Westminster Abbey, London
The real name of Westminster Abbey is ‘The Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster’. The abbey is a large, mostly Gothic church, in Westminster, London.
The abbey along with the nearby Palace of Westminster, where the British Parliament sits, confirms this area as the political centre of the United Kingdom.
The Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster with its rose window and two towers
History
The abbey’s history may date to the time of Mellitus (624 AD), Bishop of London. It is known, however, that in the 960’s or early 970’s, Saint Dunstan, assisted by King Edgar, installed a community of monks in the abbey.
A stone abbey was built on the site around 1045-1050 by King Edward the Confessor. Since the coronations of both King Harold and William the Conqueror in 1066, coronations of English and British monarchs have been held in the abbey in Westminster.
Prince William and Kate Middleton chose to marry at the abbey on 29 April 2011. King Charles III’s coronation took place here on May 6, 2023.
Flags in the Lady Chapel and some of the statues of 95 saints
Lady Chapel
The Lady Chapel is where 15 kings and queens are buried. They include Elizabeth I, Mary I, Mary Queen of Scots, and possibly Edward V and Richard Duke of York, known as the “Princes in the Tower.” In the Hanoverian vault lie George II and members of his family. Charles II, William III and Mary II, and Queen Anne lie in the Stuart vault.
The fan-vaulted roof and stained glass windows in the chapel are both spectacular.
The Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster, London
Visitors to the abbey can also view the cloisters (see below), the Chapter House and the College Garden. On site are the Cellarium Cafe and a souvenir shop. The Church of St Margaret is next door.
The cloisters
Famous People Buried at the Abbey
The church holds the graves or commemorations of many famous people in British history. These include Jane Austen, Isaac Newton, Charles Dickens, Thomas Hardy, Charles Darwin, Olaudah Equiano (Gustavus Vassa), Ernest Bevin and many more. Poet’s Corner is part of the South Transept where several poets and writers are either buried or commemorated here.
Monument to the poet John Dryden outside St Benedict’s chapel © Hiro Taniguchi
An interesting fact about the abbey is that it claims to contain Britain’s oldest door (see below).
Britain’s oldest door
Nearby
The abbey is located just west of the Palace of Westminster (Houses of Parliament). Visitors to the abbey may also want to visit nearby Big Ben or Buckingham Palace. 10 Downing Street, the River Thames, and Trafalgar Square are also all very close.
Gilt bronze recumbent effigies of King Henry VII and Elizabeth of York in the Lady Chapel © Hiro Taniguchi
Accommodation in Westminster
Nearby luxury hotels include the five-star Corinthia Hotel London, the five-star Sofitel London St James, and the Conrad London St James, also five stars.
The two towers of the church and the main entrance
Access – Getting There
Westminster Abbey
20 Dean’s Yard
London SW1P 3PA
Tel: 020 7222 5152
Admission: the fee to enter is one of the most expensive in London currently 29 GBP for adults in 2023 up from 23 GBP in 2019.
View of the ornate ceiling © Hiro Taniguchi
Hours: The abbey is open Monday to Saturday, usually from 9.30 am to 3.30 pm. However, it is best to check the official website for confirmation at www.westminster-abbey.org
Different parts of the abbey have different hours.
Westminster is the nearest underground station to the abbey. Westminster Station is on the Circle, District and Jubilee lines. Numerous London buses pass by the abbey on both Victoria Street and Abingdon Street. These include the numbers 87 on Abingdon Street and 11, 148 and 211 on Victoria Street and Parliament Square.
Gallery
The cloisters at the abbey
View of the cloisters at the abbey
Candles in the abbey © Hiro Taniguchi
King Charles III’s coronation took place here on Saturday May 6, 2023; The flags in the Lady Chapel show the heraldic symbols of the various Members of the Order of the Bath © Hiro Taniguchi
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