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Westminster Abbey

Explore the Westminster Abbey bells | A sound of history

Included with Westminster Abbey tickets

Timings

RECOMMENDED DURATION

2 hours

Westminster Abbey facade with bell towers under a clear blue sky.

From happy customers

Loved by 48 million+
Trustpilot rating: 4.5 out of 5
BOSCONO Virginie

Boscono

Feb 2026
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+2 more

Excellent, what more can I say except that it's magnificent 😍 Rich in history and unforgettable. I highly recommend it, whether you go alone or with your family. Westminster Abbey is very close to Big Ben.
Raffaello Porro

Raffaello

Feb 2026
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It was very good and easy to book. We also were positiey surprised by the possibility to change our scheduled time when we came three hours earlier than planned.
Joshua Hardingham
GB

Joshua

United Kingdom
Feb 2026
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Really well organised and care from the staff even with a misunderstanding at the security check. And despite the weather was still able to see a good bit of the London skyline and landmarks.
Kimberley Ladue
US

Kimberley

United States
Feb 2026
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Ash was very informative, SUPER knowledgeable, quite humorous and super interesting!!! We almost wanted to take notes! We (USA) went with our British friends and they were equally impressed! Super organized, breaks built in...we hated for it to end. Thanks, Ash!!
Karina-Marie Jørgensen Myrhaugen
NO

Karina-marie

Norway
Feb 2026
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Some of the dolls were really good lookalikes, others you could see they were fake. The "Chamber of Horrors" was some of the best at MT. Do not understand why people spend alot of money to buy fast track-tickets during winter, we bought regular tickets at 12.45 - was told to come lining in que at 12.30, and so we did - came in at MT exatly at 12.45.
Ioan-Ciprian Neacsu

Ioan-ciprian

Feb 2026
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Hi , This was 2nd time that i visited ,each time has wonderful , and different , amazonibg place , lots of stuff always implementing new Entertement . Looking forward for 3rd visit hehe
Anne Moni Rudolph

Anne

Feb 2026
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Visiting Tower Bridge was great and interesting. Great view 👌✌️ The Tower was also beautiful. But it wasn't my first visit.
Marine Soler

Marine

Jan 2026
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+1 more

Easy to book, and a good price! The experience itself was really enjoyable. Our hotel was next to Tower Bridge, so a visit was a must! Great views and especially fun to walk across the glass walkway (maybe scary if you're afraid of heights). A visit to the engine room was also very interesting, so definitely recommended for your visit to London!

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Westminster Abbey bells – The ceremonial voice of the Abbey

The Westminster Abbey bells are among London’s most recognisable ceremonial sounds. Located in the Abbey’s northwest tower, these historic bells mark royal ceremonies, national memorials, and weekly worship services. Visitors exploring the abbey can often hear the bells at Westminster Abbey ringing during services and special occasions.

Where is it located?

The Westminster Abbey bells are housed in the northwest tower, overlooking Dean’s Yard and the surrounding Westminster area.

How to access?

Entry to Westminster Abbey includes hearing the Westminster Abbey bells during services or special events, but visitors cannot access the bell chamber or ringing rooms.

Things to know before booking Westminster Abbey bells tickets

  • The Westminster Abbey bells are not a separate attraction and cannot be accessed with any standard or guided Westminster Abbey ticket. Visitors can only experience the bells at Westminster Abbey by hearing them ring during services or ceremonial occasions.
  • Since the Westminster Abbey bells today are part of religious and ceremonial operations, there is no dedicated visitor tour of the bell tower. Special ringing events are performed by trained volunteer ringers and cannot be attended as an exclusive ticketed experience.
  • Bell ringing times differ from general visitor entry hours. The bells at Westminster Abbey are most commonly rung before Sunday services, on major religious feast days, and during state or royal ceremonies. Bell ringing schedules are not publicly released for security and operational reasons.

Westminster Abbey bells in a nutshell

Westminster Abbey facade with bell towers under a clear blue sky.

Highlights: The Westminster Abbey bells create ceremonial soundscapes for royal coronations, national memorials, and weekly worship, preserving centuries of English bell-ringing traditions.

Current use: The bells at Westminster Abbey continue to support religious services and national ceremonies.

Unique facts: The Abbey houses a ring of ten bells used for traditional English change ringing, requiring skilled manual coordination among experienced ringers.

Your Westminster Abbey ticket types

Ticket typeIs Westminster Abbey bells access included?Why go for it?Starting price

Westminster Abbey entry tickets

Yes (auditory experience only)

Budget-friendly Abbey access

From £31

Skip-the-line Westminster Abbey tickets

Yes (auditory experience only)

Saves time during peak seasons

From £79

Westminster Abbey guided tours

Yes (auditory experience only)

Historical insights into Abbey traditions, including bell heritage

From £79

Combo and extended guided tours

Yes (auditory experience only)

Combines Westminster Abbey with London landmarks

From £44.65

What to experience

Choristers in red and white robes walking through Westminster Abbey cloisters.
Nave of Westminster Abbey showcasing Gothic architecture and stained glass windows.
Visitors exploring the ornate interior of Westminster Abbey, London.
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​​The ringing chamber

This chamber houses the rope circle where trained ringers perform change ringing sequences. The Westminster Abbey bells today are rung manually using ropes connected to each bell, creating complex rhythmic patterns rather than melodies.

The bell ensemble

The bells at Westminster Abbey form a coordinated ring of ten bells used for ceremonial ringing. Each bell has inscriptions reflecting historic donors, royal events, and restoration dates that preserve centuries of tradition.

