Westminster Abbey, London (must see)
Westminster Abbey stands as a striking Gothic church within the municipal boundaries of The City of Westminster. In the past, Westminster was an entirely distinct town separate from London. The documented origins of this abbey trace back to the late 10th century. A century later, during a major reconstruction under the reign of King Edward the Confessor, the church acquired its Romanesque appearance, becoming one of Europe's most magnificent religious structures of that era.
The construction of the current church started in 1245 under the rule of Henry III, who also oversaw the installation of the distinctive Cosmati pavement in front of the High Altar. Its completion largely occurred during King Richard II's reign. In 1519, during Henry VII's reign, a chapel dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary was added. The two western towers of the abbey, showcasing early Gothic Revival architecture, were incorporated between 1722 and 1745.
By far more than just a church but a symbol rather, Westminster Abbey, in a way, represents the epitome of Britishness set in stone. It serves as the historic site for the coronation of all English and subsequent British monarchs, starting with William the Conqueror in 1066. Notable figures such as Queen Elizabeth I, scientists Isaac Newton and Charles Darwin, writers Charles Dickens, Geoffrey Chaucer, and Rudyard Kipling, actor Laurence Olivier, and many others find their final resting places here. In 1997, the funeral of Diana, the Princess of Wales, took place at this site, and in 2011, the abbey hosted the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton.
Due to its immense popularity, Westminster Abbey is constantly thronged by visitors queuing up outside throughout the year. To bypass the lines, it's advisable to purchase your tickets online in advance. Upon arrival, simply inform the attendants that you have pre-purchased tickets, and you can enter directly. Please note that photography is not permitted inside, so you'll have to rely solely on your visual memory to absorb the magnificence of this place.
***CHARLES DICKENS TOUR***
No Dickens tour of London is complete without calling at Westminster Abbey to see the final resting place of one of England's greatest novelists. Found in the Poet鈥檚 Corner, alongside the likes of Geoffrey Chaucer, Thomas Hardy, Alfred Tennyson and Rudyard Kipling, a small stone with a simple inscription marks the grave of Charles Dickens.
Per author's own will, "That my name be inscribed in plain English letters on my tomb... I rest my claims to the remembrance of my country upon my published works...", the tombstone inscription simply states:
CHARLES DICKENS
BORN 7th FEBRUARY 1812
DIED 9th JUNE 1870
Dickens died at his home in Gad's Hill Place, near Rochester, Kent but was interred in Westminster Abbey following public demand, led by The Times newspaper, that the abbey be the only place for the burial of someone of such distinction. Arthur Penrhyn Stanley, Dean of Westminster, after being approached by John Forster and the author's son, readily agreed and the funeral was held strictly private, following Dickens' own instructions.
Why You Should Visit:
One can't deny the amazing architecture and history when approaching this collection of buildings.
Final resting place of so many people that contributed to civilization, both ancient and recent.
The construction of the current church started in 1245 under the rule of Henry III, who also oversaw the installation of the distinctive Cosmati pavement in front of the High Altar. Its completion largely occurred during King Richard II's reign. In 1519, during Henry VII's reign, a chapel dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary was added. The two western towers of the abbey, showcasing early Gothic Revival architecture, were incorporated between 1722 and 1745.
By far more than just a church but a symbol rather, Westminster Abbey, in a way, represents the epitome of Britishness set in stone. It serves as the historic site for the coronation of all English and subsequent British monarchs, starting with William the Conqueror in 1066. Notable figures such as Queen Elizabeth I, scientists Isaac Newton and Charles Darwin, writers Charles Dickens, Geoffrey Chaucer, and Rudyard Kipling, actor Laurence Olivier, and many others find their final resting places here. In 1997, the funeral of Diana, the Princess of Wales, took place at this site, and in 2011, the abbey hosted the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton.
Due to its immense popularity, Westminster Abbey is constantly thronged by visitors queuing up outside throughout the year. To bypass the lines, it's advisable to purchase your tickets online in advance. Upon arrival, simply inform the attendants that you have pre-purchased tickets, and you can enter directly. Please note that photography is not permitted inside, so you'll have to rely solely on your visual memory to absorb the magnificence of this place.
