This one got me thinking beforehand… If I could only visit one landmark then which one would I prefer more, Westminster Abbey or St Paul’s Cathedral? Hopefully this article answers that question for you. I’ve scored it further down.
If you’re looking to visit some of London’s most historical attractions both of these will rank highly in the long list of suggestions from anyone who knows London well enough.
My view is you simply have to at least one if not both of these while you’re in London so hopefully this guide helps you decide which is the best for you. Everyone has different highlights that they want to see in an ancient, famous city church.
First of all let’s get down to the numbers
| St Pauls Cathedral | Westminster Abbey | |
| Height | 366 feet high | 101 feet high |
| Admission price | £25 online | £29 online |
| Time needed to visit | 2 hours | 2 hours |
| Length | 555 feet | 530 feet |
St Paul’s is a bigger building but remember size isn’t everything so let’s cover the highlights of what both London attractions have to offer.
Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey has more of a traditional church feel to it, lots of gold and brown detail and more of a wooden look and feel compared to St Paul’s white marble. It has lots of segregated tombs, alcoves and rooms but all kept to the ground floor level. There are centuries of British history kept under one roof. There are more than 3,300 buried or honoured here including Kings, Queens, scientists, poets and other historical figures.
Who’s buried at Westminster Abbey?
Ready for it? Anne of Cleves, Sir Isaac Newton, Edward the Confessor, Charles Darwin, Rudyard Kipling, Charles Dickens and many others are buried here. It definitely has the bigger pull in terms of significant burials.
The highlights and best bits – What you get to see in Westminster Abbey
There are arguably more historically famous people buried in the Abbey so visitors will certainly get a good fill of graves to see. More royal history has also taken place in Westminster Abbey including royal weddings and coronations. One of the main draws is its history for royal weddings having hosted a whopping 17 of them!
Westminster Abbey has more marble statues, alcoves and separate rooms so for me it takes a bit more time to get around and give it the attention it deserves. There’s a lot more references to royal history and there’s a decent walk around the garden outside to enjoy too.
The not so good bits about Westminster Abbey
The queues outside are often long, there are no high lookout points, it’s difficult to see end to end to appreciate the full size of the cathedral and it is definitely busier inside than St Paul’s.
Getting to Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey is in a great location right in the centre of London City. If you are going on the underground then get off at Westminster. Follow signs from there but you can likely see its bright spires when you get out of the station. Westminster is on the Jubilee (the grey one) or the District line (green one). You can also get off at St James Park on the circle and District and Circle line for a more scenic walk.
By bus, almost too many bus numbers pass by this to list here so check Google maps or most bus stops as it’s likely they’ll swing near the Abbey. You can to walk to Westminster Abbey it from Piccadilly Circus, the West End, or Buckingham Palace too.
St Paul’s Cathedral
Walking into St Paul’s it is a more open cathedral overall so you can pretty much see from end to end and appreciate how vast it is right upon entry. My first impression was that it had a very Vatican feel to it. It is very grand and features lot’s of marble with beautifully painted ceilings, especially on the massive dome which needs a few minutes (at least!) to sit down and gaze up at it.
There are 2 main levels to walk around firstly there is the ground floor which has all of the church features and then the crypt below it where most of the burials and memorials are. The ground floor where you enter has some great marble war hero statues and an impressively huge organ. The city views are a highlight of this attraction and are all seen upstairs above the ground floor via many steps.
Who’s buried at St Paul’s Cathedral?
St Paul’s holds the bodies of famous personalities of history such as Lord Nelson, Lord Wellington, Joseph Turner, Christopher Wren and Sir Alexander Fleming. St Paul’s was also the venue for large historical funerals, including Sir Winston Churchill (1965), Arthur, Duke of Wellington (1852) and Admiral Lord Nelson (1806).
The highlights and best bits – What you get to see in St Paul’s
The full length view of St Paul’s cathedral is a great sight upon entering but the highlight for me is walking up the 528 steps to the top of the Cathedral to see the stunning city views across London. Yes I know that sounds like an insane number of steps and it’s no easy walk in the park but it’s worth it.
The views look good on the stone gallery level outside but then it gets even better at the very top of the dome, known as the Golden Gallery, not quite as high as The Shard but almost as impressive. This is something Westminster Abbey doesn’t offer.
The main dome is astounding to look up at and you can stare up at it for ages! I found St Paul’s a quieter attraction with no queues and big crowds.
The not so good bits about St Paul’s Cathedral
Step free access is limited above the main floor and the crypt so anyone who struggles with a lot of steps, has a pram or a wheelchair won’t get to enjoy the higher levels and panoramic views.
It is hard work to get up high but well worth it if your fitness isn’t a big issue. There are less alcoves and segregated areas to see on the ground floor so you tend to walk through the main hall quite quickly with less to see.
Getting to St Paul’s Cathedral
How accessible is St Paul’s via transport? Very. I’ve come across it via many different routes but the most common is by London Underground. It’s based in the Central-East area of London.
The Cathedral has a dedicated tube station and it’s conveniently called ‘St Pauls’ which is on the central line (the red one) but you can also get off at nearby Bank, Mansion and Blackfriar’s station where you will see a little more of London on the very short, accessible walk in. Look to the sky you will likely see the dome or the street signs will guide you.
If you don’t fancy the tube and want to see more above ground then the following bus routes pass near St. Paul’s Cathedral: 01, 15, 20, 90 and 94. It’s not far from the river Thames too.
What is the best Westminster Abbey or St Paul’s?
It was very close. For me I enjoyed St Paul’s only slightly more but that was just swayed by the fantastic panoramic city views from the Golden Gallery up top and for overall value for money; however that may not do it for you. Here are a few things to consider if you have to choose either one.
St Paul’s is best for
Stunning high level city views, architecture, Vatican vibes, less busy.
My rating: 3.5 / 5
Westminster Abbey is best for
More famous graves, prominent royal history, more alcoves and detailed memorials, to spend more time inside.
My rating: 3 / 5
How to get discount tickets to Westminster Abbey and St Paul’s Cathedral
You shouldn’t have to choose between the two churches. Do them both!
I saw both of these attractions on the same day using a Go City London Pass. It cost me £59 and I visited both churches plus The View from the Shard the next day. Those 3 attractions should have cost me £90 by paying for each individually. That allowed me to see 3 big London attractions and save £31… Bargain!