The ceremonial ringing traditions

Visitors often experience the Westminster Abbey bells during Sunday worship, coronations, and state funerals. Each ceremony features different ringing styles, from celebratory peals to slow tolls marking remembrance.

Architectural highlights of Westminster Abbey bells

The northwest tower bell installation

The Westminster Abbey bells are suspended within the northwest tower, an important Gothic architectural feature completed during later Abbey expansions. The tower’s structure supports heavy bell frames and acoustic resonance chambers.

Bell frame and mechanical system

The current bell framework was modernised during 20th-century restoration projects to ensure safer manual ringing. The bells were rehung and tuned to preserve their historical tonal quality while supporting contemporary ringing techniques.

​Abbey architecture

​​Historical and cultural significance of Westminster Abbey bells

The Westminster Abbey bells have shaped British ceremonial identity for centuries. They historically marked monastic prayer hours and later evolved into symbols of national celebration and remembrance. The bells at Westminster Abbey continue to ring during coronations, royal weddings, funerals, and national memorial services, reinforcing their cultural and religious importance.

​Westminster Abbey history

Notable figures associated with Westminster Abbey bells

John Taylor & Co.

Renowned English bell founders responsible for tuning and restoration of several Abbey bells.

Whitechapel Bell Foundry

A historic London bell foundry that refurbished the Westminster Abbey bells during modern restoration works.

Know before you go

Westminster Abbey exterior with Gothic architecture and rose window in London.

There is no fixed public timetable for when the Westminster Abbey bells ring. The bells at Westminster Abbey are traditionally rung before major Sunday services, including morning services and Evensong. On special religious feast days and national commemorative events, the Westminster Abbey bells today may also ring to mark ceremonies.

Full peals of the Westminster Abbey bells are usually reserved for significant national or royal occasions and may last up to three hours. These extended ringing sessions are not announced publicly in advance for security and operational reasons.

If you’re hoping to hear the bells at Westminster Abbey, you should consider visiting on Sunday mornings or during nationally significant ceremonial dates.

Abbey timings
Westminster Abbey interior with ornate arches and choir stalls.

Visitors wanting to hear the Westminster Abbey bells today should consider planning their visit during:

  • Sunday morning worship services
  • Major religious holidays such as Easter and Christmas
  • National commemorative events, including Remembrance Sunday
  • Significant royal or state ceremonies when announced

Arriving early increases the chance of experiencing the bells at Westminster Abbey before services begin, as ringing usually occurs as a traditional call to worship.

Services
Westminster Abbey in London surrounded by trees on a sunny day.

The Westminster Abbey bells are located in the Abbey’s northwest tower, overlooking Dean’s Yard and the surrounding Westminster neighbourhood. While you cannot enter the bell tower, the bells at Westminster Abbey can often be heard clearly across several outdoor areas.

Some of the best listening spots include:

  • The Abbey forecourt near the main entrance
  • Dean’s Yard inside the Abbey precinct
  • Parliament Square and surrounding public spaces

The sound of the Westminster Abbey bells carries across central London, especially during extended ringing sessions or ceremonial events.

Inside Westminster Abbey
Tourists listening to a guide inside Westminster Abbey, London.

Visitors cannot access the bell chamber, ringing chamber, or tower staircases. The tower is a restricted operational space used only by trained bell ringers and Abbey staff. The staircases leading to the Westminster Abbey bells are narrow, steep, and historically protected, which prevents public entry.

While you cannot see the bells at Westminster Abbey up close, guided tours and multimedia guides often explain their historical and ceremonial importance. The auditory experience of hearing the Westminster Abbey bells remains a highlight of many visits.

Westminster Abbey exterior with intricate Gothic architecture, London.

Photography of the Westminster Abbey bells inside the tower is not permitted because the tower is inaccessible to visitors. However, visitors may photograph the exterior towers and the surrounding Abbey grounds.

Recording audio of the Westminster Abbey bells from public spaces is generally allowed, provided visitors follow Abbey rules and do not disrupt services or ceremonial events.

Statues of historical figures inside Westminster Abbey, London.

When the Westminster Abbey bells are ringing during services, you are encouraged to maintain respectful behaviour. Bell ringing signals active worship or ceremonial proceedings.

Visitors attending services should remain quiet during ringing and follow instructions from Abbey staff. Outside visitors listening to the bells at Westminster Abbey in public spaces should also respect the solemnity of remembrance or funeral events.

Plan your visit
Tourists listening to a guide inside Westminster Abbey, viewing the cloisters.

The sound quality of the Westminster Abbey bells today can vary depending on weather conditions.

  • On clear days, the bells at Westminster Abbey travel further across Westminster and the Thames area. 
  • Rain, heavy wind, or city noise may slightly reduce sound clarity.

Visitors standing in enclosed Abbey courtyards or near stone structures often experience stronger acoustic resonance.

Statues of historical figures inside Westminster Abbey, London.
  • Visitors hoping to experience the Westminster Abbey bells should plan their Abbey visit alongside scheduled worship services for the highest likelihood of hearing them ring. Arriving at least 20–30 minutes before services improves the listening experience.
  • Combining your visit with guided tours or multimedia guides can provide valuable context about the history and traditions of the Westminster Abbey bells. 
  • Checking Abbey announcements around national events can also increase the chances of witnessing special ringing ceremonies.

Frequently asked questions about Westminster Abbey bells

Yes, visitors can hear the Westminster Abbey bells, but they cannot access the bell tower or ringing chamber.