Westminster Abbey vs Cathedral — Anglican or Catholic?
Westminster Abbey and Westminster Cathedral are two different buildings. The Abbey is Church of England (Anglican, so Protestant) — a Royal Peculiar under the Sovereign and the coronation church of England’s monarchs since 1066. Westminster Cathedral is the separate Roman Catholic cathedral, the mother church of Catholics in England and Wales, about a 12-minute walk away near Victoria. So the Abbey is not Catholic.
One of the most common mix-ups in London is between Westminster Abbey and Westminster Cathedral. The names are almost identical, they sit less than a mile apart, and both are grand religious buildings in the City of Westminster — but they belong to different churches, look nothing alike, and serve completely different roles. Confusing them can send you to the wrong place entirely.
This guide clears up the confusion: which is Anglican and which is Roman Catholic, how to tell the two buildings apart at a glance, and whether you can visit both in one day.
Abbey vs Cathedral at a Glance
| Detail | Westminster Abbey | Westminster Cathedral |
|---|---|---|
| Denomination | Church of England (Anglican) | Roman Catholic |
| Role | Coronation church; Royal Peculiar | Mother church of Catholics in England & Wales |
| Location | Parliament Square | Victoria Street, near Victoria |
| Style | Gothic, pale stone | Neo-Byzantine, red brick and stone stripes |
| Famous for | Coronations, royal tombs, Poets’ Corner | Marble interior, tall campanile, free entry |
Is Westminster Abbey Catholic or Protestant?
Westminster Abbey is Church of England — Anglican, and therefore Protestant. It is a “Royal Peculiar,” meaning it answers directly to the Sovereign rather than to a bishop or archbishop. It began as a Benedictine (Catholic) monastery before the Reformation, but since the 16th century it has been an Anglican church, and it has been the coronation church of English and British monarchs since 1066.
The Abbey’s Catholic origins are the root of the confusion. It was founded as a Benedictine monastery and rebuilt by Edward the Confessor, consecrated in 1065, so for its first 500 years it was indeed Catholic. The English Reformation changed that: the monastery was dissolved and the church became part of the Church of England. Today the Abbey is firmly Anglican, holding daily Anglican services, and its formal name is the Collegiate Church of St Peter, Westminster. If you’d like to understand how it became a royal church, our history of Westminster Abbey traces the full story.
What Is Westminster Cathedral?
Westminster Cathedral is the largest Roman Catholic church in England and Wales and the seat of the Archbishop of Westminster. Built between 1895 and 1903 in a striking neo-Byzantine style of red brick and stone, it sits on Victoria Street near Victoria station — a separate building from the Abbey, with its own free-to-enter interior and a tall bell tower you can go up.
Westminster Cathedral is much younger than the Abbey, completed in 1903 rather than in the medieval period, and it looks the part: banded red brick and pale stone on the outside, and a soaring, deliberately unfinished mosaic-and-marble interior within. It is the mother church for Roman Catholics in England and Wales and the cathedral of the Archbishop of Westminster. Entry to the cathedral itself is free, though there is a charge to ride the lift up the campanile for views over London.
How to Tell Them Apart
The quickest test is the building itself. Westminster Abbey is pale Gothic stone with twin west towers, right on Parliament Square opposite the Houses of Parliament. Westminster Cathedral is unmistakable red-and-white striped brick with a single tall Italian-style campanile, set back on Victoria Street. If you’re standing beside Big Ben and the river, you’re at the Abbey; if you’re near Victoria station, you’re at the Cathedral. Our guide to getting to Westminster Abbey confirms the Abbey’s location and the nearest Underground stations.
Their roles differ just as sharply. The Abbey is where monarchs are crowned and where many are buried, home to Poets’ Corner and centuries of royal tombs; the Cathedral is a living center of Catholic worship in England and Wales. One is Anglican and ticketed for sightseeing; the other is Roman Catholic and free to enter.
Can You Visit Both?
