The abbey nave is properly the entire central vault of the church. In practice, however, that vault is divided into several parts. The areas for important people are listed under the quire, apse, and St. Edward's Chapel areas. This space is what is left over behind the quire screen. All visitors to the abbey must pass through the Great West Door into the nave to access the other areas, so this is the least private location in the abbey. During the coronation, vassal knights without their own manors and all non-noble persons who are unaffiliated with the abbey or who are not bishops sit in temporary seating here. These people hear, rather than view, the coronation ceremony, and only pass into the main area and see the assembled nobility and religious figures when receiving the Eucharist.

The temporary seating here is removed directly after the ceremony, leaving a vast, imposing, empty hall.