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Westminster
Abbey Official Web Site |
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Westminster
Abbey is England's main religious building. Originally built in
Saxon times in the 7th Century, its real importance dates from 1065
with Edward the Confessor setting up his throne here. Since that
time Government has always been centred on Westminster, with commercial
activity centred on the City of London to the east.
The present church was begun by Henry III in 1245. By the 16th Century
in Tudor times, Westminster Abbey had become the setting for coronations,
royal marriages and funerals.
Every year Westminster Abbey welcomes over one million visitors
and is very much part of the standard tourist trail complete with
large coach parties. It should be remembered The Abbey is very much
a working church. It is closed Sundays for worship and restrictions
are regularly applied adhoc in response to religious events.
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Every
monarch since William the Conqueror, with the exception of Edward
V and Edward VIII who were never crowned, has been crowned in the
Abbey. The first documented coronation here was that of William the
Conqueror in 1066, the most recent was that of Queen Elizabeth II
on 2 June 1953. The decision to televise the coronation of the present
Queen in 1953 made it possible for the general public to witness the
ceremony in its entirety for the first time.
The Abbey contains some 600 monuments and wall tablets. 300 people
are actually buried in the church and its cloisters. As well as the
tombs of kings and queens, and important military memorials, the Abbey
has been for several centuries the place where the nation commemorates
those who have achieved greatness in many different walks of life,
including literature, science, music, religion and politics.
The Benedictine monastery at Westminster was dissolved in 1540 as
part of the impact of Henry VIII's creation of the Church of England
breaking away from the Catholic Church. Since then Westminster Abbey
has just performed the role of church.
Admission
Charges 2008
Adult
£10 , Child £7 (under 11 Free)
Family Ticket £24 - 2 Adults + 2 Children
The Abbey never charges people who just want to worship.
Opening
Times :
Monday - Saturday : 09:30 - 15:45
On
Sundays and religious holidays such as Easter and Christmas, the Abbey
is open for worship only. Special religious events may also affect
opening hours.
Tours
(Extra Charge)
Verger-led tours of the Abbey are available, in English, for individuals
or family groups only (and not for larger parties or school visits).
They start at the North Door, last for approximately 90 minutes and
include a tour of the Shrine (containing the tomb of Saint Edward
the Confessor), the Royal Tombs, Poets' Corner, the Cloisters and
the Nave.
Audio-guides are also available to visitors to take their own time
to visit the Abbey. This tour takes around one hour.
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Getting
to Westminster Abbey:
Westminster
Underground station is opposite Westminster Abbey.
The District, Circle and Jubilee Lines all service the station. The
Underground station was redeveloped recently and is much more roomy,
airy and modern than the typical Underground
station. |
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By
Big Ben opposite is Westminster Pier, where scheduled
river boats ply the River Thames. Most popular/frequent route
is to the Tower of London, but you can go as far as Hampton Court
during the summer months.
The very popular hop
on, hop off London tour buses of course also stop at Westminster
Abbey. |
What
To Do Around Westminster Abbey:
There
is much to do in the immediate vicinity of Westminster Abbey, opposite
is Big Ben and the Houses
of Parliament. The London
Eye is on the opposite side of Westminster Bridge.
It is a short stroll through St James Park to Buckingham
Palace, or you can walk up Whitehall past 10 Downing Street to
Trafalgar Square
and onto
the main entertainment area around Leicester Square and Covent Garden.
We have made available a free self guided walk, (outline map below)
that has more than enough for a busy day in the area.
See: London
Icons Self Guided Walk Pages
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Map Key
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1 -
Big Ben/Parliament
2 - St Margarets
3 - Jewel Tower
4 - Deans Yard
5 - Westminster Abbey
6 - Central Hall
7 - Cabinet War Rooms
8 - Cenotaph
9 - Downing Street
10 - Banqueting House
11 - Horseguards
12 - Buckingham Palace
13 - Duke Yorks Column
14 - ICA
15 - The Citadel
16 - Admiralty Arch
17 - Trafalgar Square
18 - National Gallery
19 - Portrait Gallery
20 - St Martins
21 - Festival Hall
22 - London Eye
23 - County Hall
24 - Florence Nightingale Museum |
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