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Download photographs of Westminster Abbey

Photography is not permitted inside Westminster Abbey. We believe that the unique beauty and history of the Abbey are difficult to enjoy with the distractions which widespread photography would bring; and that photography would diminish the sacred and intimate atmosphere of a building which is, first and foremost, a living, working church.

We recognise however that many visitors will want to be able to obtain photographs of their visit. We have therefore created the photo gallery below, to which new images will be added from time to time. These pictures can be downloaded for personal use.

Our photography policy

A copy of the Abbey's full photography policy can be read here. We hope you will understand the reasons for this policy and that you will still take away with you many treasured memories of your time with us. All images are © Dean and Chapter of Westminster.

Press, commercial or professional use of these images

Requests for any public, commercial or professional use should be made via email to the Press Office.

Row of white marble statues of men dressed in ancient Roman-style robes or military uniforms

Memorials in the North Transept

© Dean and Chapter of Westminster

View up to the ceiling of Westminster Abbey, with marble statues and monuments in the foreground

The North Transept

© Dean and Chapter of Westminster

Rose-shaped stained glass window high above the floor of Westminster Abbey

Rose window in the North Transept

© Dean and Chapter of Westminster

White marble statue of William Wilberforce seated in a chair with his legs crossed

Statue of William Wilberforce

© Dean and Chapter of Westminster

Pale marble gravestone inscribed with 'CHARLES ROBERT DARWIN BORN 12 FEBRUARY 1809. DIED 19 APRIL 1882.'

The grave of Charles Darwin

© Dean and Chapter of Westminster

Marble figure of death emerging from a tomb

Statue in the North Transept

© Dean and Chapter of Westminster

The Grave of the Unknown Warrior: a black marble gravestone set into the floor, bordered by red poppies

The Grave of the Unknown Warrior

© Dean and Chapter of Westminster

The nave of Westminster Abbey with the Grave of the Unknown Warrior in the foreground

The Grave of the Unknown Warrior in the Nave

© Dean and Chapter of Westminster

The nave of Westminster Abbey with chairs set out for a service

The Nave

© Dean and Chapter of Westminster

The ceiling of Westminster Abbey with stained glass windows and chandeliers hanging down

The ceiling and west window of the Nave

© Dean and Chapter of Westminster

Elaborate stained glass window showing portraits of soldiers and their coats of arms

West window in the Nave

© Dean and Chapter of Westminster

Depiction of St Edward the Confessor in stained glass, he wears a gold crown and carries two sceptres

Nave window

© Dean and Chapter of Westminster

The ceiling of the lantern in Westminster Abbey, at the centre is a patterned panel

Lantern ceiling

© Dean and Chapter of Westminster

Mosaic patterned floor

Detail from the Cosmati Pavement

© Dean and Chapter of Westminster

The Coronation Chair on a stepped wooden podium surrounded by red curtains with gold fringing

The Coronation Chair

© Dean and Chapter of Westminster

The Coronation chair on a stepped wooden podium with flags and a statue set into the wall above

The Coronation Chair in St George's Chapel

© Dean and Chapter of Westminster

Gravestones of George Canning and William Wilberforce, both set into the floor of Westminster Abbey

The Grave of William Wilberforce

© Dean and Chapter of Westminster

Henry V's Chantry Chapel, a small altar of engraved black marble with statues above

Henry V's Chantry Chapel

© Dean and Chapter of Westminster

The Lady Chapel: the flags of the Knights of the Order of the Bath hanging down from the ceiling

Henry VII's Lady Chapel

© Dean and Chapter of Westminster

A view up to the ceiling of Westminster Abbey from the High Altar

The High Altar and ceiling

© Dean and Chapter of Westminster

Westminster Abbey's High Altar with a mosaic of the Last Supper behind the altar table

The High Altar and Cosmati Pavement

© Dean and Chapter of Westminster

Altar in the Lady Chapel, Westminster Abbey, which includes a painting of the Virgin Mary and baby Jesus

Lady Chapel altar

© Dean and Chapter of Westminster

Mosaic of the Last Supper behind the High Altar of Westminster Abbey

The High Altar - Altar screen

© Dean and Chapter of Westminster

Vividly-coloured stained glass window depicting a countryside scene

The Queen's Window by David Hockney

© Dean and Chapter of Westminster

Lengthy inscription in Latin on Sir Isaac Newton's memorial

Inscription on Sir Isaac Newton's memorial

Statue of William Shakespeare, holding a piece of paper with a sonnet on it and leaning on a pile of books

