Westminster Abbey is, in fact, not the correct name for this historic London building. Correctly speaking it is the Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster but most folk know it as Westminster Abbey. The church has a long association with the British Monarch and all of the Kings and Queens of England have been coronated here since the coronations of King Harold (and William the Conqueror) in 1066 (excluding Edward V, who was murdered before his coronation, and Edward VIII, who abdicated bfore his).
Although legend has it that Westminster Abbey was founded around the time of the late 6th/ early 7th Century the only existing evidence points towards the later part of the 10th Century. The original building would have been made of wood and this was replaced, with a stone Abbey, by Edward the Confessor, which was consecrated in 1065 (one week before Edward died).
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Edward was canonised in 1161 (by Pope Alexander III) and was particularly venerated by the English kings. King Henry III heavily promoted the cult of St Edward and, from 1245, lavished great expense upon the Abbey in honor of the Confessor. Westminster Abbey was rebuilt in a grand Gothic (Anglo-French) style and featured the highest Gothic nave in England. As well as being a shrine to Edward the Abbey was also to house the tomb of Henry. Many folk, famous in the history of England, were interred at the Abbey including many of the Plantagenet kings of England, poets, such as William Blake and Robert Burns, and people associated with the Abbey, such as Geoffrey Chaucer.
Being right at the heart of the City of Westminster the Abbey has also been popular for Royal Weddings but, in a break from tradition, the marriage of Prince Charles & Lady Diana Spencer took place in St Pauls.
If you are planning to visit Westminster Abbey allow time to visit the museum, which is situated beneath the former monks' dormitory. The exhibits include many fascinating objects including funeral effigies of Henry V and some later effigies mad of wax (including that of Haratio Nelson).
For over 250 years the Abbey has remained basically unchanged but in the summer of 2009 a massive £23 million development plan was unveiled which should be fully completed in 2013. The structure around the lantern over central crossing (which was added during the 1950s) will be replaced by a corona (crown).
Contact
The Chapter Office
Westminster Abbey
20 Dean's Yard
London SW1P 3PA
UK
Tel: +44(0)20 7222 5152
Getting To Westminster Abbey
As with most of London's landmarks, the best way to get there is by the Tube (London Undergound). Get off at the Westminster tube station (District, Circle, Jubilee Line) and leave by exit 3 and you are just a few minutes away.
| Nearest Tube Stations | Nearest Railway Stations | Nearest Car Parks |
| Westminster Tube (5 minutes away) | Charing Cross (14 minutes away) | Abingdon Masterpark (2 minutes away) |
| St James's Park Tube (6 minutes away) | Victoria (17 minutes away) | Trafalgar Masterpark (13 minutes away) |
Opening Times
Mon - Sat: 9.30am-4.45pm
Sunday: Open for Sunday services
Hotels Near Westminster Abbey
The Sanctuary House Hotel
A 3 star hotel less than a quarter of a mile from Westminster Abbey. Read more...
Jolly Hotel St Ermin's
A 4 star hotel about a third of a mile from Westminster Abbey. Read more...
City Inn Contemporary Hotel Westminster
A 4 star hotel about three quarters of a mile from Westminster Abbey. Read more...
Royal Horseguards
A superb 5 star hotel roughly half a mile from Westminster Abbey. Read more...
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Useful Westminster Abbey Links
Westminster Abbey
The official site for the Abbey which is highly informative.
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