Westminster Abbey, London, England

Westminster Abbey is a world-famous church located in the heart of London, adjacent to the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben. It holds great historical, cultural, and religious significance.

Westminster Abbey: Dean’s Yard, London SW1P 3PA, England

Westminster Abbey has a long history that dates back over a thousand years. It was initially founded as a Benedictine monastery in the 10th century and later became a coronation church. The present-day building, primarily in the Gothic architectural style, was constructed between the 13th and 16th centuries.

Westminster Abbey has been the site of numerous royal weddings, coronations, and state funerals. It has witnessed the coronation of every English and British monarch since 1066, with notable events including the coronations of William the Conqueror, Queen Elizabeth I, and Queen Elizabeth II. Additionally, the abbey has hosted various state occasions and memorial services for prominent figures.

Burial Place of Monarchs and Notable Figures: Westminster Abbey serves as the final resting place for numerous monarchs, statesmen, poets, and other notable individuals. Among the monarchs buried there are Queen Elizabeth I, Mary Queen of Scots, and Edward the Confessor. The abbey also houses the Poets’ Corner, a section where renowned writers such as Geoffrey Chaucer, William Shakespeare, and Charles Dickens are memorialized.

Entered the church through the side door on the north side

Then walked toward the rear side of the church near the north side wall.  The passage is full of coffins on both sides.

Looking back toward choir section

Looking at the south side wall

Looking back at the choir section

Looking at the nave section

A close look at one of the coffins

At the rear corner of the church

A tomb of an unknown soldier

Looking toward the altar from the back of the church

Looking back

The Coronation Spot.

This area before the high altar is where every English coronation since 1066 has taken place. Royalty is also given funerals here, and it’s where most of the last century’s royal weddings have taken place, including the unions of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip (1947) and Prince William and Kate Middleton (2011).

Looking at the side entrance where I came in

The Altar. 

Behind this Altar is the Shrine of Saint Edward the Confessor: Westminster Abbey is home to the Shrine of Saint Edward the Confessor, an important pilgrimage site. Edward the Confessor, the Anglo-Saxon king who founded the abbey, is buried there, and his shrine attracts visitors seeking spiritual solace and reflection.

Looking at the opposite side entrance from where I came in.

Going around the altar

The Chapel of King Henry VII

The chapel was built by King Henry VII of England as a mausoleum for himself and his Tudor dynasty. Construction began in 1503 and was completed in 1519, several years after Henry VII’s death. The chapel was intended to be a magnificent and lasting testament to the power and legacy of the Tudor monarchs.

In front of the Chapel of King Henry VII is Royal Air Force Chapel: Saints in robes and halos mingle with pilots in parachutes and bomber jackets. This tribute to WWII flyers is for those who earned their angel wings in the Battle of Britain

Going around the altar and walking back toward the rear side of the church

A side room has more tombs

I took an elevator and went up to the top of the church – looking down at the church

Came down back to the ground level

A hallway next to the courtyard

The chapter house.  The Chapter House was constructed in the 13th century, around the same time as the abbey itself. It served as a meeting place for the monks and the administrative center of the monastery. It was also used for important meetings, discussions, and the reading of the monastic rules.

The map of the church

Out from the church