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August at Westminster Abbey
We hope you are keeping well!
As we approach the end of our Summer Season entitled Creation, we are delighted to welcome you to free lunchtime concerts and family activities in College Garden, open-air theatre in Dean’s Yard and much more.
Read on to find out what’s happening in the month of August – there’s something for everyone to enjoy here, at Westminster Abbey!
We look forward to welcoming you soon.
Creation Family Fun: Wild Westminster
Location: College Garden
Date: Friday 2nd & Monday 5th August
Time: 10:00am – 12:00pm
Tickets: Free (booking required)
Investigate the Natural World this summer in our historic walled garden in central London.
Join us to dig into all things Nature. We’ll branch out with storytelling from some of London’s leading weavers of tales, and cultivate crafts to grow our understanding of everything from leaves to lavender.
Nature activities will include:
• Planting
• Family tree trail
• Herb crafts
• Garden tour
• Crown making
We’ll also be joined by the Jewish Museum, Royal Parks, the Museum of Methodism and King’s College London, bringing a range of crafts and activities on all things nature.
Additional information
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. Please note that in the event of wet weather the session will be held in the Chapter House.
Age suitability
This activity is suitable for children aged 3+.
All children must be accompanied by an adult throughout their time at the Abbey.
FIND OUT MORE AND BOOK YOUR TICKETS HERE
Creation Stories: Snowing the Seeds
Location: Dean’s Yard
Date: Every Tuesday in August
Time: 6:00pm – 7:30pm
Tickets: £5.00 – £20.00
Join us for an enchanting evening of storytelling in Dean’s Yard.
Storyteller Olivia Armstrong returns to Westminster Abbey to curate and host a new season of stories exploring creation across cultures and continents. Explore myths and legends of nature and the wild wonderful world around us, with a different exciting guest storyteller each week, and stories delving into the wonder of being alive.
Tuesday 6th August – Birds, Bees, Butterflies, Beasts
Tuesday 13th August – The Year Of 72 Seasons
Tuesday 20th August – Waves of Wonder
Tuesday 27th August – Flora Fabulosa
Ticketing information
Tickets will be available through Eventbrite. We are asking for a minimum payment of £5 and will have a ‘pay what you can’ booking up to a maximum of £20, which is what the event is worth.
Additional information
You are welcome to attend Evensong at 5pm before the event.
The Storytent is located in Dean’s Yard.
Doors will open at 5.45pm. Stories will begin at 6pm.
There will be an interval between stories during which we will explore the Abbey Gardens.
This event is for adults and young people over the age of 16, please see our family pages for information and events to explore this theme as a family.
This event does not include entry to Westminster Abbey. We recommend looking at the ’Visit us’ page to plan a visit during opening hours.
FIND OUT MORE AND BOOK YOUR TICKETS HERE
Creation Family Fun: Nature Tales
Location: College Garden
Date: Friday 16th & Monday 19th August
Time: 10:00am – 12:00pm
Tickets: Free (booking required)
Get curious about creation by exploring animal stories from around our wonderful world that help us be better humans.
Step back in time to our medieval walled garden to begin your journey into our story safari.
Join us and some of London’s leading yarn spinners to hear beastly bygone tales, make art inspired by creative creatures, and spot arty animals in one of central London’s most peaceful habitats.
Animal activities will include:
• Sculpture making
• Crown making
• Family exploration trail
• Storytelling
• Games and fun!
We’ll also be joined by our friends from across London’s cultural sector with crafts and activities designed to help you explore the wonders of the animal kingdom here in London.
Additional information
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. Please note that in the event of wet weather the session will be held in the Chapter House.
Age suitability
This activity is suitable for children aged 3+.
All children must be accompanied by an adult throughout their time at the Abbey.
FIND OUT MORE AND BOOK YOUR TICKETS HERE
Creation Art Workshop: Rooted in History
Location: College Garden
Date: Saturday 17th August
Time: 1:30pm – 5:00pm
Tickets: £50.00
Join artist Luke Adam Hawker for an afternoon of drawing the trees and architecture of Westminster Abbey.
Exploring the space with a sketchbook
In this workshop, you’ll embark on a journey of sketching the trees & architecture of Westminster Abbey. Luke will begin with the essentials of measuring up, scale, and mark-making & equipping you with the foundational skills to breathe life into your sketches.
