Monks, murders, and myths – we reveal Westminster Abbey’s darker side

Welcome to Westminster Abbey – but watch your step!

By <a href="#author-bio">Alice Padfield</a>
By Alice Padfield
Published: April 23, 2025
westminster abbey LONDON

Westminster Abbey: the grand stage of coronations, royal weddings, and the final resting place of some of Britain’s most famous figures. But beneath its gothic grandeur lies a shadowy past filled with monks, mysteries, and more than a few eerie encounters. If walls could talk, these would probably whisper ominously in Latin.  

So, take a stroll with us through the Abbey’s more sinister side – just don’t stray too far from the group...

Monks and medieval mischief 

Before it became a must-visit London landmark, Westminster Abbey was a Benedictine monastery, home to devout monks and – if the legends are to be believed – plenty of strange goings-on.  

The monks lived a life of prayer, study, and chanting in the candlelit cloisters, but some say their spirits never quite moved on. Visitors and night watchmen have reported the sound of low, ghostly chanting echoing through the Abbey’s halls long after the last choirboy has gone home. Spooky or just really good acoustics? You decide.

an AI generated image of monks in the cloisters
This image is AI generated

Want to test the theory for yourself? Stand in the Cloisters, where the monks once walked in silent contemplation. Close your eyes and listen – maybe you'll catch the faint echoes of their chants. This is also one of the top spots where visitors have reported seeing shadowy figures drifting between the archways. We didn’t see anything we weren’t expecting, but we did enjoy pretending to be in the corridors of Hogwarts.  

And let’s not forget the medieval obsession with relics. Pilgrims once flocked to the Abbey to visit holy artifacts, including the bones of saints (and possibly a few imposters). It was all fun and games until Henry VIII shut the monastery down in the 16th century, kicking out the monks and probably disturbing whatever spirits were lingering inside.

The final resting place of the Princes in the Tower? 

Westminster Abbey has seen centuries of power struggles, political intrigue, and some very unfortunate deaths. One particularly grim tale is that of Edward V and his younger brother Richard, better known as the Princes in the Tower. They mysteriously disappeared in the late 1400s, and while most believe they were secretly murdered in the Tower of London, some theories suggest their bones could be hidden within the Abbey itself. (If you find any, let us know – historians have been wondering for centuries.)

princes in the tower ghostly image AI generated
This image is AI generated

Visit the Abbey’s Lady Chapel, where some believe the princes' remains could be hidden beneath the floor. Even if you don’t stumble upon a centuries-old mystery, you’ll be standing in one of the most breathtaking spaces in the Abbey.

But keep an eye out – some visitors have reported feeling sudden cold chills or even glimpsing ghostly apparitions near the tombs.

The Grave of the Unknown Warrior 

Then there’s the story of the Unknown Warrior. This solemn tomb, placed in the Abbey in 1920, holds the body of an unidentified British soldier from World War I.

Tomb of the Unknown Warrior, Westminster Abbey

It’s one of the most moving tributes in London, but some claim a spectral soldier has been spotted standing beside the grave, silently watching over his fallen comrades. 

When you visit, pause at the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior and reflect on its significance. Pay attention to the atmosphere – some say they feel an inexplicable presence nearby. It's one of the Abbey's most active ghostly spots.

Ghosts in the Abbey 

Every great historical site needs a resident ghost, and Westminster Abbey does not disappoint. The most famous? The White Lady, who has been sighted drifting through the cloisters in a long, flowing dress.  

the cloisters in Westminster Abbey

Legend has it she was a medieval noblewoman who longed to become a nun but was tragically forbidden. Now, she roams the Abbey in eternal protest – or maybe just looking for the gift shop. 

Want to try and spot her? The best place is near the West Cloister, where she's been known to appear in the early evening hours.

Poets’ Corner

Poets’ Corner, where literary greats like Chaucer and Dickens are buried, is another paranormal hotspot. Some visitors have reported strange shuffling sounds, cold gusts of air, and even the faint scent of old ink and parchment. Could it be the ghosts of poets still trying to perfect their verses from beyond the grave? We wouldn’t put it past them.

poet's corner in westminster abbey

As you stand in Poets’ Corner, take a moment to honour these literary legends. Perhaps you’ll feel a whisper of inspiration – or something more mysterious. This is another key location to watch out for ghostly encounters, especially near Chaucer’s tomb.

Symbols, secrets, and a touch of the macabre 

When wandering through the Abbey, we were impressed by the intricate carvings and tomb engravings. But it turns out that when you look a bit closer, some of these designs have eerie hidden meanings. Skulls, hourglasses, and grim reapers can be found on several tombstones, serving as a reminder that time waits for no one. (Cheery thought, right?)

a hidden crypt beneath westminster abbey, as generated by AI
This image is generated by AI

There are also whispered rumours of hidden chambers within the Abbey – some say a long-forgotten crypt lies beneath the floor, holding the remains of those best left undisturbed. Whether that’s true or just a case of overactive imaginations, we weren’t keen to hang around at night and find out!

