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Westminster Abbey

Poets’ Corner at Westminster Abbey

Included with Westminster Abbey tickets

Timings

RECOMMENDED DURATION

2 hours

Tomb and statues in Poets' Corner, Westminster Abbey, London.

Poets’ Corner at Westminster Abbey — The abbey’s literary shrine

Poets’ Corner at Westminster Abbey honours Britain’s greatest literary voices through graves, memorials, and sculptures. Located in the abbey’s south transept, the Poet’s Corner began with Geoffrey Chaucer’s burial in 1400 and has grown into a national cultural landmark celebrating over 100 of the world’s most influential writers, playwrights, and poets.

Where is it located?

Poets’ Corner is located in the south transept of Westminster Abbey, near the nave and close to several royal memorials and chapels.

How to access?

Access to Westminster Abbey Poets' Corner is included with all valid Westminster Abbey admission tickets. Visitors reach the Poet's Corner while following the standard visitor route through the abbey.

Things to know before booking Poets’ Corner tickets

  • Entry to Poets’ Corner is included in all valid admission tickets to Westminster Abbey. You do not need to purchase a separate ticket specifically for the Poet's Corner.
  • Skip-the-line Westminster Abbey tickets and guided tours can help visitors reach the Poets' Corner faster, especially during peak tourist seasons when visitor numbers increase significantly.
  • There are no additional fees for entering the Poet's Corner at Westminster Abbey. However, guided tours that include expert commentary often cost more because they provide deeper historical insights into the writers commemorated there.
  • Poets’ Corner follows Westminster Abbey’s general visiting hours. The abbey is typically open for sightseeing Monday to Saturday, while Sundays are reserved exclusively for worship services, meaning tourists cannot access Poets’ Corner for sightseeing on Sundays.
  • Note that the Poets’ Corner at Westminster Abbey is both a memorial site and a burial space. Respectful behaviour is expected, and photography is not permitted anywhere inside Westminster Abbey.

Poets’ Corner at Westminster Abbey in a nutshell

Statue of William Shakespeare in Westminster Abbey Poets' Corner, London.

Must-see highlights: Graves of Charles Dickens and Alfred Lord Tennyson, Shakespeare’s monument, and memorials honouring over 100 literary legends.

Current use: The Poets’ Corner at Westminster Abbey continues to function as a national memorial for influential writers.

Unique fact: Not all writers buried here were poets; novelists, playwrights, and critics are also commemorated in the Poets’ Corner.

Your Poets’ Corner ticket types

Ticket typeIs Poets’ Corner access included?Why go for it?Starting price
Westminster Abbey tickets

Yes

Budget-friendly standard entry

From £31

Skip-the-line tickets

Yes

Saves time during peak hours

From £79

Tickets with multimedia guide

Yes

Self-guided learning experience

From £31

Westminster Abbey guided tours

Yes

Expert historical storytelling and structured visit

From £79

Popular memorials and graves inside Poets’ Corner at Westminster Abbey

Monument inside Westminster Abbey with intricate sculptures and historical inscriptions.
Statue of William Shakespeare at Westminster Abbey, London.
Engraving of a thoughtful man with a beard, associated with Charles Dickens.
Westminster Abbey exterior with tourists, London.
People gathered outside Westminster Abbey, London, admiring its Gothic architecture.
Westminster Abbey facade with intricate Gothic architecture in London.
Westminster Abbey facade with intricate architecture, London.
Westminster Abbey facade with towers and clock, London.
Westminster Abbey facade with bell towers under a clear blue sky.
Westminster Abbey facade with intricate Gothic architecture and rose window in London.
Westminster Abbey facade with intricate Gothic architecture in London.
Westminster Abbey facade with twin towers in London.
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Geoffrey Chaucer’s grave

Famous for: The Canterbury Tales

Buried in 1400, Chaucer’s resting place began the story of Poets' Corner. His works gave voice to medieval society with humour, satire, and storytelling artistry.

