What Is Westminster Abbey?
This is the Gothic, Anglican church where all but two British monarchs have been crowned since 1066 CE!
What Makes It Historical?
This church began as a tiny Benedictine monastery in 960 AD, expanded by King Edward (the Confessor) and called the west minster, versus the east minster, St. Paul’s! It was consecrated on December 28, 1065, but the King didn’t live long enough to see it. A year later, on Christmas Day 1066, William the Conqueror was crowned in these halls by the Archbishop of Canterbury, a tradition that would hold until the present!
Two centuries later, King Henry III decided the minster needed a makeover and had it remagined in Gothic style to keep up with Canterbury, Salisbury, and Chartres, among other European cathedrals of the time. Like Edward, Henry III died before the new church was complete, but before he did, he officially decreed this church would be the coronation place and the burial place for monarchs! Today, the Abbey houses over 3,300 royal tombs and memorials, including the grave of the Unknown Warrior by the west door! The Tudors also enhanced the Abbey, with Henry VII installing the Italian-inspired Lady Chapel in 1516 and Henry VIII making it a cathedral church in 1540 as part of his newly established Church of England! Elizabeth I upended its monastic structure in 1559, making herself the sole head of the church, which still led daily worship services but was also more involved in civil government and education!
How Can I #HelpTheHelpers?
- Pay the entrance fee to help maintain trails, signs, structures, and other visitor services!
- Become a member of the Abbey Association!
- Donate to Westminster Abbey!
- Be a responsible visitor! Please respect the signs and pathways, and treat all structures and artifacts with respect. They’ve endured a lot to survive into the present. They’ll need our help to make it into the future!
How Do I Get There?
Dean’s Yard
London SW1P 3PA
United Kingdom
(Take Me There!)
When Should I Visit?
The Abbey is open for tours Monday through Friday from 9:30 AM until 3:30 PM and Saturdays from 9:30 AM until 3:00 PM! On Sundays, it’s open for services between 8:00 AM and 6:00 PM!