A final resting place… or is it? 

Westminster Abbey isn’t just a must-see tourist attraction – it’s a giant, centuries-old tomb. Over 3,300 people are buried here, from kings and queens to poets and prime ministers. With so much history packed into one place, it’s no wonder that some spirits might not have fully moved on. 

So step through its doors and take a moment to listen. That draft you feel? Maybe just an open window. That whisper in your ear? Probably nothing… or maybe, just maybe, it’s one of Westminster Abbey’s many ghostly residents, welcoming you to their eternal home. 

Just be sure to watch where you step as you’re looking around, you never know who (or what) might be looking back at you... 

 

Enjoyed this? Check out our complete guide to visiting the Tower of London or Discover Delicious Dining Near Westminster Abbey! 

Step up your sightseeing with The London Pass®. We make it easy to explore the best a city has to offer. We’re talking top attractions, hidden gems and local tours, all for one low price. Plus you'll enjoy guaranteed savings, compared to buying individual attraction tickets. 

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Alice Padfield
Alice Padfield
Content Manager

Alice is a copywriter in the Content team at Go City®, where she combines her love for travel, literature, food and theatre to craft inspiring content for cultural explorers. From blog articles to TikToks, she creates engaging stories that help travellers uncover hidden gems and must-see spots in every city. Passionate about exploring new destinations, Alice shares her discoveries to help others curate unforgettable itineraries.

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Who's Buried in St Paul's Cathedral
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Who's Buried in St Paul's Cathedral

St Paul's Cathedral is one of the most iconic landmarks in London. It's also one of the most visited, with countless people wandering its halls throughout the year. But St. Paul's also doubles as a crypt, where some of the bravest and brightest minds are laid to rest. But who's buried in St Paul's Cathedral? Find out below! Including: Aethelred the Unready Sir Christopher Wren Horatio Nelson Joseph Turner and more! Aethelred the Unready We'll start at the beginning because chronological order rules. So, hop in your time machine as we take a journey back to 1016 and attend the funeral of the late King Aethelred the Unready. As you can guess by his title, he wasn't the most beloved king. So, was it preparedness? Was he too young to take the throne? Well, no. See, Aethelred's title is actually a mistranslation. The original name more closely translates to "ill-advised". Historical documents from his reign detail questionable decisions that bordered on comedic. When Vikings came knocking at his door with blooded axes, Aethelred the Unready chose to try and pay them off rather than meet them with steel. But, when all your opponent really wants is a payday, giving them what they want is hardly a deterrent. In fact, they just want more - like a modern email scam. As such, many more Viking clans came a-knocking, quickly drying up the country's coffers. Regardless of his choices - and unwise advisors - Aethelred the Unready lies buried at St. Paul's Cathedral. And, while he might not top any lists of the who's who of those buried in St. Paul's Cathedral, he tops ours. Again, because of chronology. Image courtesy of Natata/Shutterstock Sir Christopher Wren You may have never heard of ol' Aethelred, but you've almost certainly heard of Sir Christopher Wren. An architectural tour de force, Wren is responsible for many of London's most iconic landmarks. The Royal Observatory in Greenwich, Kensington Palace, and yes, even St. Paul's Cathedral are just some of the many structures he designed in the wake of the Great Fire of London, which destroyed much of old London on a hot summer's day in 1666. So yes, the big man even designed the very building where he was laid to rest. But did you know that nearly wasn't the case? In fact, after his death, there were no plans to entomb him in St Paul's. However, thanks to a public outcry, plans changed. And, rather amusingly, Wren even joked that, when designing the building, he had the perfect place to put his tomb. And, when you go to see his final resting place, you'll find it in the exact same place he first pointed out. Now that's a story! Horatio Nelson Next, we take to the seas and toast this legend of an admiral without comparison. Horatio Nelson was a hero of the Napoleonic Wars, ensuring decisive victories against the French. Having fought in constant wars from his younger years through to his Admiralcy, Nelson's luck ran out during the famous Battle of Trafalgar, when a musket round pierced his shoulder, lung, and spine. While it may be a struggle to survive such wounds in the modern day, back in the 19th Century, it was a death sentence. But a man of such renown could not be buried at sea. There was only ever one place Nelson would be buried; St. Paul's Cathedral. But the journey from Trafalgar to London is long, and there weren't exactly freezers back then. So what did his crew do? They buried his body in a casket full of brandy, which just so happened to be Nelson's tipple of choice. The brandy helped preserve the admiral's body as it was safely transported to St Paul's. A boozy return for a deserving fellow. Joseph Turner Yep, St. Paul's Cathedral doesn't just welcome war heroes, kings, and giants of the architectural world. It welcomes painters too. Ladies and gentlemen, Joseph Turner. Turner was known for his breathtaking paintings capturing the essence of nature's beauty. Famous for this oceanic artwork, you'll likely recognise many of his paintings like The Shipwreck, Fisherman at Sea, and The Fighting Temeraire. Turner's work is almost immediately identifiable - no one paints quite like that. But legends suggest this isn't due solely to his skill. Supposedly, he made his own paints using unique elements such as herbs and spices, giving his paintings their unique look. Duke of Wellington Just when you thought we'd turned a corner, boom, another war hero appears! And yes, it's yet another military leader whose biggest triumphs occurred during the Napoleonic Wars. However, the difference between Horatio Nelson and the Duke of Wellington, aka Arthur Wellesley, is that while Nelson's victories took place on sea, the Duke of Wellington's victories happened on land. But, while his military prowess has been celebrated for centuries, the ol' Duke has a sense of humour too. At dinner one night, long before his death in 1852, Wellesley said that he didn't care where he was buried as long as they buried him in his boots. Maybe you had to be there? Either way, his wish came true, and he now rests beneath St. Paul's Cathedral, buried in his boots. Alexander Fleming And finally, last but certainly not least on our list is perhaps the most deserving. He may not be a king, an artist, or a "war hero" - though he did serve in a war - but his work has arguably saved more lives than anyone else. Not just on this list, but on the planet. You may not know his name, but you know his work. Ever taken an antibiotic? Well, you might not have if it wasn't for Alexander Fleming. The brilliant Scottish microbiologist was the first to discover that bacteria avoided certain fungi. Following testing, he realised why; said certain fungi kill them. This discovery snowballed into penicillin, the first antibiotic. And, to put it mildly, penicillin changed the world. No longer were infections a roll of the dice. Now, people would survive. If anyone deserves their resting place beneath the hallowed halls of St. Paul's Cathedral, it's Alexander Fleming. So, if you were wondering who's buried in St Paul's Cathedral, wonder no more. Of course, this is just a handful of the many luminaries who now call it "home", so go visit and see them all for yourself! Westminster Abbey is another popular burial place for famous faces of history so you could have your fill of historic graves in Westminster Abbey or St Pauls' Cathedral but with the London Pass, you can visit both and even skip the queue at St Paul's, as well as all of London's biggest attractions, for one low price!
Dom Bewley
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The Best Pub Crawls in London

