Where are the Tudors buried? A guide to Tudor graves you can visit in England, including Henry VIII, His Wives and Elizabeth I
- teamthomastravels
- 3 hours ago
- 17 min read
The Tudor period is one of the most fascinating chapters in British history, and our personal favourite. The names are instantly recognisable: Henry VIII, Anne Boleyn, Elizabeth I, Mary Queen of Scots, Katherine of Aragon... epic figures who shaped one of England’s most dramatic eras.
We know their stories through palaces, portraits and historical dramas, but there is something uniquely powerful about standing in the places where these people were finally laid to rest. From grand royal tombs in Westminster Abbey to quiet cathedral chapels and castle churches, many Tudor burial places can still be visited today. Some are famous, others are surprisingly hidden away. This guide explores where the Tudors and the people around them are buried, and the historic places where you can follow their final journeys.
Where Are Henry VIII’s Six Wives Buried?
The story of Henry VIII’s six wives is one of the most famous chapters in Tudor history.
Their marriages changed the course of England, but their final resting places are scattered across some of Britain’s most fascinating historic sites, depending on how their lives ended.
If you’re fascinated by the Tudor queens, here is a quick heads up for where you can visit their graves today (full information later in this blog):
Tudor queen | Final resting place |
Katherine of Aragon | Peterborough Cathedral, Cambridgeshire |
Anne Boleyn | Chapel of St Peter ad Vincula, Tower of London |
Jane Seymour | St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle |
Anne of Cleves | Westminster Abbey, London |
Catherine Howard | Chapel of St Peter ad Vincula, Tower of London |
Katherine Parr | St Mary’s Chapel, Sudeley Castle, Gloucestershire |
Westminster Abbey, London: The heart of royal Tudor burials
For centuries, being laid to rest in Westminster Abbey has been considered one of the greatest honours in the country. The Abbey has served as a royal burial church for almost a thousand years, with the tombs of medieval monarchs such as Edward the Confessor, Henry V and Edward I forming part of its extraordinary history.
But Westminster Abbey is more than a royal mausoleum! Alongside kings and queens, visitors can find the resting places of some of the most influential figures in British history, culture and science, including Isaac Newton, Charles Dickens, Geoffrey Chaucer and many other poets, writers and thinkers remembered in Poet’s Corner.
For Tudor history lovers, however, the Abbey holds a special place. Within its walls lie the founders of the Tudor dynasty, the queens who shaped England’s religious and political future, and the final monarchs of one of Britain’s most dramatic royal houses. Here's who you'll find here:
Henry VII and Elizabeth of York
Henry VII, the founder of the Tudor dynasty, is buried in the magnificent Lady Chapel at Westminster Abbey alongside his wife, Elizabeth of York. Their marriage united the rival houses of Lancaster and York after the Wars of the Roses, creating the Tudor dynasty, and
their tomb is one of the finest examples of early Renaissance royal monument design in England.
Behind Henry’s rise to the throne was the remarkable influence of his mother, Margaret Beaufort. A descendant of John of Gaunt, she played a crucial role in supporting her son’s claim, building political alliances and helping secure the victory that brought Henry to the throne in 1485. She was one of the most powerful and influential women of the early Tudor age and was buried at Westminster Abbey, close to Henry and Elizabeth of York, in the Lady Chapel she helped establish as a royal burial place.
Margaret lived to see the dynasty she helped create firmly established, outliving Henry VII by around two months, dying later in 1509. Standing here, visitors can see not only the tomb of the first Tudor monarch, but also the resting place of the woman whose determination and political skill helped make the entire Tudor dynasty possible.
Elizabeth I and Mary I
Henry VIII’s daughters, Elizabeth I and Mary I, were the final two Tudor monarchs, and both are buried at Westminster Abbey. Beneath Elizabeth's monument lies the vault containing both Elizabeth and her half-sister Mary I - a shared resting place despite the two queens' very different reigns and religious policies.
Mary I, the daughter of Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon, was the first woman to rule England in her own right. Her reign saw a dramatic attempt to restore Catholicism after the religious changes of her father and brother, Edward VI.
