Walking through the dim, cool air of Westminster Abbey is a bit like walking on a giant, stone-carved history book. If you look down, you’re literally stepping on the names of people who changed the world. But it’s not exactly a graveyard in the traditional sense anymore. Honestly, people often think the Abbey is "full" or that Queen Elizabeth II was the last one to be laid to rest there. Neither of those things is quite right.
So, who actually holds the title of the last person buried in Westminster Abbey?
If we're talking about an actual interment—meaning their remains are physically placed within the floor or walls of the church—that honor belongs to Professor Stephen Hawking.
The last person buried in Westminster Abbey: A modern scientific icon
On June 15, 2018, the world-renowned theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking was interred in the Abbey’s "Scientists' Corner." It was a massive deal. Thousands of people applied for tickets to the memorial service. When the dust settled, Hawking’s ashes were placed in a very specific spot: right between the graves of Sir Isaac Newton and Charles Darwin.
Think about that for a second. Newton, the father of gravity. Darwin, the father of evolution. And Hawking, the man who explained black holes. It’s like the ultimate VIP lounge for the smartest people to ever walk the planet.
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But wait. Some people get confused because of Queen Elizabeth II. Her funeral was held at the Abbey in 2022, and it was probably the most-watched event in history. You’ve likely seen the footage of the crown being removed from her coffin. But she wasn't buried there. After the service, her casket was taken to Windsor Castle. She’s actually buried in the King George VI Memorial Chapel, which is part of St George's Chapel in Windsor.
Basically, the Abbey hosts the big funerals, but the actual "move-in" dates are getting rarer and rarer.
Why is it so hard to get buried in the Abbey?
You can't just buy a plot. There isn't a "luxury burial" package for the ultra-wealthy. Space is basically non-existent. Over 3,300 people are already buried or commemorated within those walls. Because of this, the Dean of Westminster has to be extremely selective.
In the old days, if you were a monarch, you were in. But even that changed. The last monarch actually buried at Westminster Abbey was King George II all the way back in 1760. Since then, the Royal Family has preferred the privacy of Windsor.
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Nowadays, to get your ashes (and it’s almost always ashes now, not full-body burials) into the Abbey, you have to be more than just "famous." You have to be "nation-shaping."
The shift from bodies to ashes
If you look at the floor tiles, you’ll notice many are surprisingly small. That’s because, for over a century, the Abbey has largely moved toward cremation. There simply isn't room for another 6-foot-deep vault. When Stephen Hawking was interred, it was his cremated remains. This allows the Abbey to honor great figures without literally running out of floor space.
The "Unknown Warrior" and the sanctity of the floor
There is one person who will definitely be the last person buried in one specific way. Near the west door of the Abbey, there’s a grave surrounded by red poppies. It’s the Grave of the Unknown Warrior.
This soldier, brought back from France after World War I, is the only person in the entire Abbey that you are strictly forbidden to walk on. Even during royal weddings, when the bride walks down the aisle, they have to navigate around the stone. It represents all the unidentified soldiers who died in the war. While Hawking is the most recent person interred in the building, the Unknown Warrior holds a status of "finality" and reverence that no one else will ever touch.
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What most visitors get wrong about the graves
When you’re visiting, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. You see names like Charles Dickens, Rudyard Kipling, and Laurence Olivier. But here is the kicker: not everyone with a stone in the Abbey is actually there.
Many are just "memorials." For example, the Brontë sisters have a stone, but they’re buried in Yorkshire. Winston Churchill has a massive memorial stone right as you walk in, but he’s actually buried in a quiet churchyard in Bladon.
Why this matters for your visit
If you’re looking for the last person buried in Westminster Abbey, you have to look for the ledger stones. These are the stones that actually mark where the remains are. Hawking’s stone is beautiful—it’s made of dark Caithness slate and features an engraving of a black hole and his most famous equation.
Actionable insights for your next visit
If you’re planning to go see Hawking’s final resting place or the royal tombs, keep these tips in mind:
- Book ahead: It’s 2026, and the crowds haven't gotten any smaller. The Abbey uses timed entry. If you just show up, you might be waiting for hours.
- Look for the "Scientists' Corner": Don't just stick to the Royal Chapels. The area near the choir screen holds the most recent history, including Hawking and Newton.
- Check the schedule: The Abbey is a working church. If there’s a special service (like the recent VE Day 80th anniversary events), they will close to tourists.
- Don't forget the Cloisters: Some of the oldest and most atmospheric burials are actually in the outdoor walkways (the Cloisters), not the main nave.
Who will be next? No one knows. There isn't a "waiting list." It usually takes a monumental death and a massive groundswell of public and academic support for the Dean to even consider a new interment. For now, Stephen Hawking remains the final name added to the Abbey’s floor, marking the end of an era—or at least, the latest chapter in a story that’s been written in stone for over a thousand years.
Next time you’re in London, stand near the Grave of the Unknown Warrior and then walk toward the Scientists' Corner. You’ll feel the weight of time between those two spots. One represents the collective sacrifice of a nation; the other, the brilliant spark of a single human mind. It’s a pretty intense way to spend an afternoon.