So, I, like many other women around the world (and the men who love them) watched Prince William marry Kate Middleton in Westminster Abbey last Friday. It was a magical event that I am sure made millions of little girls want to be princesses. It also reminded me what a magical place Westminster Abbey is.
As anyone who watched the Royal Wedding knows, Westminster Abbey is located in the heart of London 
near Big Ben and Parliament. It was built in 1245, though it had been a place of worship since 960. It has been the site of the coronation of the British royalty since 1066 and is the final resting place for 17 monarchs. You can still see the Medieval coronation throne there. There have also been many other royal weddings in Westminster besides Wills and Kate's, including Prince Andrew and Sarah "Fergie" Ferguson's. Many funeral services have taken place here, including, most famously Princess Diana's. It is one of the most famous examples of Gothic architecture in the world and contains numerous examples of Medieval art and architecture.
near Big Ben and Parliament. It was built in 1245, though it had been a place of worship since 960. It has been the site of the coronation of the British royalty since 1066 and is the final resting place for 17 monarchs. You can still see the Medieval coronation throne there. There have also been many other royal weddings in Westminster besides Wills and Kate's, including Prince Andrew and Sarah "Fergie" Ferguson's. Many funeral services have taken place here, including, most famously Princess Diana's. It is one of the most famous examples of Gothic architecture in the world and contains numerous examples of Medieval art and architecture.Besides royals, many other famous Brits have also been buried or commemorated in Westminster including Jane Austen, William Blake, Robert Browning, Lewis Carroll, Geoffrey Chaucer, Sir Winston Churchill, Charles Darwin, Charles Dickens, and Henry James. Most of these memorials are in "Poet's Corner" which is like mecca for us English majors. When you walk around Westminster, it is stunning how many famous names you see memorialized there. It is basically a museum of English history!
What is also stunning about Westminster is its size. It is huge and it sits in the middle of a major city. It is pretty amazing.
What is also stunning about Westminster is its size. It is huge and it sits in the middle of a major city. It is pretty amazing. TIP: Westminster Abbey is closed on Sunday for visitors like many churches, so plan your visit accordingly.
Westminster Abbey is a must-visit in London whether you are an architecture buff, historian or wanna-be princess.
The Chapter Office Westminster Abbey
20 Deans Yard London SW1P 3PA UK
+44(0)20 7222 5152
www.westminster-abbey.org
