Festival: Summer garden party
Relax in Westminster Abbey’s historic College Garden at our drop-in garden party.
Hear musical performances, take part in art activities and explore England’s oldest cultivated garden with guided tours at this special weekend opening of College Garden. Enjoy refreshments from our pop-up café while taking in the sights and sounds of this secluded central London oasis.
Performances
Celebrate the Abbey’s role as the Commonwealth Church by listening to musical performances that showcase sounds from around the world.
11:45am – 12:15 pm – Sitar Performance by Tommy Khosla
12:40pm – 1:00pm – Māori Performance by Ngati Ranana
1:15pm – 1:45pm – Sitar Performance by Tommy Khosla
2:20pm – 2:40pm – Māori Performance by Ngati Ranana
All performances will take place in the garden.
String printing
Make your own printing blocks using string to mark the 550th anniversary of England’s first printing press being established on the grounds of Westminster Abbey.
This drop-in activity will be run by Originary Arts and will take place throughout garden party.
Storytelling
Relax and listen to tales of nature and the Commonwealth, designed for adults, with storyteller Helen McDonald.
There will be two 20-minute performances at 12:15pm and 2:00pm.
Both performances will be supported by a BSL interpreter.
15-minute tours of College Garden
Discover the history of England’s oldest cultivated garden on this short tour led by a member of the Abbey team.
Tours will depart from the herb garden at: 11:45am, 12:15pm, 1:00pm, 1:30pm and 2:00pm
The 11:45am and 1:30pm tours will be supported by a BSL interpreter.
Brass rubbing
Try your hand at brass rubbing and take home your own small-scale impression of one of the Abbey’s historic brass reliefs.
Audio-described tour of College Garden
For visitors with a visual-impairment, we will be offering an audio-described tour of College Garden at 12:15pm.
Priority access will be given to Westminster residents. Please contact [email protected] for more information.
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This event has been made possible through the support of Westminster City Council. It is part of Inside Out Festival 2026, a season of cultural programming taking place across Westminster in August 2026. |
Ticketing information
In the event of wet weather, this event will be run inside the cloisters.
This event does not include entry to Westminster Abbey. We recommend looking at the Visit us pages to plan a visit during opening hours.
Age suitability
Adults and young people over the age of 15 are welcome to attend this event. Young people under the age of 17 must be accompanied by an adult.
Meeting location
Access to the garden will be via Great College Street. More information will be provided in the week of the event.
Access and security
Please have your ticket ready to show our staff (either printed or on your mobile phone).
BSL interpreters and an audio-described tour of College Garden will be available at this event.
College Garden and the cloisters are wheelchair accessible.
On your arrival, your bag will be searched and we ask you not to bring any large items with you (for example suitcases, large backpacks or folding bicycles) as these will not be allowed inside and we are unable to store them for you.
The Abbey is committed to creating inclusive and accessible events for all. If you have any access requirements or questions about your visit, please contact us when booking [email protected]
Filming and photography
Please note that filming and sound recording are not permitted at the Abbey. See our photography policy for more information.