Elizabeth I ruled England for 44 years and oversaw one of the most famous periods in British history, remembered for exploration, literature, political stability and the defeat of the Spanish Armada. She was buried in a magnificent monument at Westminster Abbey after her death in 1603 and her funeral was one of the grandest royal ceremonies of the age, marking the end of the Tudor dynasty after 118 years.
Edward VI
The only legitimate son of Henry VIII, Edward VI became king at just nine years old following his father’s death in 1547. His short reign was dominated by religious reform, as England moved further towards Protestantism under the guidance of his advisors.
Edward died in 1553 at the young age of 15 and was buried at Westminster Abbey, beneath the north side of the High Altar area (near the tomb of his grandmother Elizabeth of York). His early death triggered one of the most dramatic succession crises of the Tudor period, leading to the brief reign of Lady Jane Grey and the eventual accession of his half-sister Mary I.
Mary Queen of Scots
Although not a Tudor by birth, Mary Queen of Scots is inseparably connected with the Tudor story and her rivalry with Elizabeth I became one of the most famous royal conflicts in history. A Catholic queen with a strong claim to the English throne, Mary spent years imprisoned before being executed in 1587.
Following her execution, Mary was originally buried at Peterborough Cathedral, where she had received a royal funeral. However, after her son James VI of Scotland became James I of England, he arranged for her remains to be moved to Westminster Abbey in 1612.
He commissioned a magnificent tomb for her, deliberately created as a monument worthy of his mother’s royal status. You'll find it positioned opposite Elizabeth I’s tomb.
Anne of Cleves (Tudor Queen Who Survived)
Anne of Cleves is often remembered as the wife Henry VIII divorced after only a few months of marriage, but her story is far more interesting than the famous “unflattering portrait” legend suggests. A German noblewoman from the Duchy of Cleves, Anne married Henry VIII in 1540 as part of a political alliance. However, Henry quickly decided the marriage was not suitable (perhaps he had already laid eyes on Anne's lady in waiting, Catherine Howard) and it was annulled after only six months.
Unlike several of Henry’s other wives, Anne emerged from the situation remarkably well.
She was granted a generous settlement, became known as the “King’s Beloved Sister” and remained in England as a wealthy and respected member of the royal household. She attended court occasions and maintained good relationships with the royal family.
Anne outlived Henry VIII and all of his other wives except Katherine Parr. She was buried at Westminster Abbey in 1557, where her tomb can still be visited today. Her peaceful later life makes her one of the great Tudor survivors: a queen who lost her crown but gained security and independence.
St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle:
Henry VIII and the Royal Family
Within the walls of Windsor Castle, St George's Chapel has served as the spiritual heart of the monarchy for more than 500 years. It is one of Britain's most important royal chapels and has witnessed countless royal weddings, funerals and ceremonies. Today, it remains an active place of worship and the final resting place of many members of the modern Royal Family, including Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, George VI, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, and numerous monarchs stretching back to the fifteenth century.
For Tudor history lovers, however, St George's Chapel holds particular significance: beneath its elegant Gothic architecture lies the tomb of Henry VIII. It is a surprisingly modest resting place for one of England's most formidable kings, especially considering Henry had envisioned an elaborate monument that was never completed.
Standing in the chapel today offers a remarkable connection between the Tudor monarchy and the Royal Family of the present day, making Windsor one of the most important stops on any Tudor history itinerary.
Henry VIII
Henry VIII, one of England’s most famous and controversial monarchs, is buried at St George’s Chapel alongside his third wife, Jane Seymour. The king who transformed England’s religion, expanded royal power and became one of the most recognisable figures in British history had planned a burial monument to match his enormous reputation, inspired by the greatest monuments of Europe, complete with elaborate decoration and a magnificent bronze effigy. However, the ambitious project was never completed. When Henry died in 1547, the unfinished monument was set aside and he was buried in the vault beneath the choir of St George’s Chapel, joining Jane Seymour.
