Westminster Abbey; Evensong

Choral evensong offers you a chance to experience Westminster Abbey as intended where you can enjoy the ethereal voices of the choir. Whilst Westminster Abbey relies on paid admission charges to cover their running costs, it remains a working church offering free entry to those that wish to worship by attending a service.  For those looking to enjoy a sightseeing visit, follow our Cheap Ticket & Promotional Voucher Guide to Westminster Abbey that will save you time and money.

Westminster Abbey Evensong; FREE Entry

Westminster Abbey is free to those that wish to worship and join for Evening Song that regularly takes place during the year. Whilst this is a religious service rather than a sightseeing option, it does offer you an opportunity to take in the ecclesiastical magnificence of the Abbey.  Worth planning ahead with this experience, as those that manage to secure seats within the favoured Quire, will be rewarded with an unrestricted view. The choristers all come from the well respected Westminster Abbey Choir School & offers visitors a chance to hear the choir in all their glory.

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Westminster Abbey; The Quire

Westminster Abbey Evensong; All You Need To Know

Evensong is open to the general public on a first-come-first-served basis & allows you to experience the Abbey in all its splendour. Whilst you do not need to be be of a religious faith to access this service, you simply need to be willing to listen to the ethereal voices of the choir. Evensong is a non-ticketed event that offers FREE entry to those that will to attend but is subject to capacity limitations. You’ll find the entrance for Evensong is via the Great West Doors at Westminster Abbey – this is usually the point of exit if you were on a sightseeing tour.

It is important to emphasize that this is a religious service and whilst you gain free access into Westminster Abbey, there will won’t be any opportunities to explore the Abbey before, during or after the service. You will be directed straight to your seat before Evensong begins and ushered out following the end of the service.  For those looking for a fuller look around the Abbey, worth checking out our round-up of Cheap Tickets & Promotions for Westminster Abbey.

Westminster Abbey Evensong; The Quire

In our view, the best seats for Evensong are located within The Quire where you can to sit on the pews alongside the choir.  With an unrestricted view of events & the choir, you are situated within the heart of proceedings, surrounded by the architectural beauty of Westminster Abbey. To gain access to The Quire, you will need to be at the front of the evensong queue that gradually builds by the Great West Doors. Seats are filled from The Quire first, once this area is full, people are then ushered to alternative seating that can offer a more limited view of the choir.

The best way to secure seating within the Quire is to ensure you arrive with sufficient time to ensure you are placed near the front of the queue. During a previous visit, we arrived an hour before Evensong and were rewarded with seats within the Quire.

Alternatively if you have visited Westminster Abbey & wish to stay for Evensong, you can remain within Nave rather than joining the queue outside.  Simply let Westminster Abbey staff know this is your intention and then join the queue as the doors open. Remember if you have booked tickets directly with Westminster Abbey, you can return for FREE on two more occasions during a 12 month period.  This does offer you the opportunity to enjoy Evensong another time should you be tired following your first visit to the Abbey.

Worth noting that photography is not allowed during the service and attire should be respectful.

Westminster Abbey Evensong; Dates & Times

Dates & times for Evensong vary throughout the year and doesn’t run every day of the week.  Westminster Abbey publishes a weekly timetable of services taking place so worth checking dates & times before planning your visit.

More information available over at Evensong at Westminster Abbey.