Westminster Abbey : An Honorable and Royal Cemetery

Entry Fee: Adults £15.00

Schoolchildren (11 - 18 years) £6

Timings: 10:30 am to 3:30 pm

Westminster Abbey, Gothic monastery church in the City Of Westminster is a traditional attraction depicting the coronation and burial of the English monarchs. Westminster can neither be considered as a cathedral nor a church but it is rather a place of worship that is owned by the royal family.

This is one of the must watch attractions if you are staying in any of the Westminster hotels. Along with the other historical monuments in central London, Westminster Abbey possesses the oldest parts which date back to the year 1050 and contains the most splendid medieval architecture in the capital. The interior is an authentic museum of the history of the English.

History

As per the tradition, a shrine was anciently found here in 616 on a site that was then called Thorney Island. It was believed to have been inexplicably sanctified after a fisherman on the Thames River saw a vision of Saint Peter.

Though the existence of this shrine is not sure, Abbey, the historic monument was constructed by Edward who was the Confessor between 1045 and 1050 and was sanctified in 28^th December 1065. The construction of the Abbey was redemption of himself as he failed to keep a vow to go for a pilgrimage.

Attractions

Since the middle ages, the focus of the pilgrims to Westminster Abbey has been the “Shrine of St. Edward the Confessor”. The burials in the abbey include that of Henry III, Plantagenet kings of England along with their wives and relatives and other English kings and queens. Geoffrey Chaucer, who was the master of the Kings Works, was buried in the abbey. Other poets were also buried around him and the area became the Poet’s Corner. The musicians were buried in their place according to their profession. Consequently, the place offered a great honor to be buried at.