Jane Seymour
Jane Seymour holds a unique place among Henry VIII’s wives. She was the only queen to give Henry the thing he had spent decades desperately seeking: a legitimate male heir. Her son, Edward, was born in 1537, securing the Tudor succession, but Jane died just twelve days later from complications following childbirth.
Of all Henry’s wives, Jane is often considered the one who remained closest to his heart. She was the queen who gave him his long-awaited son, and perhaps tellingly, she was also the only wife Henry chose to be buried beside. By the time of Henry’s death, he had married three more times after Jane, yet his final resting place was alongside her at St George’s Chapel, Windsor.
Unlike Katherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard, Jane didn't live long enough to fall out of favour, challenge him, or disappoint him. Her short reign as queen ended at the moment of her greatest triumph, leaving behind the image of the perfect wife who gave Henry everything he wanted.
The Tower of London: The Tudor Tragedies
Few places are more closely associated with the Tudor dynasty than the Tower of London.
Originally built by William the Conqueror as a royal fortress, the Tower served many roles throughout its history: palace, prison, armoury, treasury and royal residence. But for many visitors today, it is remembered as the stage on which some of the Tudor era's most dramatic and heartbreaking events unfolded.
Queens, nobles and statesmen passed through its gates never to leave again. Within its walls, fortunes were won and lost, political alliances collapsed and lives ended on the executioner's block.
Tucked away inside the fortress is the beautiful Chapel of St Peter ad Vincula, where several famous Tudor figures were buried after their executions. Compared with the grandeur of Westminster Abbey or Windsor Castle, the chapel is surprisingly intimate, making it one of the most moving places to reflect on the human stories behind the Tudor court.
For anyone fascinated by Henry VIII, Wolf Hall or The Tudors, there are few places in Britain that bring the drama of the sixteenth century to life quite like the Tower of London.
Anne Boleyn
Anne Boleyn’s burial place is one of the most significant Tudor sites in England -
few people in British history have experienced such a dramatic rise and fall. A talented and ambitious courtier, Anne became the second wife of Henry VIII and played a central role in one of the greatest turning points in English history: the break with Rome and the creation of the Church of England.
Her marriage to Henry brought her extraordinary power, but it also placed her at the centre of the dangerous politics of the Tudor court. After failing to provide the king with a surviving male heir, Anne fell from favour. In 1536, she was arrested, imprisoned in the Tower of London and accused of treason, adultery and incest.
Anne was executed within the Tower grounds on 19 May 1536 and was not given the grand royal funeral usually associated with monarchy. Her remains were buried in the Chapel of St Peter ad Vincula, close to the site of her execution. For centuries, the exact location of her grave was uncertain, but during restoration work in the nineteenth century, her remains were identified and she was reburied beneath a marble memorial slab inside the chapel.
Fans of Philippa Gregory's The Other Boleyn Girl might be wondering about the whereabouts of Anne's siblings, Mary and George Boleyn.
Mary Boleyn, Anne’s older sister, was once a lady-in-waiting at the court of Henry VIII and is often remembered because of claims that she had a relationship with the king before Anne’s rise to power. Her later life was far quieter than her sister’s: she married William Stafford, lived away from court and survived the political downfall of the Boleyn family.
Mary died in 1543, but the exact location of her burial is uncertain. Unlike Anne, she did not leave behind a famous royal tomb, making her final resting place one of Tudor history’s enduring mysteries.
George Boleyn, Anne’s brother, was one of the most talented and ambitious members of the Tudor court. A gifted courtier, poet and diplomat, he was also caught up in Anne’s downfall. Accused of treason and incest alongside his sister, George was executed on Tower Hill in 1536, two days before Anne, and was buried in the Chapel of St Peter ad Vincula. His wife, Jane Boleyn, also met her fate in the tower many years later and was also buried in the Chapel of St Peter ad Vincula.
After the destruction of the Boleyn family, Jane continued at court and served several Tudor queens, before her own story eventually ended in tragedy. In 1542, she became caught up in the scandal surrounding Catherine Howard, Henry VIII’s fifth wife, and was executed for her alleged role in concealing the queen’s relationships before marriage.
