diff --git a/moto/swf/models/history_event.py b/moto/swf/models/history_event.py
index c4d1e61a9..6e4002345 100644
--- a/moto/swf/models/history_event.py
+++ b/moto/swf/models/history_event.py
@@ -158,6 +158,11 @@ class HistoryEvent(object):
                 "startedEventId": self.started_event_id,
                 "timeoutType": self.timeout_type,
             }
+        elif self.event_type == "WorkflowExecutionTimedOut":
+            return {
+                "childPolicy": self.child_policy,
+                "timeoutType": self.timeout_type,
+            }
         else:
             raise NotImplementedError(
                 "HistoryEvent does not implement attributes for type '{0}'".format(self.event_type)
diff --git a/moto/swf/models/workflow_execution.py b/moto/swf/models/workflow_execution.py
index 0de757551..3645b645d 100644
--- a/moto/swf/models/workflow_execution.py
+++ b/moto/swf/models/workflow_execution.py
@@ -59,6 +59,7 @@ class WorkflowExecution(object):
         self.parent = None
         self.start_timestamp = None
         self.tag_list = [] # TODO
+        self.timeout_type = None
         self.workflow_type = workflow_type
         # args processing
         # NB: the order follows boto/SWF order of exceptions appearance (if no
@@ -149,7 +150,15 @@ class WorkflowExecution(object):
     def _process_timeouts(self):
         self.should_schedule_decision_next = False
 
-        # TODO: process timeouts on workflow itself
+        # workflow execution timeout
+        if self.has_timedout():
+            self.process_timeouts()
+            # TODO: process child policy on child workflows here or in process_timeouts()
+            self._add_event(
+                "WorkflowExecutionTimedOut",
+                child_policy=self.child_policy,
+                timeout_type=self.timeout_type,
+            )
 
         # decision tasks timeouts
         for task in self.decision_tasks:
@@ -512,3 +521,17 @@ class WorkflowExecution(object):
         self.execution_status = "CLOSED"
         self.close_status = "TERMINATED"
         self.close_cause = "OPERATOR_INITIATED"
+
+    def has_timedout(self):
+        if self.execution_status != "OPEN" or not self.start_timestamp:
+            return False
+        # TODO: handle the "NONE" case
+        start_to_close_timeout = self.start_timestamp + \
+                                    int(self.execution_start_to_close_timeout)
+        return start_to_close_timeout < now_timestamp()
+
+    def process_timeouts(self):
+        if self.has_timedout():
+            self.execution_status = "CLOSED"
+            self.close_status = "TIMED_OUT"
+            self.timeout_type = "START_TO_CLOSE"
diff --git a/tests/test_swf/models/test_workflow_execution.py b/tests/test_swf/models/test_workflow_execution.py
index 5f14c51da..bc3585f78 100644
--- a/tests/test_swf/models/test_workflow_execution.py
+++ b/tests/test_swf/models/test_workflow_execution.py
@@ -394,3 +394,15 @@ def test_terminate():
     last_event.event_type.should.equal("WorkflowExecutionTerminated")
     # take default child_policy if not provided (as here)
     last_event.child_policy.should.equal("ABANDON")
+
+def test_has_timedout():
+    wfe = make_workflow_execution()
+    wfe.has_timedout().should.equal(False)
+
+    with freeze_time("2015-01-01 12:00:00"):
+        wfe.start()
+        wfe.has_timedout().should.equal(False)
+
+    with freeze_time("2015-01-01 14:01"):
+        # 2 hours timeout reached
+        wfe.has_timedout().should.equal(True)
diff --git a/tests/test_swf/responses/test_timeouts.py b/tests/test_swf/responses/test_timeouts.py
index 97593d2c4..ecc1e6068 100644
--- a/tests/test_swf/responses/test_timeouts.py
+++ b/tests/test_swf/responses/test_timeouts.py
@@ -63,3 +63,32 @@ def test_decision_task_start_to_close_timeout():
         attrs.should.equal({
             "scheduledEventId": 2, "startedEventId": 3, "timeoutType": "START_TO_CLOSE"
         })
+
+# Workflow Execution Start to Close timeout
+# Default value in workflow helpers: 2 hours
+@mock_swf
+def test_workflow_execution_start_to_close_timeout():
+    pass
+    with freeze_time("2015-01-01 12:00:00"):
+        conn = setup_workflow()
+
+    with freeze_time("2015-01-01 13:59:30"):
+        resp = conn.get_workflow_execution_history("test-domain", conn.run_id, "uid-abcd1234")
+
+        event_types = [evt["eventType"] for evt in resp["events"]]
+        event_types.should.equal(
+            ["WorkflowExecutionStarted", "DecisionTaskScheduled"]
+        )
+
+    with freeze_time("2015-01-01 14:00:30"):
+        # => Workflow Execution Start to Close timeout reached!!
+        resp = conn.get_workflow_execution_history("test-domain", conn.run_id, "uid-abcd1234")
+
+        event_types = [evt["eventType"] for evt in resp["events"]]
+        event_types.should.equal(
+            ["WorkflowExecutionStarted", "DecisionTaskScheduled", "WorkflowExecutionTimedOut"]
+        )
+        attrs = resp["events"][-1]["workflowExecutionTimedOutEventAttributes"]
+        attrs.should.equal({
+            "childPolicy": "ABANDON", "timeoutType": "START_TO_CLOSE"
+        })
diff --git a/tests/test_swf/utils.py b/tests/test_swf/utils.py
index 70cbc4c13..7e7ecc1fb 100644
--- a/tests/test_swf/utils.py
+++ b/tests/test_swf/utils.py
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ def _generic_workflow_type_attributes():
     ], {
         "task_list": "queue",
         "default_child_policy": "ABANDON",
-        "default_execution_start_to_close_timeout": "300",
+        "default_execution_start_to_close_timeout": "7200",
         "default_task_start_to_close_timeout": "300",
     }