Westminster Abbey is a working church, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and one of the most visited places in London. British monarchs have been crowned here since 1066, and it holds the tombs of more than 3,000 people, including Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin, Elizabeth I, and Stephen Hawking. Its official name is the Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster.
If you want to see the place where key decisions in British history have been made for a thousand years, this abbey should definitely be on your list.
History: From a Fisherman`s Vision to a National Pantheon
The abbey`s history goes back to the 7th century, when a small Benedictine church was founded on this site. According to legend, the location was not chosen by chance: a fisherman named Aldrich saw a vision of St Peter above the Thames.
However, its true rise began in the 11th century under King Edward the Confessor. He decided to rebuild the modest church into a grand temple that would serve as his burial place. The new church was consecrated on 28 December 1065, just a few days before the king`s death. Edward was buried here, and his tomb remains the spiritual heart of the abbey to this day.
In 1066, William the Conqueror was crowned in the abbey — since then, all English and British monarchs have been crowned here, with the exception of two (Edward V and Edward VIII, who were never crowned).
The present building began with an ambitious project by Henry III in 1245. The king decided to rebuild the abbey in the new Gothic style, following French models. It was consecrated in 1269, although construction continued for centuries.
Architecture: French Influence and English Character
Westminster Abbey is one of the most important monuments of Gothic architecture in England. Its appearance reflects the influence of French Gothic, but with distinctly English features.
Key features:
• The height of the nave is about 31 metres, the tallest nave in England. Inside, the space feels incredibly light thanks to pointed arches and clusters of slender columns soaring upwards.
• The length of the building is 156.5 metres, and its plan is shaped like a Latin cross.
• French influence is evident in the apse with its ring of chapels (the only complete chevet in England), the tall arcade, and the massive buttresses.
• The west towers were built in the 18th century (1734–1745) by architects Nicholas Hawksmoor and James Gibbs in a style already considered "Gothic Revival."
What You Must See Inside
The Grave of the Unknown Soldier
Right at the west entrance, you will be met by the grave of the Unknown Soldier — the only burial in the abbey that it is forbidden to walk on. The remains were brought from France in 1920 and buried here as a symbol of remembrance for all those who fell in the First World War. This place has become a centre of national memory: heads of state visiting Britain traditionally lay wreaths here.
Poets` Corner
Poets` Corner in the south transept is a place of pilgrimage for all lovers of literature. Geoffrey Chaucer, Charles Dickens, and Rudyard Kipling are buried here, and memorials to William Shakespeare, Jane Austen, and C. S. Lewis have been installed. The tradition began in 1400 with the burial of Chaucer, and since then more than a hundred writers and poets have found rest here.
The Coronation Chair
One of the abbey`s main relics is the oak chair, created around 1300. It is the oldest piece of furniture in Britain and is still used for its intended purpose: 39 monarchs have been crowned in it. The chair can be seen closer to the exit of the abbey.
The Stone of Scone (Stone of Destiny)
What it is. The Stone of Scone is an ordinary pinkish-brown sandstone block measuring approximately 670 × 420 × 265 mm and weighing about 152 kilograms. It appears almost unremarkable: a rough surface, a roughly carved cross, and two iron rings at the edges. Nevertheless, it once served as a sacred object at the coronation of Scottish kings, and its history spans many centuries.
How it came to Westminster. In 1296, the English king Edward I seized the stone as a trophy at Scone Abbey and took it to London. By his order, the oak Coronation Chair was made (around 1297–1300) with a niche in its base for this stone. From the 14th century, English and British monarchs were crowned sitting in this chair — in this way Edward I asserted England`s claims to Scotland.
Where it is now. The Stone of Scone was in Westminster Abbey from 1296 to 1996, that is, exactly 700 years. In 1996, it was officially returned to Scotland: on 30 November of that year it was transported to Edinburgh and for a long time was displayed in Edinburgh Castle together with the Scottish Crown Jewels. Since March 2024, it has been on display in the Perth Museum.
The exception is a coronation: before the ceremony, the stone is temporarily brought to Westminster Abbey and placed under the Coronation Chair, as happened in May 2023 before the coronation of Charles III, after which it is returned to Scotland. The niche under the seat of the Coronation Chair, intended for the stone, is empty — and this detail in itself recalls the complex history of relations between England and Scotland.
The Henry VII Chapel
A true masterpiece of late Gothic — the Lady Chapel, built by Henry VII between 1503 and 1519. Its main treasure is the fan vault of incredible beauty, creating the impression of a lace ceiling. Elizabeth I and Mary, Queen of Scots, as well as Henry VII himself and his consort, are buried here.
The Graves of Scientists
The abbey is the resting place of Britain`s greatest scientists: Isaac Newton (with a monumental tomb), Charles Darwin, and Stephen Hawking, buried next to Newton. This place is sometimes called the "scientists` corner" — memorials to Michael Faraday and James Clerk Maxwell are also here.
The Cosmati Pavement
In front of the high altar is a unique mosaic pavement in the Cosmati style, made by Italian craftsmen in 1268 on the order of Henry III. It is one of the finest examples of this art outside Italy.
Other Interesting Details
• The oldest door in Britain — the oak door in the Chapter House, made from a single tree that grew between 924 and 1030.
• The west façade is decorated with statues of 20th-century martyrs, including Martin Luther King and Grand Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna.
• Stained glass — be sure to note the rose window above the west entrance and the Hockney window, created by the contemporary artist David Hockney in honour of Elizabeth II.
Practical Information for Tourists
• Address: 20 Deans Yd, London SW1P 3PA (next to the Palace of Westminster and Big Ben).
• Nearest Underground station: Westminster (Jubilee, District, and Circle lines).
• Opening hours: usually Monday to Saturday. Sunday — services only. The abbey may close for special ceremonies, so check the schedule on the official website before your visit.
• Tickets: admission is paid; it is recommended to buy tickets in advance online with a selected time. An audio guide is included in the price (available in Russian). Some areas (for example, the Queen`s Diamond Jubilee Galleries) require a separate ticket.
Tips:
• Come in the morning, right after opening — there are fewer people, and soft light pours through the stained glass.
• Inside, photography is prohibited in some areas, as are food, drinks, and large bags.
• Allow 1.5–2 hours for your visit.
• Do not miss the cloister (inner courtyard) and the Chapter House — there are fewer tourists there, but the atmosphere of the Middle Ages is felt more strongly.
Westminster Abbey is a place worth including in any London itinerary, regardless of how deeply you are interested in history. In a single visit, you can see Gothic architecture of the 13th–16th centuries, the Coronation Chair, the tombs of monarchs, the graves of Newton, Darwin, Hawking, Dickens, and Chaucer, as well as the 1268 mosaic pavement and the Henry VII Chapel with its famous fan vault. Allow 1.5–2 hours for the visit, and it is better to buy tickets in advance — the abbey often closes for special ceremonies, and the schedule changes.