Catherine Howard
Catherine Howard’s story is one of the saddest chapters of Tudor history.
The daughter of a prominent but financially troubled branch of the powerful Howard family, Catherine came to court as a young woman and became a lady-in-waiting to Anne of Cleves before catching Henry VIII’s attention. She married the king in 1540, when she was probably around 17 or 18 years old, while Henry was more than 30 years her senior.
At first, the marriage appeared to bring Henry renewed happiness. He described Catherine affectionately and seemed delighted with his young bride. However, her past relationships before marriage, along with accusations of a relationship with courtier Thomas Culpeper after becoming queen, soon led to her downfall.
Catherine was arrested in 1541 and imprisoned. Unlike some of Henry’s earlier queens, she had no powerful allies able to protect her, and in 1542 she was executed at the Tower of London. Her remains were buried in the Chapel of St Peter ad Vincula within the Tower grounds, the same chapel where her cousin Anne Boleyn had been laid to rest six years earlier.
Lady Jane Grey
Lady Jane Grey’s story remains one of the most fascinating and tragic episodes of Tudor history. In 1553, during a succession crisis following the death of Edward VI, Jane was proclaimed queen by supporters who opposed the Catholic claim of Mary Tudor. However, her claim was disputed, and she was never formally crowned.
Her reign lasted only nine days before Mary I gained support and took the throne. Jane was later imprisoned in the Tower of London and executed in 1554 at around 16 or 17 years old.
She was buried in the Chapel of St Peter ad Vincula within the Tower grounds.
Thomas More
Thomas More was one of the most respected scholars, lawyers and statesmen of Tudor England. A close advisor to Henry VIII, More rose to become Lord Chancellor in 1529, the highest-ranking legal office in England. He was admired across Europe as a writer, humanist thinker and author of Utopia, but his loyalty to the Catholic Church ultimately placed him on a collision course with the king.
When Henry VIII sought to end his marriage to Katherine of Aragon and establish himself as Supreme Head of the Church of England, More refused to support the change. He resigned as Lord Chancellor and withdrew from public life, hoping to avoid conflict with the crown.
However, his silence was not enough. He was arrested for refusing to swear the required oath recognising Henry’s authority over the Church and was imprisoned in the Tower of London. In 1535, he was convicted of treason and executed on Tower Hill.
Following his execution, Thomas More’s body was buried in the Chapel of St Peter ad Vincula within the Tower of London. The exact location of his grave is uncertain, but the chapel remains one of the most powerful places to reflect on the personal cost of Tudor politics.
In the centuries after his death, More became remembered not only as a major figure of Tudor government but also as a symbol of conscience and religious conviction. He was beatified in 1886 and canonised as a saint by the Catholic Church in 1935, four hundred years after his execution. Today, he is recognised as the patron saint of statesmen, politicians, lawyers and public servants.
Thomas Cromwell
One of the most remarkable figures of Tudor England, Cromwell rose from relatively humble beginnings to become Henry VIII’s chief minister and one of the most powerful men in the country. As the architect of many of Henry’s most significant reforms, he played a central role in the English Reformation, the break with Rome and the transformation of the relationship between the Crown and the Church.
Cromwell’s influence reached its height during the 1530s, when he helped oversee the dissolution of the monasteries and the expansion of royal authority. Yet his extraordinary rise also created powerful enemies at court. After the failure of Henry VIII’s marriage to Anne of Cleves and a loss of royal favour, Cromwell was arrested in 1540, imprisoned in the Tower of London and executed later that year. His exact burial place is uncertain.
For fans of Hilary Mantel’s Wolf Hall, visiting the Tower provides a tangible connection to Cromwell’s extraordinary rise and fall.
Beyond London: Famous Tudor burials across England
While Westminster Abbey, Windsor Castle and the Tower of London are home to many of the Tudor dynasty's most famous graves, they are only part of the story.