Yes. The two buildings are about a 12-minute walk apart, so you can comfortably see both in one day. Westminster Cathedral is free to enter, while Westminster Abbey requires a ticket for sightseeing (£31 for adults in 2026) and is closed to tourists on Sundays. Visiting the Abbey first thing and the Cathedral afterward works well.
Because they’re so close, pairing them makes a natural half-day. Sightseeing at the Abbey needs a timed visit of about 1.5 to 2 hours and a paid entrance ticket, and it’s closed to sightseeing on Sundays, so plan the Abbey for a weekday or Saturday morning. The Cathedral, being free and open more flexibly, is easy to add afterward. If you’re mapping out the wider area, our nearby attractions guide places both alongside Parliament, the London Eye and St James’s Park.
Which Should You Visit?
If your interest is royalty, coronations, medieval architecture and the graves of kings, poets and scientists, the Abbey is the one you’re picturing — and our guide on whether the Abbey is worth it weighs the ticket price against the experience. If you want a free, atmospheric and architecturally unusual church, or specifically a Catholic place of worship, the Cathedral is the answer. Many visitors happily do both, since they showcase two very different sides of Christian Westminster.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Westminster Abbey Catholic or Church of England?
Westminster Abbey is Church of England — Anglican, and therefore Protestant. It was originally a Catholic Benedictine monastery before the Reformation, but since the 16th century it has been Anglican. It is a Royal Peculiar, meaning it falls under the direct jurisdiction of the Sovereign rather than a bishop. The Roman Catholic church in the area is the separate Westminster Cathedral.
Are Westminster Abbey and Westminster Cathedral the same place?
No. They are two different buildings belonging to different churches. Westminster Abbey is Anglican and sits on Parliament Square; Westminster Cathedral is Roman Catholic and sits on Victoria Street near Victoria station, about a 12-minute walk away. The similar names cause frequent confusion, but they are not connected and look completely different.
What is a Royal Peculiar?
A Royal Peculiar is a church that comes under the direct jurisdiction of the reigning Sovereign rather than a diocesan bishop or archbishop. Westminster Abbey is one of the most famous examples. This special status reflects its role as the coronation church and its long, close relationship with the Crown, and it is one reason the Abbey operates differently from an ordinary parish church.
Where is Westminster Cathedral?
Westminster Cathedral is on Victoria Street in the City of Westminster, close to Victoria station and about a 12-minute walk from Westminster Abbey. It is the seat of the Archbishop of Westminster and the largest Catholic church in England and Wales. Its red-and-white striped brick exterior and tall campanile make it easy to spot and quite different from the Abbey.
Is Westminster Cathedral free to enter?
Yes, entry to Westminster Cathedral itself is free, unlike the Abbey, which charges for sightseeing. There is a small charge to take the lift up the cathedral’s bell tower for views across London, and donations toward upkeep are welcome. This makes the Cathedral an easy, low-cost addition to a day that also includes a paid Abbey visit.
Which is older, the Abbey or the Cathedral?
Westminster Abbey is far older. Its origins reach back to a Benedictine monastery around the 960s, with the present Gothic church begun in 1245. Westminster Cathedral, by contrast, was built between 1895 and 1903 in the neo-Byzantine style. So while their names are similar, the Abbey predates the Cathedral by many centuries.
Can I attend a service at Westminster Abbey for free?
Yes. Anyone may attend the Abbey’s Anglican services free of charge, with no ticket, including weekday Evensong and Sunday worship. This is separate from paid sightseeing and is the only way to enter on a Sunday. Our guide to attending a service covers the times and what to expect at each.
Does Westminster Abbey ever hold Catholic services?
No. As a Church of England church, Westminster Abbey holds Anglican services. Roman Catholic worship in the area takes place at Westminster Cathedral, the Catholic mother church of England and Wales. The two churches occasionally share in national commemorations, but each holds its own tradition’s services in its own building.
Can I see both in one day?
Yes, easily. The two buildings are about a 12-minute walk apart. Because Westminster Abbey needs a timed, ticketed visit and closes to sightseeing on Sundays, plan it for a weekday or Saturday morning, then walk to the free Westminster Cathedral afterward. Together they make a satisfying half-day tour of religious Westminster.
