Westminster Abbey

Westminster Abbey is primarily a Gothic church in Westminster, London. It is located in close proximity to the Palace of Westminster in London. Westminster Abbey has traditionally been the place for the coronation of a new English monarch. Westminster Abbey is also used as a burial site for English monarchs. The church of Westminster is owned directly by the royal family.

Westminster Abbey is a popular tourist attraction in London and has a glorious past. The monument inside the Westminster Abbey is the most outstanding architectural work that draws the attention of various tourists from all over the world. The distinctive medieval architecture of the Abbey is worth seeing. The Eucharist is observed daily (except Holy Saturday and Good Friday) at 8.00 am.

Historical Overview of Westminster Abbey

The historic Abbey was constructed by Edward the Confessor between 1045 and 1050. It was sanctified on 28th December, 1065. Since 1066, the Westminster Abbey has been used for coronation of Kings and Queens of England. Many Kings have also been buried in the Abbey, including St. Edward the Confessor. Many great personalities have also been memorialized around the Abbey. One unique feature of the Westminster Abbey is that the Dean is legally answerable to the Sovereign.

The original Abbey was built in Romanesque style and was called "Norman" in England. It was remodeled in the Gothic style during the period from 1245 to 1517. The famous architect Henry Yevele had contributed a lot in the construction of the Abbey.

Events in Westminster Abbey

Many diverse kinds of cultural performances are carried out in Westminster Abbey including musical and non-musical performances, lectures, seminars and commemoration of national and international events. Visitors in London can enjoy these delightful performances on weekdays. Sunday is not open for the visitors but reserved for special choirs.

Visitors inside the Abbey precincts will be able to visit prominent places of interests including the Great and Little Cloisters, St Margaret's Church, Chapter House, museum and beautiful college garden.

Tour Information on Westminster Abbey

Westminster Abbey remains open for visitors all round the year except on Sundays, and religious holidays, when the Abbey is used exclusively for prayers. Access to the prayers and worship is free of cost. The main abbey can be visited between 9:30 am and 2.45 pm, whereas the Chapter House, the Pyx Chamber and the Westminster Abbey Museum remain open from 10.00 am to 4.00 pm. St. Margaret's Church is open from 9.30 am to 3.45 pm. The cloister can be visited at any time between 8.00 am and 6.00 pm. One can collect souvenirs from the Westminster Abbey Shop, which remains open between 9.15 am to 5.30 pm. The entry charges for a tour of the Westminster Abbey are £10 for adults and £24 for a family of four. However, there are concessions for children below 16 and seniors above 60. There are concessions for groups, provided they have registered Blue Badge Guide along with them. There are special concessions for students and teachers, but they have to produce the students card. Visits to most other parts of the Westminster Abbey are usually free of cost.

There are a number of tours in the Westminster Abbey. A brief overview of the major tours is provided below:

Verger-led tours: This facility for this tour is provided for individuals and small family groups at an additional cost of £5. It is one of the most sought after guided tours in the Abbey. It is however, not provided to large groups.

Audio-guides: The tourists are provided with a hand-set that provides an introduction to the different parts of the Abbey in six different languages. This tour has to be booked on the spot and comes for an extra charge of £4.

Guided tours: The Guided Tours are usually preferred by bigger groups, provided the total number of members does not exceed 26 and are accompanied by a registered Blue Badge Guide. These are usually held within the official hours.