Across England, cathedrals, castles and abbeys preserve the final resting places of queens (including two of Henry VIII's wives), princes, statesmen and courtiers whose lives shaped the Tudor age. From the peaceful surroundings of Peterborough Cathedral to the castle chapel at Sudeley and the ruins of Leicester Abbey, these places offer a chance to explore Tudor history beyond the capital.
Many also make excellent additions to wider heritage trips, whether you're touring the Cotswolds, exploring East Anglia, discovering the Midlands or following a Tudor-themed road trip through England.
Katherine of Aragon: Peterborough Cathedral, Cambridgeshire
Katherine of Aragon was Henry VIII’s first wife and arguably one of the most important women of the Tudor age. Born a Spanish princess, Katherine arrived in England as the bride of Henry’s elder brother Prince Arthur. After Arthur’s death, she eventually married the future Henry VIII and became queen in 1509.
Her marriage lasted more than 20 years, but her inability to provide Henry with a surviving male heir ultimately led to one of the greatest turning points in British history: the king’s decision to break away from the Catholic Church and establish the Church of England.
After their marriage was annulled, Katherine was separated from the royal court and spent her final years at Kimbolton Castle in Cambridgeshire. She died there in 1536 and was buried at Peterborough Cathedral.
Unlike several of Henry’s other wives, Katherine was given a full royal funeral and was remembered with great affection by many of her contemporaries. Today, visitors can visit her tomb in Peterborough Cathedral and see memorials dedicated to the queen who famously signed her letters: “Katherine the Queen.”
Katherine Parr: St Mary’s Chapel, Sudeley Castle, Gloucestershire
Katherine Parr was Henry VIII’s sixth and final wife, and unlike many of Henry’s queens, she survived him. After Henry’s death in 1547, Katherine married Thomas Seymour, the younger brother of Henry’s third wife, Jane Seymour. She moved to Sudeley Castle, where she lived with Seymour and continued her role as a supporter of education and the Protestant reform movement. Katherine died in 1548 following complications after childbirth and was buried in the castle chapel.
Prince Arthur Tudor (Henry VIII's older brother):
Worcester Cathedral, Worcestershire
Before Henry VIII became king, the Tudor succession looked very different. Henry’s elder brother, Prince Arthur Tudor, was originally expected to become king. He married Catherine of Aragon in a major political alliance with Spain, but died suddenly in 1502 at just 15 years old, changing English history forever. His younger brother Henry became heir to the throne, eventually becoming the Henry VIII we know today.
Arthur is buried in Worcester Cathedral, where his tomb remains a fascinating reminder of the Tudor history that might have been.
Mary Tudor (Henry VIII’s Sister): St Mary’s Church, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk
Not to be confused with Mary I, Henry VIII’s daughter, Mary Tudor was Henry’s younger sister and the favourite sister of the king.
Known for her beauty and intelligence, Mary was famously married to the much older Louis XII of France in 1514, becoming Queen of France. After Louis’s death the following year, she returned to England and secretly married Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk, one of Henry VIII’s closest friends. Although the marriage initially angered Henry, the couple were eventually forgiven and remained an important part of the Tudor court.
Mary died in 1533 and was buried at the Abbey Church of St Edmund in Bury St Edmunds, where she had chosen to be laid to rest. Following the Dissolution of the Monasteries under her brother’s rule, the abbey was destroyed and Mary’s remains were later moved to nearby St Mary’s Church, where her tomb can still be visited today.
If you’re exploring the town, don’t miss our one day Bury St Edmunds itinerary, which includes St Mary’s Church alongside the abbey ruins, medieval streets and other historic highlights.
Cardinal Thomas Wolsey: Leicester Abbey, Leicestershire
Before Thomas Cromwell became Henry VIII's most powerful advisor, there was Cardinal Thomas Wolsey. For almost two decades, Wolsey was effectively the second most powerful man in England. As Lord Chancellor and Archbishop of York, he oversaw government, diplomacy and the king's foreign policy, while also commissioning magnificent buildings including the palace that would become Hampton Court Palace.
