Westminster Abbey
Westminster, London
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Quick Guide
See below grid for details |
"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. |
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Location: Westminster Abbey, Westminster,
London |
Grid Reference:
TQ300795 |
Ceremonial County:
London
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Map Link:
StreetMap
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Aerial photo:
Google Aerial
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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
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Other Useful Websites:
Wiki
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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
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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
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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
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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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