Comparison guide

Westminster Abbey vs Westminster Cathedral

No, they are not the same place. Westminster Abbey and Westminster Cathedral are two separate churches, about a five-minute walk apart in Westminster. They belong to different denominations, look completely different, and only one of them has crowned kings and queens for nearly a thousand years.

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

Quick comparison

Denomination and worship

Westminster Abbey is a Church of England church and a Royal Peculiar, meaning it is directly under the monarch rather than a bishop. It is still a working church with daily services and remains the place where British monarchs are crowned.

Westminster Cathedral is the mother church of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales. It is not a royal church and is not used for coronations or state ceremonies. Mass is celebrated daily, and it is famous for its sung liturgy and its choir school.

Architecture and age

The Abbey was founded in 1065 and rebuilt in the 13th-century Gothic style by Henry III. Inside you see soaring pointed arches, flying buttresses, stained glass and the medieval fan-vaulted ceiling of the Henry VII Lady Chapel. If you are interested in the building itself, see our history of Westminster Abbey.

The Cathedral, by contrast, opened in 1903 and was designed by John Francis Bentley in stripped Byzantine style. Its red-and-white striped brick campanile is visible across Victoria, and the interior is surprisingly plain — the mosaics are still being completed more than a century later.

Cost and tickets

Westminster Abbey charges for sightseeing. Official adult entry is £27.13–£31.00, with over-65s and students at £24.50–£28.00 and children aged 6–17 at £12.25–£14.00. Under-6s go free. Booking online is cheaper than buying at the door and lets you skip the ticket queue. See our visitor guide for full prices and opening hours.

Westminster Cathedral is free to enter. There is no ticket desk for the main church. If you want to climb the campanile tower for a view over Westminster, a small separate charge applies; check the Cathedral website for current times and prices.

Distance and how to do both

The two buildings are roughly 400 metres apart — a five-minute walk along Victoria Street and Francis Street. Many visitors start at the Abbey, then walk to the Cathedral for a free, quieter contrast. The nearest stations are Westminster for the Abbey and Victoria for the Cathedral, although both are within easy walking distance of each other.

Which one has the famous weddings and coronations?

That is Westminster Abbey. Every English and British monarch since 1066 has been crowned here, and it has hosted 16 royal weddings including Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip in 1947 and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in 2011. The Coronation Chair, used at every coronation since 1308, sits inside the Abbey. You can read more about it on our Coronation Chair page.

Westminster Cathedral has no royal coronation or wedding role. It is a Catholic place of worship and a striking architectural stop, but it is not the church most tourists are thinking of when they book tickets for a royal landmark.

Which should you visit?

Choose Westminster Abbey if you want to see medieval Gothic architecture, royal tombs, coronation history, and the setting of royal weddings. It is the one most first-time visitors mean when they say “Westminster.”

Choose Westminster Cathedral if you want a free, peaceful visit, an unusual red-brick Byzantine interior, or a chance to see England’s largest Catholic church. It is an excellent complement to the Abbey, especially if you have already done the main Abbey tour.

Frequently asked questions

Is Westminster Abbey the same as Westminster Cathedral?

No. Westminster Abbey and Westminster Cathedral are two different buildings, about a five-minute walk apart in central London. The Abbey is a medieval Gothic Anglican church and a Royal Peculiar, famous for coronations and royal weddings. The Cathedral is a red-brick Byzantine-style Roman Catholic basilica, opened in 1903, and is the mother church of the Catholic Church in England and Wales.

Which one is the coronation church — Abbey or Cathedral?

Westminster Abbey is the coronation church. Every English and British monarch since William the Conqueror in 1066 has been crowned in the Abbey, including King Charles III in 2023. Westminster Cathedral has no royal coronation role.

Which one had the royal weddings?

The famous royal weddings took place in Westminster Abbey, not Westminster Cathedral. These include Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip (1947), Prince William and Catherine Middleton (2011), and many others. Westminster Cathedral is not used for royal weddings.

How far apart are Westminster Abbey and Westminster Cathedral?

They are roughly 400 metres apart — about a 5-minute walk. Westminster Abbey is on Deans Yard, next to the Houses of Parliament. Westminster Cathedral is on Victoria Street, near Victoria station. Many visitors see both in the same morning.

Do you have to pay to enter Westminster Cathedral?

Entry to Westminster Cathedral is free, though donations are encouraged. To climb the Tower Viewing Gallery there is a separate charge. Westminster Abbey charges for sightseeing tickets; online adult tickets currently start around £27–£31.

Which is older, Westminster Abbey or Westminster Cathedral?

Westminster Abbey is far older. The present Gothic building was begun by Henry III in 1245, and the site has been a church since 1065. Westminster Cathedral was designed by John Francis Bentley and opened in 1903.