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WestminsterWestminster AbbeyBroad Sanctuary
Westminster Abbey is close to the Houses of Parliament and has been the scene of all Royal Coronations, and a lot of Royal weddings and burials since William the Conqueror marched into England in 1066. It is - quite simply - unmissable, and is one of the two or three visitor attractions that you simply have to get to.
Left: Westminster Abbey - the west front. Photo by Row17 and reproduced by kind permission
The present Abbey is an architectural masterpiece of mediaeval times, built from around the 12th Century to the end of the 16th Century. The Chapel of Henry VII in particular is stunning, with its magnificent fan vaulting covering the ceiling of the chapel, all carved from stone - yet this looks as delicate as though it were made of icing sugar. The Abbey is not only the last resting place for many great Kings and Queens down the ages, but also for famous English poets and scientists. You will be able to see the graves in Poets Corner, with geniuses such as Geoffrey Chaucer, John Donne and William Wordsworth. Buried here also are Prime Ministers and statesmen, and momuments to such famous people as Lord Baden Powell the founder of the Scout movement. The tour of the Abbey is an amazing experience, with the enigmatic grave of the Unknown Warrior, the Shrine of King Edward the Confessor, (who founded the Abbey) the intricate beauty of the Chapels surrounding the Confessor's tomb, and of course the Coronation chair, where Kings and Queens down the ages, including our present Queen Elizabeth II, have all been crowned. You can also see Henry V's tomb, complete with the saddle and sword that he used at the Battle of Agincourt, and the tombs of Elizabeth 1st and Mary Queen of Scots. Mary's son James 1st deliberately made sure that his mother's tomb was even more magnifient and several metres higher than that of Elizabeth 1st - who had had James' mother put to death.....! Also buried here are Edward I (known as "The Hammer of the Scots"), Edward III, and the Little Princes - the young sons of Edward IV - who were murdered in the Tower of London allegedly by their wicked uncle Richard III, in 1483. The grandeur and - above all else - the breathless sense of history inside the Abbey is inescapable. It sets the hairs on the back of your neck up on end..... The atmosphere engendered especially around the graves and tombs, forged with the majesty of the Abbey, will envelop you completely. The Westminster Abbey Museum is also well worth a look because of its expansive collection of Royal effigies. Don't miss the Undercroft and the Chapter House, the Pyx Chapel and the Cloisters. The Little Cloister in particular is as oasis of peace amid the hustle and bustle of the world around it. Westminster Abbey is top of most visitor's lists of "Must See" places in London, and justly so - you will not be disappointed! To get the best out of your visit, it is advisable to go on a guided tour once you are in the museum. If you are lucky enough to be shown around the Abbey by a knowlegeble Abbey guide then your experience will be richly enhanced
For more information tel: 0207 222 5152 or visit their website www.westminster-abbey.org for full details of services and visitor tours. Nearest Tube station: Westminster
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