The history of Westminster Abbey is filled with the names of the famous and powerful. Although its name is the Collegiate Church of St Peter, Westminster, the church is universally known as Westminster Abbey.

It is an Anglican church built in the Gothic style and is located west of Westminster Palace. It exists as a “Royal Peculiar” meaning that it comes under the direct control of the Crown rather than the Bishop of London.

Legend has it that the church was originally built in 616 as a shrine to St Peter after a fisherman had a vision of the saint. In 1045-1050, Edward the Confessor built the abbey to house Benedictine monks, and it was rebuilt in the Gothic style by Henry III whose devotion to St Edward the Confessor led him to build a grand church as location for his own royal burial.

Over the years, Westminster Abbey’s connection to the Royal Family saved it from much of the destruction which befell many other churches due to religious upheavals.

The abbey has served as the coronation church since 1066, almost every king and queen of Britain has been crowned here while seated on King Edward’s Chair which is housed at the church. Many of the kings and queens who came after Henry III are buried at the abbey, too, along with other famous people from Britain’s history.

Geoffrey Chaucer is buried at the abbey, in an area known as Poet’s Corner where he is joined by many other famous writers either buried or just memorialized here, such as William Shakespeare, John Keats, and Charles Dickens.

It became quite an honour to be interred in the abbey and the number of people estimated to be buried here is a staggering 3300.

Westminster Abbey has an impressive display of brasses and wall paintings to see, as well as its remarkable Cosmati pavement floor in front of the high altar.

The high vaulted ceilings and elaborate carvings and details give the abbey a sense of grandeur and opulence that most visitors find simply awe-inspiring. There is little wonder why more than a million people a year come to see this monument to faith.

The amazing history of Westminster Abbey is second only to its stunning beauty.

Visiting Westminster Abbey

Dean's Yard, Westminster, SW1P 3PA

Telephone: 020 7222 5152

Email info@westminster-abbey.org

Opening Times

Mon to Sat 9.30am-3.30pm | Open Sundays for services.

Ticket Prices

£15 (Adult), £12 (Concessions), £30-£42 (Family), £6 (Under 18s)

Photo courtesy: OliverN5

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