Scaling Up Your Art
Venturing beyond the sketchbook. Delve into larger drawings and explore the realms of scale and detail. Whether you prefer the precision of pen or the expressive strokes of charcoal, the choice is yours.
At the end of the afternoon, we will come together to share our work, our thoughts and our experiences during our time at Westminster Abbey.
Meeting location
This workshop will meet at the Cloister entrance in Dean’s Yard. Details will be sent to you on booking.
Additional information
There will be a refreshment break half-way through the afternoon.
FIND OUT MORE AND BOOK YOUR TICKETS HERE
Creation Late: Summer Sessions
Location: The Abbey
Date: Wednesday 14th August
Time: 4:30pm – 7:00pm
Tickets: Included in the price of admission
Explore the Abbey after hours and enjoy live music in the Cloisters.
Take a self-led tour exploring highlights of the Abbey then enjoy the evening sunshine in Cloister Garth with live music.
Musicians will be from the folk genre and will be announced soon.
This event is delivered in conjunction with Found in Music.
Found in Music work with many high profile clients helping them use music and other forms of live performance to enhance their visitor, customer and employee experience and engagement. Busk in London, created by Found in Music for the Mayor of London in 2015, is the world’s largest curated and managed street performance programme. The performers use busking as part of their music careers, bringing a fresh, friendly and high quality performances to a huge variety of locations and clients including Wembley Park, Battersea Power Station, Network Rail, Arsenal Football Club, Twickenham Stadium and Royal Horticultural Society.
Additional information
Last entry into the Abbey will take place at 6:00pm.
Live music will begin at approximately 4:45pm and finish at 6:45pm with a break in between.
Seating will be available in the Cloister Garth from 4:00pm
FIND OUT MORE AND BOOK YOUR ABBEY TICKETS HERE
Four Forty Theatre: A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Twelfth Night
Location: Dean’s Yard
Date: Thursday 29th & Friday 30th August
Time: 7:00pm – 9:00pm
Tickets: £12.00 – £17.00
Four Forty Theatre comes to the Abbey to perform Twelfth Night and A Midsummer Night’s Dream, with just four actors in forty (ish!) minutes each.
Experience two of the Bard’s best comedies condensed into short, side-splitting shows, staged in the beautiful setting of Dean’s Yard. In a mere 40 minutes each, the essence of Shakespeare’s masterpieces is distilled into uproarious performances.
Seating and what to bring
Please bring your own seating/rug and warm clothes. Seating is not provided. Picnics are welcome but please note that glass containers are not permitted within Dean’s Yard.
Tickets
Adults: £17
Concessions: £12
Recommended for ages 7 and above.
Timings
Doors open 6:15pm
Performance starts 7:00pm
There will be a 20 minute interval and the performance will finish at approximately 9.00pm.
FIND OUT MORE AND BOOK YOUR TICKETS HERE
Creation Concert: Brass on the Grass
Location: College Garden
Date: Wednesday 31st July – Wednesday 28th August
Time: 1:00pm – 2:00pm
Tickets: Free (no booking required)
Immerse yourself in the symphony of nature as you enjoy our annual season of brass band concerts in the historic College Garden.
This year sees the return of the annual Brass on the Grass concerts. Each week a different Brass Band will play an hour of music for you to enjoy on your lunch break.
There will be delicious cakes and hot drinks available from Benugo in College Garden during the concert.
Details of Brass Bands performing will be announced closer to the time.
Meeting location
Please enter the cloisters through Dean’s Yard where a member of staff will show you the way to College Garden. Please note that in the event of wet weather the concert will be held in St Margaret’s Church.
Ticketing information
This event is free to attend and does not allow you entry to the Abbey. If you would like to book tickets to visit the Abbey, please do so via our ticketing page.
Creation Trail: Wellbeing wander
Location: The Abbey
Date: Thursday 20th June – Friday 6th September
Time: 10:00am – 3:00pm
Tickets: Included in the price of admission
Discover tranquillity in the cloisters and Abbey gardens on this self-guided walk.
Listen to a guided exploration of the Cloisters and Gardens of Westminster Abbey. This self-guided walk helps you to focus on small details and notice the nature around you in this historic site.
