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Chapter House & Pyx Chamber

Chapter House, Pyx Chamber and Abbey Museum
Interior of Chapter House (c) English Heritage
Chapter House, Pyx Chamber and Abbey Museum - Interior of Chapter House (c) Wall mural depicting the Apocalypse of St John - Wall mural depicting the Apocalypse of St John (c) Wall painting of the Apocalypse of St John - Wall painting of the Apocalypse of St John (c)

Emergency Information

Please note that the Chapter House will be closed from 2nd to 20th June 2008 as the medieval floor tiles are being cleaned and conserved. We apologise for any inconvenience whilst this important work is being done.

Built by the royal masons in 1250, the Chapter House of Westminster Abbey was originally used in the 13th century by Benedictine monks for their daily meetings. It later became a meeting place of the King's Great Council and the Commons, predecessors of today's Parliament.

A beautiful octagonal building with a vaulted ceiling and delicate central column, it offers rarely seen examples of medieval sculpture, an original floor of glazed tiles and spectacular wall paintings. A door within the vestibule dating from c. 1050 is thought to be the oldest in England. The 11th century Pyx Chamber also has a medieval tiled floor, and was used as a monastic and royal treasury. It contains a 13th century stone altar that survived the Reformation.

Chapter House free to EH members. Under the care and management of the Dean and Chapter of Westminster.

What are the opening times?

DatesOpening TimesOpening Days
 10am-4pmMon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, & Sun.
Closed Good Friday, 24-26 Dec & 1 Jan  
May be closed at short notice on state and religious occasions  

How much does it cost?

English Heritage Members:
Chapter House free to EH members - Join English Heritage
Details:
(Managed by Westminster Abbey)

How do I get there?

Road Access:
Through the cloister from Dean's Yard if you only want to visit theChapter House. Turn into Dean's Yard off Broad Sanctuary. Turn leftalong the square and go through the entrance-way into the cloister
Train Access:
Victoria and Charing Cross both 3⁄4 mile, Waterloo 1 mile
Bus Access:
From surrounding areas
Tube Access:
Westminster and St James’ Park stations both 1⁄4 mile
Map Location:
Telephone:
020 7654 4900

What facilities are available?

Facilities Available:
No dogs allowed
Access:
Access to Chapter House: Access via 10 steps with no handrail.
Access to Pyx Chamber: Down one step and through narrow doorway.
Abbey cloisters: Abbey cloisters are accessible via a ramp but have uneven floor surfaces. Stone benches are provided.
Parking:
In surrounding area but very difficult
Visually Impaired Visitors:
Flower garden open Tuesdays and Thursdays in summer (suggested donation 20p).

What facilities are available for groups?

Group Booking:
No coach parking is provided, but visitors can be dropped off in front of the Abbey and picked up by the Jewel Tower.
Average Length of Visit:
45 minutes.

Further Info

To help you plan your journey to this property please click here
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