Westminster Abbey

"A World Heritage Site"

Period painting of the Westminster Abbey with a procession of Knights of the Bath, by Canaletto, 1749.
From Wikipedia

No photography in the Abbey, they want to sell you images

Westminster abbey is a former cathedral, and the burial place of royalty. The Abbey has been the Coronation church since 1066 and is the final resting place of seventeen monarchs. The present church, begun by Henry III in 1245, with the medieval shrine of an Anglo-Saxon saint still at its heart.

According to tradition a shrine was first founded in 616 on the present site, then known as Thorn Ey (Thorn Island), its tradition of miraculous consecration after a fisherman on the River Thames saw a vision of Saint Peter justifying the presents of salmon from the Thames fishermen that the Abbey received. In the 960s or early 970s, Saint Dunstan, assisted by King Edgar, planted a community of Benedictine monks here. The stone Abbey was built around 1045–1050 by King Edward the Confessor and was later rebuilt again by Henry III in 1245, who had selected the site for his burial. It was consecrated on December 28, 1065, only a week before the Confessor's death and subsequent funeral. It was the site of the last coronation prior to the Norman Invasion, that of his successor King Harold. See its history page, link below or the Wikipedia entry. The plan on the right is of the building as it was in 1894. Very little of the Abbey remains are visible and with its large number of tourists and being based in London, where things are rarely as friendly, its unlikely we will get to discover much, so although well known and the potential to offer some interesting discoveries, its not currently on my list to explore.

Location: Westminster Abbey, Westminster, London Grid Reference: TQ300795 Ceremonial County: London Map Link: StreetMap Aerial photo: Google Aerial  Getting there: Located to the west of the Houses of Parliament, away from the river. Cross Westminster Bridge, past Big Ben, it's then across Parliament Square on your left. Access: Website: Own    History    Other Useful Websites: Wiki Email: Address: The Chapter Office, 20 Dean's Yard, Westminster Abbey, London Postcode: SW1P 3PA Telephone: 020 7222 5152 Opening Times: Usually Monday-Saturday All Year. The following is a typical schedule Westminster Abbey 9.30am - 3.30pm Chapter House 10.30am - 4.00pm Pyx Chamber 10.30am - 3.30pm Westminster Abbey Museum 10.30am - 4.00pm Westminster Abbey Shop 9.15am - 5pm Cloister 8.00am - 6.00pm College Garden 10.00am - 6.00pm St Margaret's Church 9.30am - 3.30pm Click here to check any particular date Charges: Adults £16;  Concessions £13 (Students over 18 with valid ID and 60+); Child (11-18) £6; Children under 11 FREE when accompanied by an adult Family (2+1) £32, (2+2) £38 plus £6 per extra child (1st chargeable child with two adults FREE). Free entry to wheelchair visitors and their carers. Cloisters ONLY access is FREE. College Gardens access FREE St Margaret's church access is FREE No photography in the Abbey, they want to sell you images So save your money and visit somewhere else Nearby Locations: Westminster Palace      Saint Margaret's Church Other Relevant Pages: List of all Anglican cathedrals and other major Anglican churches in the UK Abbey Section, including all major Christian buildings, regions orders, normal layouts and history. World Heritage Sites      World Heritage Sites - Further Information World Heritage Sites in the UK Notes: No photography in the Abbey, they want to sell you images They say - "Photography and filming (pictures and/or sound) of any kind is not allowed in any part of the Abbey at any time. As a visitor, you are welcome to take pictures in the Cloisters and College Garden for personal use only. Postcards showing the interior of the Abbey are available to buy in the Abbey shop."

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