Memorial to William Shakespeare

© Dean and Chapter of Westminster

The shrine of St Edward the Confessor, with a small altar and candles in front of it

The Shrine of St Edward the Confessor, from the side

© Dean and Chapter of Westminster

The shrine of St Edward the Confessor, surrounded by the shrines of other monarchs

The Shrine of St Edward the Confessor, from the front

© Dean and Chapter of Westminster

Black, diamond-shaped memorial stone engraved with '1913 BENJAMIN BRITTEN OM CH BURIED AT ALDEBURGH 1976'

Benjamin Britten's memorial stone

© Dean and Chapter of Westminster

Array of gravestones and memorial stones to writers including TS Eliot, Alfred Lord Tennyson and Robert Browning

Memorials in Poets' Corner

© Dean and Chapter of Westminster

Aerial view of many of the gravestones and memorial stones in Poets' Corner, Westminster Abbey

Memorial stones in Poets' Corner from above

© Dean and Chapter of Westminster

Colourful stained glass windows within which are white glass panels to Oscar Wilde and Christopher Marlowe

Memorial window to Oscar WIlde and Christopher Marlowe

© Dean and Chapter of Westminster

Choir stalls in the centre of Westminster Abbey, an area known as the Quire

The Quire

© Dean and Chapter of Westminster

View from the Quire of Westminster Abbey looking towards the High Altar

The Quire, looking east

© Dean and Chapter of Westminster

View from the Quire of Westminster Abbey looking towards the Choir Screen

The Quire, looking west

© Dean and Chapter of Westminster

The gold Quire Screen in Westminster Abbey into which is set Sir Isaac Newton's memorial

The Quire screen

© Dean and Chapter of Westminster

Rose window in Westminster Abbey, below which are smaller, rectangular windows

Rose window in the South Transept

© Dean and Chapter of Westminster

White marble recumbent effigy of Mary Queen of Scots, wearing a gold crown and holding a sceptre and orb

Tomb of Queen Elizabeth I

© Dean and Chapter of Westminster

The gilt bronze recumbent effigies of Henry VII and Elizabeth of York on top of their tomb

Tomb of King Henry VII

© Dean and Chapter of Westminster

White marble effigy of Mary Queen of Scots lying down, with her head resting on a patterned cushion and her hands in the prayer position

Tomb of Mary Queen of Scots

© Dean and Chapter of Westminster

Medieval wall paintings of the Risen Christ with St Thomas and St Christopher bearing the Christ Child on his shoulder

Wall paintings in the south transept

© Dean and Chapter of Westminster

The grave of Charles Dickens, which reads: CHARLES DICKENS BORN 7th FEBRUARY 1812 DIED 9th JUNE 1870

The grave of Charles Dickens

© Dean and Chapter of Westminster

Bronze bust of William Blake atop a black base into which is carved 'William Blake 1757-1827'

The bust of William Blake in the South Transept

© Dean and Chapter of Westminster

Handel memorial: A white marble statue of Handel showing Handel with an open musical score

Memorial to George Frideric Handel

© Dean and Chapter of Westminster

Isaac Newton memorial, showing marble carving of Newton reclining on a pile of books next to two angels, with a yellow and white globe above them

Memorial to Sir Isaac Newton

© Dean and Chapter of Westminster

View down into Westminster Abbey from the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Galleries in the triforium

View into the Abbey from The Queen's Diamond Jubilee Galleries

© Dean and Chapter of Westminster

Small white statue of Richard III with a stained glass panel and a round stained glass window behind it

Stained glass window in The Queen's Diamond Jubilee Galleries

© Dean and Chapter of Westminster

Wax effigies of the Duchess of Buckingham, her son Robert and a toy unicorn on display in a glass case in the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Galleries, Westminster Abbey

Display of effigies in The Queen's Diamond Jubilee Galleries

© Dean and Chapter of Westminster

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It’s a privilege to live and work here – the Abbey really is the heart of the country and its history.

Martin - The Dean’s Verger