Connecting with and noticing nature is proven to help our mental health and is connected to eco-conscious actions. Use the skills you learn on this walk to connect with nature around you in your everyday life.
This self-guided walk starts in the South-East corner of the Cloisters, near the Pyx Chamber.
The link for this walk will be available on the 20th June.
Timings
Please note the gardens are only open Monday to Friday.
Please be aware that the Gardens are closed on some days during the summer months. Please check the opening times before visiting.
Creation Exhibition: Communion Forest
Location: Undercroft
Date: Monday 22nd July – Sunday 8th September
Time: 10:00am – 3:00pm
Tickets: Included in the price of admission
An exhibition welcoming you to explore the beauty of the natural world and the ongoing efforts of the Communion Forest to preserve it.
Embark on a journey of stewardship, renewal and faith at the Communion Forest exhibition, where the Anglican Communion’s commitment to environmental conservation comes to life.
From Kenya to Australia, Tanzania to India, this exhibition celebrates the beauty and biodiversity of forests while highlighting the pressing need for their protection.
This unique showcase celebrates the intersection of spirituality and environmentalism, highlighting the practical and symbolic efforts of Anglican communities worldwide to protect and restore the Earth.
Timings
The exhibition will be open from 10.00am to 3.00pm on days when visiting is available.
Please check the opening times before your visit.
DID YOU KNOW…?
In the nave of Westminster Abbey, just north of the grave of Sir Isaac Newton, is a memorial floor stone for Michael Faraday, eminent physicist and chemist. The memorial, together with one for James Clerk Maxwell, was unveiled on 30th September 1931. In 1976 the stone memorial was replaced by one made of metal, presented by the Institution of Civil Engineers. The Latin inscription can be translated:
The memorial of Michael Faraday 1791-1867. Buried elsewhere.
His life
Michael was a son of James Faraday (d.1810), a blacksmith, and his wife Margaret (Hastwell) and was born on 22nd September 1791. Little is known of his early life but he was apprenticed to a bookbinder. His great interest in science was furthered by his contact with Sir Humphrey Davy and Faraday was employed as a laboratory assistant at the Royal Institution. Later he became Director there. He investigated chemistry, electricity, magnetism, the composition of steel and the making of optical glass and was elected a fellow of the Royal Society. He was professor of chemistry at the Royal Military Academy at Woolwich from 1829-52 and worked for Trinity House Corporation. On 12th June 1821 he married Sarah Barnard but they had no children.
He died on 25th August 1867 and was buried in the Sandemanian church plot at Highgate cemetery in London.
READ MORE ABOUT THE ABBEY’S HISTORY HERE
SHOP
This poster has been designed by Sinead Taylor exclusively for Westminster Abbey Shop. The bold design depicts the famous West Towers of Westminster Abbey with a crown in the bottom right hand corner; symbolising Westminster Abbey’s relationship to the British monarchy. It also features Big Ben, the London Eye and an iconic red London bus, making it the perfect gift for the anglophile in your life!
FREE SUNDAY ORGAN RECITALS
Sundays throughout the year
Held on Sundays at 5.00pm, these popular 30-minute recitals are given by visiting and the Abbey’s own organists and feature a wide range of music to suit all tastes.
Admission is free, tickets are not required.
DAILY SERVICES
Westminster Abbey has been a place of worship since the tenth century and we still hold services every day.
Everyone is welcome to worship with us; services are free of charge and most do not require a ticket.
SUPPORT WESTMINSTER ABBEY
It costs over £14 million a year to maintain the Abbey, and we do not receive any funding from the Church, the Crown, or the Government. The drastic reduction to our income caused by the Covid pandemic is putting our priceless heritage at risk.
You can support the work of the Abbey, and preserve over 1,000 years of history, by becoming a member of the Abbey Association. From just £40, membership benefits include free entry to the Abbey and Galleries, exclusive member events and tours and discounts in our shops and the Cellarium Café and Terrace.
FIND OUT MORE AND BECOME A MEMBER TODAY!
CORPORATE HOSPITALITY
Since our founding by Benedictine monks, hospitality has always been at the heart of the Abbey. We have held royal weddings, State Occasions, and every coronation since 1066.
You can now hire an historic space for your next corporate event.
Why not host a dinner or reception in one of our unique heritage spaces, set within the Abbey grounds – and offer your guests a private tour of the Abbey?
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