look for the queue and the marshals in robes; tell them you are attending Evensong.

Can you look around the Abbey during Evensong?

No. Evensong is a service, not a tour. Sightseeing stops before the service begins and you will be seated for the duration, roughly 45 minutes. You will see the Quire, the high altar area and parts of the nave, but you cannot walk around Poets' Corner, the royal tombs or the Lady Chapel. For that you need a daytime sightseeing ticket.

Is there a dress code for Evensong?

There is no formal dress code. Smart casual is normal and respectful — shoulders and knees covered is a sensible guide. Hats should be removed by men inside the church. The Abbey can be cold, even in summer, so bring a layer.

Can children attend Evensong?

Yes, children are welcome and there is no minimum age. Evensong lasts about 45 minutes with long, quiet passages, so it suits older children best. If a small child becomes unsettled, marshals will help you leave quietly by a side aisle.

Can I take photos during Evensong?

No. Photography, filming and audio recording are not allowed during services, and phones should be switched off. This is enforced politely but firmly. Photography is permitted during general sightseeing hours in most parts of the Abbey.

Is Evensong a good alternative to buying a ticket?

It is a wonderful free experience, but it is not a replacement for a sightseeing visit. Evensong lets you hear the choir and sit inside the building; a ticket lets you explore the Coronation Chair, the royal tombs, Poets' Corner, the Lady Chapel and the museum at your own pace. Many visitors do both — sightseeing in the morning and Evensong later the same day.