Shakespeare’s monument

Famous for: Plays and sonnets

Shakespeare is buried in Stratford, but a grand monument here honours him. His works shaped English theatre, poetry, and global literature profoundly.

Charles Dickens’ grave

Famous for: Oliver Twist, A Christmas Carol

Buried in Poets’ Corner in 1870, Dickens’ vivid characters and social commentary reshaped Victorian literature and remain beloved worldwide today.

Samuel Johnson

Famous for: A Dictionary of the English Language

Johnson’s memorial reflects his towering influence. His dictionary, essays, and literary criticism remain milestones in shaping English language and thought.

Alfred, Lord Tennyson

Famous for: In Memoriam, The Charge of the Light Brigade

Poet Laureate Tennyson was buried here in 1892. His works capture Victorian ideals, grief, and national spirit through powerful, lyrical poetry.

Thomas Hardy

Famous for: Tess of the d’Urbervilles, Far from the Madding Crowd

Hardy’s ashes were interred here in 1928. His novels and poetry vividly portray human struggle and rural life in Victorian England.

Jane Austen

Famous for: Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility

Though buried in Winchester Cathedral, Austen is memorialised here. Her wit and social observation transformed the English novel into timeless artistry.

Rudyard Kipling

Famous for: The Jungle Book

Buried in 1936, Kipling’s memorial celebrates his storytelling genius and contributions as a Nobel Prize–winning poet and novelist.

W. H. Auden

Famous for: Funeral Blues, September 1, 1939

Auden’s plaque was added in 1974. His poetry spans personal emotion and public crisis, making him one of the twentieth century’s leading voices.

Ted Hughes

Famous for: Birthday Letters, The Hawk in the Rain

Hughes’ memorial was unveiled in 2011. His intense poetry, often rooted in nature, confirmed his status as a major literary figure.

George Eliot

Famous for: Middlemarch, Silas Marner

Eliot, real name Mary Ann Evans, is memorialised here for her groundbreaking novels, which combined psychological insight with deep moral questions.

William Blake

Famous for: Songs of Innocence and of Experience

Blake’s memorial honours his radical poetry and visionary art, which redefined Romanticism and continues to inspire creativity and imagination today.

Architectural highlights of Poets’ Corner at Westminster Abbey

Gothic south transept design

The Poet's Corner at Westminster Abbey is framed by medieval Gothic stonework dating largely to the 13th century. Pointed arches, ribbed vaults, and stained glass enhance the memorial setting.

Layered memorial arrangement

Memorials cluster closely together, with floor slabs beside grand wall tablets. This dense arrangement reflects centuries of literary commemoration in one compact space.

Distinct sculptures

Several writers are honoured with lifelike statues. Shakespeare’s monument shows him leaning on books, while Addison’s sculpture includes allegorical figures of poetry and learning.

Floor slabs

Many memorials are simple stones set into the floor. Dickens’ grave, marked by a modest slab, contrasts with larger commemorative tablets.

Wall tablets

Stone tablets line the transept walls, inscribed with verses and dedications. These create a layered narrative of British literature through different centuries.

Modern additions

Recent memorials are more understated, like Ted Hughes’ stone. This contrast highlights evolving traditions while preserving continuity within the Abbey’s literary shrine.

​Westminster Abbey architecture

Historical and cultural significance of Poets’ Corner at Westminster Abbey

The Poets’ Corner at Westminster Abbey symbolises Britain’s literary heritage. Beginning with Chaucer’s burial, it evolved into a national shrine reflecting cultural identity, storytelling traditions, and the historical importance of literature in shaping British society and global literary influence.