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Pubs on the crawl include: Ye Grapes in Mayfair, Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese on Fleet Street, and 24 other pubs that may or may not have Ye in their name Attractions along the way: Trafalgar Square, Eros Statue, King’s Cross Station, London Transport Museum The Historical pub crawl Hailed by The Telegraph as a crawl taking in ‘London’s most fascinating historical nuggets,' this route starts off in Blackfriars and takes you through to Holborn. It’s a much more manageable trek with just six spots on the list, but each one is steeped in British history from the Grade II listed Blackfriar with its stained glass details, through to the rich timber wood of the Cittie of Yorke, tucked away in a cellar. If you’re on the lookout for more historic watering holes, check out our guide to the Oldest Pubs in London. 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This pub crawl takes you to the favourite boozy haunts of London’s writers and creatives, from Shakespeare to Charles Dickens and Virginia Woolf.  You’ll be accompanied by actors playing some of the deceased literary figures and reading famous extracts from their works. It’s a lot of fun and you might find you have something in common with one of the country’s most popular writers...you both like drinking.  Pubs on the crawl include: Shhh...it’s a secret  Attractions along the way: Pollock's Toy Museum The Sam Smiths pub crawl  Okay, so this is officially more of a challenge than a crawl. It’d be impossible to do all of these on one crawl. So please don’t try. Samuel Smith’s Brewery is located in Yorkshire, but they’ve got a number of very popular (and cheap) pubs across London, mainly in the very centre.  These guys came up with the Sam Smiths Challenge, where they looked to visit every Sam Smiths pub across the capital. 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Follow in the footsteps of great stalwarts of London’s pubs from centuries gone by: Cromwell, Dickens, Conan Doyle, and more! Planning your London trip? With The London Pass®, you can explore big-name landmarks, local hotspots and epic tours, all on one pass, all for one price. Not only that, but you'll enjoy savings of up to 50% on loads of London attractions, compared to buying individual attraction tickets. ✈️ Buy The London Pass® ✈️
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Tower of London
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