Westminster Abbey 2 for 1 Tickets
The National Rail Days Out Guide 2-for-1 offer at Westminster Abbey is one of the best legitimate discounts available — two adults pay for one. Here’s exactly how to qualify and redeem, step by step.
Other ticket options
Quick summary
| Saving | Up to £30 — one free adult entry per voucher |
|---|---|
| Provider | National Rail Days Out Guide (daysoutguide.co.uk) |
| Need | Voucher + valid rail ticket dated for the same day |
| Where to redeem | Westminster Abbey ticket desk, on arrival |
| Combinable with other discounts? | No — choose one |
| Valid for the verger tour? | Yes, on the entry portion. Tour add-on charged in full. |
How the 2-for-1 offer actually works
The Days Out Guide is a long-running promotion run by Britain’s rail operators to encourage off-peak rail travel. It’s simple in concept: if you arrive in London by train, you and a travelling companion get two-for-one entry at participating attractions, including Westminster Abbey. In practice there are four conditions you must meet, all small, all enforced.
- You must travel into London by National Rail. Tube, Overground or DLR alone does not qualify. Trains operated by Avanti, GWR, LNER, Southern, Thameslink, Greater Anglia and the rest do.
- Your rail ticket must be dated for the day you visit the Abbey. A return ticket dated 12 March only works on 12 March, not 13 March. A weekly Travelcard works on any day during its validity.
- You must download and print (or screenshot) the Days Out Guide voucher for Westminster Abbey. The website is daysoutguide.co.uk. The voucher is free, takes 60 seconds, and must show the venue name, the 2-for-1 logo and a barcode.
- Both visitors must arrive together and at the ticket desk in person. You can’t use a voucher for one ticket and bring the other person in later.
Step-by-step: how to redeem at Westminster Abbey
- Plan your London day on a date when you’ll arrive by train. A day-return from Brighton, Reading, Cambridge or even just from Watford Junction qualifies.
- Visit daysoutguide.co.uk before you travel. Search for "Westminster Abbey", download the voucher PDF. Print it or save it to your phone. Each voucher is for one visit.
- Travel to London by train on the date the voucher will be used.
- Keep your rail ticket. If you used a paper ticket, hold onto the dated return half. If you used an e-ticket or Smartcard, screenshot the booking confirmation.
- Walk to Westminster Abbey. Enter through the North Door, find the ticket desk inside on the right.
- Present the voucher + rail ticket(s) for both travellers together. The desk validates and issues two adult admissions for the price of one.
- Pay the single-adult fare on the spot. Card preferred; cash accepted.
Who qualifies?
| Visitor | 2-for-1 applies? |
|---|---|
| Adult ticket pair | Yes — pay for one, get one free |
| Senior + adult | Yes — discount applies to the cheaper ticket |
| Adult + student | Yes — student concession used as the free ticket |
| Adult + child | Yes — child concession used as the free ticket |
| Family ticket holder | No — family ticket is already discounted; can’t stack |
| Group of 10+ | No — separate group rate applies |
| Friends of Westminster Abbey member | Not needed — membership already free entry |
How much you actually save
| Scenario | Without 2-for-1 | With 2-for-1 | Saving |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 adults | £64 (door) | £32 | £32 |
| Adult + senior | £60 | £32 | £28 |
| Adult + student | £60 | £32 | £28 |
| Adult + child (12) | £47 | £32 | £15 |
| 2 adults + verger tour | £84 | £52 (entry 2-for-1 + 2× tour) | £32 |
The saving is real money — £28 to £32 for most couples — which is more than the cost of a return train ticket from anywhere in the Home Counties. That’s the genius of the offer for rail operators: it nudges people onto the trains they’d otherwise drive to London on.
Cheapest possible eligible rail tickets
You don’t need to travel from far away. The 2-for-1 is valid against any National Rail journey ending in London. The cheapest qualifying tickets we’ve seen used:
- Watford Junction to London Euston — around £6 return off-peak
- Hertford North to London Moorgate — around £8 return off-peak
- Gatwick to London Bridge — around £12 single (useful if you’re flying in)
- Travelcard from any Zone 1–6 station — daily, around £15.20 peak, £13.80 off-peak
Buy them on the day at any railway ticket office or via Trainline / National Rail Enquiries.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Showing a Tube ticket. Tube journeys don’t count. Must be National Rail.
- Voucher dated yesterday. The voucher download is fresh but the visit date is what matters. Check the printed date is today before queueing.
- Only one rail ticket for two people. Some couples assume one ticket covers both — it doesn’t. Each adult needs their own rail ticket dated for the visit day.
- Trying to redeem online. Cannot be done. The Abbey’s online ticket store has no 2-for-1 code; the offer is desk-only.
- Visiting a closed day. Don’t buy a rail ticket for a Sunday assuming you’ll redeem at the Abbey — it’s closed to sightseeing.
Does 2-for-1 work for guided tours?
Half-yes. The 2-for-1 applies to the standard admission portion of a verger-led tour combo, but the £10 tour upgrade is charged in full per person. So two adults on a verger tour would pay: £30 (one entry) + £10 (tour) + £10 (tour) = £50 instead of £80. That’s a £30 saving.
Third-party guided tours (Blue Badge, combined Parliament tours) are not part of the Days Out Guide and don’t qualify.
What if I’m international?
The offer is open to anyone with a valid same-day National Rail ticket — there’s no UK-residency requirement. International visitors who fly into Gatwick or Stansted naturally qualify when they take the Gatwick Express or Stansted Express, because both are National Rail services. London Heathrow is more complicated: the Elizabeth line counts as National Rail and qualifies; the Tube to Heathrow does not.
Alternatives if you don’t qualify
- London Pass — includes Westminster Abbey if you’re visiting multiple attractions. See our discount tickets page.
- Family ticket — pre-discounted bundle for 2 adults + 1 or 2 children. See family ticket guide.
- Group of 10+ — 10–15% off; book directly with the Abbey’s group sales office.
- Choral Evensong — free, no ticket. Honestly, the most undervalued option.
FAQ
Where do I download the voucher?
National Rail’s Days Out Guide site — daysoutguide.co.uk. Search Westminster Abbey, click "2 for 1", select date, print or save.
Is the offer year-round?
Yes, although individual attractions can opt out for short periods. Westminster Abbey has participated continuously for many years.
Can I use a digital rail ticket?
Yes — m-tickets and barcode tickets on phones are accepted, as is a Trainline confirmation email shown alongside ID.
Does the offer work for the Galleries upgrade?
The £5 Diamond Jubilee Galleries add-on is not part of 2-for-1; you pay it per person.
Can I use 2-for-1 with skip-the-line?
Not at the same time — 2-for-1 is a door-redeemed discount and isn’t compatible with pre-booked skip-the-line tickets.
What if Westminster Abbey is sold out on the day?
Doors close to walk-up when capacity is reached. The 2-for-1 cannot reserve a slot — first come, first served on the door.