  • Chaucer’s burial: In 1400, Geoffrey Chaucer was buried here, sparking the tradition of writers being honoured in Westminster Abbey’s south transept.
  • Tudor expansion: During the Tudor era, more writers were interred, establishing Poets’ Corner as a growing national memorial for England’s literary figures.
  • 18th-century flourish: The 1700s saw a surge of memorials, with Shakespeare’s monument added, strengthening Poets’ Corner’s symbolic role in British culture.
  • Victorian additions: The 19th century brought memorials to Dickens and Tennyson, expanding Poets’ Corner into a diverse record of literary achievement.
  • Modern memorials: Twentieth and twenty-first century commemorations added writers like Auden and Ted Hughes, proving Poets’ Corner remains an evolving cultural tradition.

​History of Westminster Abbey

Know before you go

Westminster Abbey interior view with Anglican Church architecture and stained glass.

Poets’ Corner at Westminster Abbey follows Westminster Abbey’s general sightseeing hours, as it is located within the main visitor route.

Westminster Abbey is typically open to visitors from Monday to Saturday, usually from 9am until 3:30pm, with last entry often about one hour before closing.

The abbey is closed to tourists on Sundays, as the space is reserved for worship services only.

Timings may vary during religious ceremonies, state events, or special services, which can temporarily restrict visitor access to the Poets’ Corner and surrounding transept areas.

Abbey timings

Poets’ Corner at Westminster Abbey is situated in the south transept of the abbey, one of the building’s main cross sections extending from the nave.

You can reach the Poets’ Corner by following the designated visitor pathway after entering through the main entrance near the Great West Door. Directional signage inside the abbey helps guide you toward the Poets’ Corner. The location sits close to important royal and historical memorials, making it easy to combine with other major highlights during a standard abbey visit.

Directions
Girl in a wheelchair holding a smartphone on a city sidewalk.
  • Wheelchair access: Poets’ Corner is wheelchair accessible, with ramps and pathways connecting it to the Abbey’s main visitor routes. The flooring inside the Poets’ Corner at Westminster Abbey includes historic stone slabs that may be slightly uneven, so visitors are encouraged to move carefully. 
  • Wheelchair rental: Manual wheelchairs are available on request at the abbey entrance, subject to availability. 
  • Hearing support: Portable induction loops are available, aiding visitors with hearing impairments during guided tours and audio commentary sessions.
  • Seating areas: Benches are positioned nearby, offering resting points for visitors needing breaks while exploring the Abbey’s south transept.
High Altar at Westminster Abbey with ornate gold detailing and religious artwork.
  • Photography guidelines: Photography and filming are not permitted anywhere inside Westminster Abbey, including the Poets’ Corner.
  • Respectful conduct: Poets’ Corner is both a historic monument and a burial site. Visitors should behave quietly, respecting those commemorated and others paying tribute.
  • Restricted access: Certain areas around memorials may be cordoned to protect fragile stones and prevent overcrowding near highly visited commemorations.
  • What's not allowed: Eating, drinking, and mobile phone calls are also discouraged within the abbey. 
Tourists listening to a guide inside Westminster Abbey, viewing the cloisters.
  • Read floor stones: Many visitors overlook small slabs underfoot. These often mark significant figures, so looking down can reveal hidden memorials.
  • Check corners: Memorials are tucked into alcoves and recesses. Scan side walls carefully to notice tablets often bypassed by hurried groups.
  • Spot inscriptions: Some stones include carved quotations or epitaphs. Reading these adds depth and reveals how contemporaries viewed the writer’s legacy.
  • Contrast styles: Compare ornate Victorian memorials with minimalist modern stones. The changing styles reflect shifts in cultural commemoration through centuries.
  • Follow guides: Using an audio guide or joining a guided tour helps you understand the historical connections between writers commemorated here. Abbey guides often point out overlooked memorials, such as smaller plaques for essayists or translators otherwise missed by casual visitors.
  • Best time to visit: Arriving earlier in the day often provides a quieter experience, allowing you to explore Poets’ Corner with fewer crowds. 

​​Frequently asked questions about Poets’ Corner at Westminster Abbey tickets

It is a famous section in the South Transept of the Abbey where more than 100 poets, playwrights, and writers are buried or commemorated. It serves as a national memorial to British literary heritage.