Frequently asked questions

Join online

Direct Debit only

Join online by Direct Debit and save £10 on the annual membership fee.

Please visit Join the Abbey Association to set up a Direct Debit.

The membership card and welcome letter will be posted within 10-12 working days. You can collect your welcome pack on your first visit to the Abbey by presenting your welcome letter at the ticket desk.

Please note:

• Direct Debit is available online only
• UK bank account holders only
• You will need an email address to set up a Direct Debit with the Abbey

Join by post

Credit/debit card only

Post a completed application form to:

Westminster Abbey Association
The Chapter Office
20 Dean’s Yard
London
SW1P 3PA

Application forms for membership are available to download from Join the Abbey Association or contact the membership office to request to have a form posted/emailed to you.

Your membership card and welcome letter will be posted within 7-10 working days. You can collect your welcome pack on your first visit to the Abbey by presenting your welcome letter at the ticket desk.

When joining by post we ask that you:

• Please do not send cash by post
• Please do not email credit/debit card details

Please note:

• Any card details you provide are destroyed immediately

Join by telephone

Credit/debit card only

To join or purchase a membership by telephone, please call the membership office on 020 7654 4843. The membership card and welcome letter will be posted within 7-10 working days. You can collect your welcome pack on your first visit to the Abbey by presenting your welcome letter at the ticket desk.

When joining by telephone you will need to provide contact and credit/debit card details verbally.

Join in person

Credit/debit card or cash only

You can join in person at the Tickets Desk at the North Door of the Abbey. You will be given your membership pack to take away with you.

Please note that you will be given a gift membership voucher to present to the recipient to redeem for a membership pack.

Vouchers can only be redeemed in person at the tickets desk or over the phone (the barcode number must be provided).

Vouchers must be redeemed within 6 months of the date of purchase.

Membership will start once the voucher is redeemed.

It is not possible to purchase a Gift Membership by Direct Debit.

Purchase a gift membership by post

Credit/debit card only

Post a completed gift membership form to:

Westminster Abbey Association
The Chapter Office
20 Dean's Yard
London
SW1P 3PA

Application forms for gift membership are available to download from Join the Abbey Association or contact the membership office to request to have a form posted/emailed to you.

A gift membership voucher will be posted within 5-7 days of receiving the form in the membership office.

Purchase a gift membership by telephone

Credit/debit card only

To purchase a gift membership by telephone, please call the membership office on 020 7654 4843.

A gift membership voucher will be posted within 5-7 days.

You will need to provide contact and credit/debit card details verbally.

Purchase a gift membership in person

Credit/debit card or cash only

Purchase a gift membership in person at the tickets desk.

You will be given a gift membership voucher to take away with you.

If you have paid for your membership by credit/debit card you can renew your membership one of three ways: online at Join the Abbey Association, onsite at the Tickets Desk at the North Door in the Abbey or by telephoning the membership office on 020 7654 484. You will be sent a renewal reminder from approximately 12 weeks before your expiry date.

If you paid for your membership by Direct Debit, your membership will renew automatically. We will contact you from approximately 4-2 weeks before payment is due to be collected to remind you of the renewal date and the amount.

You will have the option to cancel your renewal should you wish to.

Individual Associate

£45.00 by Direct Debit
£55.00 by Credit/debit card or cash

Find out more about being an Individual Associate.

Associate and Guest

£65.00 by Direct Debit
£75.00 Credit/debit card or cash

Find out more about being an Associate and Guest.

Joint Associate

£68.50 by Direct Debit
£78.50 Credit/debit card or cash

Find out more about being a Joint Associate.

Family Associate

£90.00 by Direct Debit
£100.00 Credit/debit card or cash

Find out more about being a Family Associate.

Individual Associate - One named membership card.

Associate and Guest - One named membership card and guest entry. Only the named Associate can avail of membership benefits.

Joint Associate - Two named membership cards for two people living at the same address. Both members may avail of the membership benefits.

Family Associate - Two named membership cards for two people living at the same address plus entry for 4 children. Both members may avail of the membership benefits.

All members benefit from free entry to the Abbey, free access to the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Galleries, fast track entry, discounts in the Abbey shops and Cellarium Café, exclusive events, priority notification of selected public services and events, the Association e-newsletter and the Dean's Christmas letter. Furthermore, all members are entered into a special ballot for tickets to one of the Abbey's Christmas services on either 23rd or 24th December each year.

In addition to this:

Associate & Guest members benefit from free guest entry

Joint Associate members benefit from an additional named membership card

Family Associate members benefit from an additional named membership card and free entry for up to four children.

Please note:

• To avail of the 10% discount in the Abbey shop and the Cellarium café, please present your membership card at point of purchase
• Restrictions may apply to certain items

You can still join the membership scheme if you do not have an email address. However, we send out all of our communications about Association events, news and updates via email so you will miss out if you do not provide one. You can update your mailing preferences/ contact details at any time by contacting the membership office.

Access to the Galleries is free for members of the Association. Members can request tickets for the Galleries when the membership card is scanned at the ticket desk on entry.

Access to the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Galleries is restricted by a limited capacity. If capacity has been reached on the day of your visit, members will have access to the next available time slot. However in some very rare instances access may be denied due to capacity limitations.

Currently members cannot book tickets in advance - but we are working on ways for this to happen in the future.

We are unable to invite members to special services and events held at the Abbey.

However, where possible, we run ballots for tickets to special services on an ad hoc basis.

Replacement cards are issued free of charge at the tickets desk. Please bring ID with you. You can also request a replacement card by contacting the membership office.

If you do not have your membership card on your person when you visit the Abbey, you will be issued with a wrist band to use on the day. Please bring ID with you.

Please be aware that Associates who are unable to present their membership card will not be able to avail of the membership 10% discount in the shop and café.

Yes - Associates have unlimited entry to the Abbey. You may be asked for ID if you leave and re-enter the Abbey several times in one day.

Seats cannot be reserved for any services. The membership applies to visiting only, and does not give any preference for worship.

Membership cards are for the named card holder only. Please do not lend your card to someone else. You may be asked for ID when you visit the Abbey.

To activate your membership, you must redeem your gift voucher for a membership pack at the Tickets Desk in the Abbey.

Alternatively, you can contact the Membership Office by calling 020 7654 4843.

Your membership is valid from the day of activation.

We do not replace lost or stolen gift membership vouchers. Gift vouchers need to be kept safe.

The gift membership voucher is valid for 6 months from the date stated on the voucher. Please exchange your voucher for a membership pack at the Tickets Desk at the North Door in the Abbey or by calling the membership office within this time frame.

Your membership will start from:

• the date you purchased your membership, or
• from the date you redeem your gift membership voucher for a membership pack (if you have a gift membership voucher) 

If you have purchased a membership by direct debit, your membership will be processed once payment is received, within 5-10 working days. Start dates cannot be postponed.

Membership is valid for 12 consecutive months – membership will expire the last day of the month you join, the following year.

We do not offer a refund on membership once purchased. If you have any queries, please contact the Membership Manger.

Unfortunately, it is not possible for the Abbey to claim Gift Aid against the membership subscription fees.

Please use the following contact details:

Membership Manager
The Chapter Office
20 Deans Yard
London SW1P 3PA

Telephone: 020 7654 4843

Email: [email protected]

Monday to Friday 8:00am to 4:00pm (excluding public holidays)

If you have any further questions about the membership scheme, please do not hesitate to contact us on the number above.