This autumn, Westminster Abbey opens its doors for a series of special talks and tours, revealing the faith, power, history, and hidden stories that have shaped the royal church for centuries.
Among the highlights are an evening with renowned historian Helen Castor in the spectacular setting of the Abbey’s Lady Chapel. Helen’s talk will examine the relationship between royal cousins Richard II and Henry IV, and how their power struggle shaped English history.
Ahead of the Abbey’s annual pilgrimage to the Shrine of St Edward the Confessor, there will also be opportunities to explore the history and enduring importance of Christian pilgrimage. Professor Kathryn Hurlock’s lunchtime talk, ‘How pilgrimage changed the world’, will look at how pilgrimage has shaped faith, politics and societies; while a special themed tour will take visitors on a journey through centuries of pilgrimage at the Abbey.
As we look ahead to Christmas, a lunchtime talk with Kirsty Parsons from the Charles Dickens museum will tell the story of how Dickens’ Victorian values continue to influence our Christmas celebrations today.
There will be opportunities for families to explore the Abbey too, with a series of themed tours; and a BSL tour will uncover curious tales from the Abbey’s history.
Full autumn season listings:
An evening with Helen Castor
Thursday 9th October, 7.00pm – 8.00pm
Join renowned historian Helen Castor in Westminster Abbey’s Lady Chapel for an exclusive after-hours talk and Q&A. Within metres of Richard II’s tomb, she will explore the turbulent relationship between Richard II and his cousin Henry IV, whose struggle for power reshaped England’s history. This special event marks the paperback launch of The Eagle and the Hart.
Lunchtime talk: How pilgrimage changed the world
Wednesday 8th October, 1.00pm – 1.50pm
Step into the world of pilgrimage with Professor Kathryn Hurlock, author of Holy Places: How Pilgrimage Changes the World. Explore how centuries of journeys have shaped faith, politics, and societies, transforming cities, anointing dynasties, and offering people across the globe a chance to reflect.
Lunchtime Talk: Henry VII, power and propaganda
Wednesday 12th November, 1.00pm – 1.50pm
Explore how Henry VII used power, image, and ceremony to cement the Tudor dynasty in this sharp Lunchtime Talk with historian Nathen Amin. From coins and marriage alliances to public ceremonies and diplomacy, discover how he shaped perceptions of his reign, and the lasting legacy of the Lady Chapel at Westminster Abbey, the final resting place of many Tudors.
Lunchtime talk: Dickens and Christmas
Wednesday 10th December, 1.00pm – 1.50pm
Discover how Charles Dickens, famed novelist and social critic, helped shape the way we celebrate Christmas. In this festive Lunchtime Talk, curator Kirsty Parsons from the Charles Dickens Museum explores how Dickens’ ideas about tradition and community were shaped by Victorian society, and how they continue to influence our Christmas celebrations today.
Tours
Medieval Monastery
Selected dates in September
Uncover the fascinating story of Westminster Abbey’s Benedictine monastery, from the arrival of its first twelve monks in 960 AD to its dramatic dissolution under Henry VIII in 1540.
Tour: Pilgrimages through time
Selected dates throughout October, times vary
Explore the history of pilgrimage through the sacred spaces of Westminster Abbey, from its Christian origins to modern interpretations. Experience the Abbey through a pilgrim’s eyes on this tour which will visit St Edward the Confessor’s shrine, where medieval pilgrims first came over 800 years ago. From the poetic tributes of Poets’ Corner to the solemn remembrance at the Grave of the Unknown Warrior, uncover nearly a thousand years of remarkable stories and devotion.
Family tours – Under our feet
Selected dates in October and November, times vary
Step beneath Westminster Abbey and uncover the extraordinary stories hidden below. On this family-friendly tour, hear surprising endings, curious burials, and even an unlucky cat, while discovering how the Abbey has been a place of worship and memory for over 3,000 people. Plagues, palaces, royals, rebellion and fascinating history awaits under your feet.
BSL tour – Curious Tales from the Abbey
Saturday 8th November, times vary
Join British Sign Language guide Edward Richards on a fascinating tour of Westminster Abbey, uncovering the unusual stories of those buried and remembered here, from a man who claimed to be 152 at his death to playwright Ben Jonson, buried standing upright. Suitable for BSL users and learners, this tour reveals a surprising and unconventional side of the Abbey’s history.