However, when Wolsey failed to secure the Pope's approval for Henry VIII's divorce from Katherine of Aragon, he fell spectacularly from favour. Summoned to London to face charges of treason, Wolsey never made it. He became ill on the journey south and died at Leicester Abbey in 1530. According to tradition, his final words were: "Had I but served my God as diligently as I have served my king..."
He was buried in the Lady Chapel at Leicester Abbey, although the abbey itself was largely destroyed during the Dissolution of the Monasteries just a decade later. Today, the exact location of his grave is unknown, but the abbey site can still be visited, and interpretation boards tell the story of his final days.
Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester: Beauchamp Chapel, Warwick
Robert Dudley was one of the most influential figures of Elizabeth I’s reign and one of the most fascinating personalities of the Elizabethan court. A childhood friend of Elizabeth, Dudley became her closest favourite after she came to the throne in 1558. Their relationship was one of the great mysteries of the age, with ambassadors, courtiers and historians all commenting on the unusual closeness between the queen and the man who remained one of the most powerful figures in England for decades.
Dudley served as a trusted advisor, military commander and court favourite. He was granted the title Earl of Leicester in 1564 and remained at the centre of Elizabethan politics, although rumours about a possible marriage between the two never disappeared.
His personal life was also surrounded by drama: His first wife, Amy Robsart, died in 1560 in mysterious circumstances, creating a scandal that followed Dudley for the rest of his career. He later married Lettice Knollys, the widow of the Earl of Essex - a relative of the Queen (her grandmother was Mary Boleyn), who was so enraged by this perceived betrayal that she banished the pair from court.
Dudley died in 1588 and was buried in the magnificent Beauchamp Chapel at Warwick alongside Lettice. His tomb reflects his wealth, status and importance at Elizabeth’s court.
Although he was never a monarch, Dudley’s story is essential to understanding Elizabeth I’s reign. His life reveals the personal relationships, ambitions and rivalries that shaped one of England’s most famous royal courts.
William Cecil: St Martin’s Church, Stamford
William Cecil was the political mastermind behind much of Elizabeth I’s reign.
A trusted advisor to Elizabeth from the beginning of her rule, Cecil served as her principal secretary and later as Lord Treasurer. For more than 40 years, he helped guide England through religious tension, foreign threats and political uncertainty.
While Elizabeth provided the image and authority of the monarchy, Cecil helped manage the complex decisions behind the scenes. He played a key role in establishing the Elizabethan religious settlement and was one of the most influential statesmen of the Tudor age.
Cecil died in 1598 and was buried in St Martin’s Church in Stamford, Lincolnshire, close to his family home at Burghley House. His tomb reflects the wealth and importance he achieved, but the real significance of visiting Cecil’s burial place is understanding the man behind Elizabeth’s famous reign: the advisor who helped turn the Elizabethan era into one of England’s most celebrated periods.
Following the Final Footsteps of the Tudors
The Tudor period is remembered for its ambition, drama and larger-than-life personalities, but visiting their burial places offers a different perspective. Behind the palaces, politics and royal portraits were real people whose lives shaped the course of British history.
From Westminster Abbey and Windsor Castle to quiet cathedral chapels and castle churches, these places allow us to connect with the Tudors in a uniquely personal way.
Together, these burial sites tell the complete story of Tudor England: its triumphs, tragedies, betrayals, romances and revolutions.
If you've ever watched The Tudors, Wolf Hall or simply wondered what became of the people who shaped sixteenth-century England, there are few better ways to connect with their stories than by visiting the places where they lie today.
Further Reading: If you love Tudor history, you may also enjoy:
The Ultimate Guide to Tudor England: 15 Historic Places Every History Lover Should Visit
Discover the palaces, castles and houses where Henry VIII, Elizabeth I and the Tudor court lived.
Explore villages and buildings that bring everyday Tudor England to life.
Step aboard Henry VIII’s famous flagship and explore one of Britain’s greatest archaeological discoveries.
Spend a day or two exploring Suffolk's delightful Lavenham, one of England's best preserved Medieval villages.
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