***CHARLES DICKENS TOUR***
No Dickens tour of London is complete without calling at Westminster Abbey to see the final resting place of one of England's greatest novelists. Found in the Poet鈥檚 Corner, alongside the likes of Geoffrey Chaucer, Thomas Hardy, Alfred Tennyson and Rudyard Kipling, a small stone with a simple inscription marks the grave of Charles Dickens.
Per author's own will, "That my name be inscribed in plain English letters on my tomb... I rest my claims to the remembrance of my country upon my published works...", the tombstone inscription simply states:
CHARLES DICKENS
BORN 7th FEBRUARY 1812
DIED 9th JUNE 1870
Dickens died at his home in Gad's Hill Place, near Rochester, Kent but was interred in Westminster Abbey following public demand, led by The Times newspaper, that the abbey be the only place for the burial of someone of such distinction. Arthur Penrhyn Stanley, Dean of Westminster, after being approached by John Forster and the author's son, readily agreed and the funeral was held strictly private, following Dickens' own instructions.
Why You Should Visit:
One can't deny the amazing architecture and history when approaching this collection of buildings.
Final resting place of so many people that contributed to civilization, both ancient and recent.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in London. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "51爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
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Westminster Abbey on Map
Sight Name: Westminster Abbey
Sight Location: London, England (See walking tours in London)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: London, England (See walking tours in London)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in London, England
Create Your Own Walk in London
Creating your own self-guided walk in London is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Covent Garden Walking Tour
A shopping and entertainment hub on the eastern fringes of London's West End, Covent Garden is a district historically associated with the former fruit-and-vegetable market 鈥� currently a shopping spot popular with locals and tourists alike.
Once a slum area, today the north of the district is given over to independent shops centered on Neal's Yard and Seven Dials. Both places offer... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.0 Km or 1.9 Miles
Once a slum area, today the north of the district is given over to independent shops centered on Neal's Yard and Seven Dials. Both places offer... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.0 Km or 1.9 Miles
South Bank Walking Tour
The South Bank is a stretch of the Thames in London that is beautiful to walk through because there are so many iconic and magnificent things to see along the way. A lively and ever-changing area at the heart of London鈥檚 cultural scene, it also has the advantage of offering views across the Thames to some of the most famous buildings anywhere. The Palace of Westminster is the major feature in... view more
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.8 Km or 3 Miles
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.8 Km or 3 Miles
Charles Dickens Tour
Today's world's literature and mass culture are hardly imaginable without the works of Charles Dickens, recognized as the greatest British novelist of the Victorian era. A pioneer of 鈥渃liffhanger鈥� endings, Dickens remains one of the most-read English authors whose writings never go out of print and have been repeatedly adapted to stage, screen and TV.
Dickens was born in... view more
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.5 Km or 2.8 Miles
Dickens was born in... view more
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.5 Km or 2.8 Miles
Shakespeare's London Walking Tour
Often called England's national poet or simply "the Bard", William Shakespeare is revered as one of, if not the greatest playwright this world has ever seen. The dramas, such as Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, Othello, King Lear, and Macbeth are among the finest creations in the English language, translated into every major language and performed more often than those of any other author.... view more
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.7 Km or 2.9 Miles
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.7 Km or 2.9 Miles
Harry Potter Walking Tour II
The arrival of Harry Potter books, followed by tremendously successful Hollywood adaptation, has made London an even more popular destination now with the Harry Potter fans all over the world. The list of attractions in the city associated with Potter鈥檚 journeys includes both, newly-invented as well as some long-standing locations.
On Part II of the self-guided Happy Potter Walking Tour, you... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.1 Km or 2.5 Miles
On Part II of the self-guided Happy Potter Walking Tour, you... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.1 Km or 2.5 Miles
City of London Walking Tour
The City of London, widely referred to simply as the City (with the capital C), is also colloquially known as the Square Mile, for being just 1.12 sq mi in area. Situated on top of the original Roman center of commerce, called Londinium, established in 43 AD, this neighborhood is the historic and financial heart of the British capital. It has been a major meeting point for international business... view more
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.6 Km or 2.9 Miles
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.6 Km or 2.9 Miles
Useful Travel Guides for Planning Your Trip
London Souvenirs: 20 Distinctively British Products for Travelers
Most visitors to London consider shopping as part of their must-do London experience. From street markets to Victorian arcades to snobbish Sloane Square to busy Oxford Street, there are a host of shops selling items which typically represent this vibrant city. Whether you are shopping for souvenirs...