London Tickets
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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.

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

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

​​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.