Westminster Abbey in London

The world-famous Gothic-style Westminster Abbey in London is the largest functioning church in the British capital and the country's greatest historic landmark. Over the centuries, monarchs were crowned and legally married in the cathedral, who were later buried and mourned within the walls of this architectural masterpiece. If you are planning a trip to the main British city, be sure to include a visit to the famous landmark in the excursion program.

Construction history

According to English legend, the history of the abbey dates back to the 7th century, when a fisherman saw the holy Apostle Peter on the banks of the Thames. At this place, a temple was founded, which was named Westminster. In 960, a community of monks belonging to the Benedictine order appeared here. In 1042, the Pope allowed the old Anglo-Saxon king Edward the Confessor to replace his trip to Rome with the creation of a monastery, and after 20 years the abbey was built. Its original appearance has survived only on the Bayeux carpet, embroidered in the 11th century.

The construction of the cathedral, which has survived to this day, began under Henry III in 1245. According to the plan of the Duke of Aquitaine and the King of England, this building should be intended not only for divine liturgies, but also for the ceremonies of coronation and burial of monks. After 24 years, the temple, called the Collegiate Church of St. Peter, was solemnly consecrated.

All subsequent rulers expanded the architectural complex. In 1540, Henry VIII, who came to power, issued a decree renaming Westminster Abbey into the main cathedral. The king's goal was to preserve the unique relics located on the territory of the monastery. However, already in 1579, Elizabeth I made the abbey controlled by the British royal power.

Over the centuries-old history of the existence of the cathedral church, 16 weddings of members of the royal family took place within its walls, the last of which - the marriage of Catherine Middleton and Prince William of Wales - took place in the spring of 2011. The temple is also known as one of the centers of education in Great Britain. Many chapters of the Bible have been translated here into English. The impressive architecture and historical significance of Westminster Abbey was the reason for its inclusion in 1987 in the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Plan

The monastery complex is a fine example of medieval Gothic architecture, reflected in tall windows, ribbed ceilings and semicircular niches with built-in chapels. The length of the main structure is 156.5 m, the total area is 3 thousand m2. Such a grandiose size allows the Cathedral Church to simultaneously accommodate 2 thousand parishioners. The building has the shape of a Latin cross stretching from west to east.

The external Gothic look is complemented by two 68 m high towers. Between them, on either side of the doors, there are four statues symbolizing Justice, Truth, Peace and Mercy. Above, you can see ten more niches filled with figures of Christian martyrs of the 20th century. The facades of the transepts are decorated with rosette windows and pointed arches, which give grace and lightness to the entire appearance of the church.

The central entrance to the cathedral is the north door leading to a wide wing - the north transept. Chapels are located in the eastern part of the hall; the main attraction of the south transept is the Poets' Corner. Multiple reconstructions have led to the fact that the church is clearly visible in the English style, which is indicated by marble columns and sculptures, exquisite stone work and stucco arches.

Nave

The nave was completed in 1517. Architect Henry Yewel was able to create an unusual structure: he used external arches, allowing to increase the height of the ceiling by 31 meters, which made the central hall of the Collegiate Church the tallest nave in the UK.

Columns serve as a limitation to the light narrow nave. Above them is an arched doorway, which will open the treasure exposition in 2018. The pearl of the room is the western window with an installed stained-glass window depicting the prophets of Christ. With your head down, you will see the tomb of the Unknown Soldier. To her, the leaders of countries arriving in England on a visit, lay wreaths - a tribute of respect and memory of the soldiers who died during the First World War.

In 1994, the ceiling of the nave was decorated with crystal chandeliers donated by the Guinness family. After 29 years, the collection of the monastery's treasures was replenished with two icons of the Russian artist Sergei Fedorov - the faces of the Savior and the Mother of God with the Child.

Altar

The altar appeared in the cathedral in 1867; the author of the project was the architect and designer George Gilbert Scott.

The main decoration of the sanctuary is the "Last Supper" mosaic, created in the style of cosmates, an architectural trend typical of medieval Rome. During his visit to the Italian capital, the abbot of the monastery was so impressed by the work of the Italian masters that he brought one of them, Antonio Salviati, to decorate the abbey church. The floor of the altar is laid out with a mosaic of 7.58 m2, assembled from 30 thousand pieces of dark limestone, onyx, glass and porphyry.

Poets' Corner

One of the most visited parts of the temple is the Poets' Corner, located in the south transept. Here eminent literary figures of Britain sleep in eternal sleep. The first minister of the muses, buried within these walls, was the father of English poetry, Geoffrey Chaucer. The second grave appeared in the cathedral only 200 years later - Edmund Spencer was committed to the earth.

Since then, the burial of famous people of culture and the installation of memorial plaques in their honor has become a tradition. David Garrick, Samuel Johnson, Swift, Charles Dickens, Laurence Olivier are buried in the abbey. Since 1989, no new burials have been made in the tomb.

Coca-Cola London Eye Ticket - £ 24.30
Tower of London and Royal Treasure Exhibition Ticket - £ 26.80
Tower Bridge Ticket - £ 9.80
Westminster Abbey entrance ticket and audio guide - £ 20
Madame Tussauds ticket - £ 29
St Paul's Cathedral Fast Track Ticket - £ 16
Skyscraper "Shard" - entrance ticket and champagne - £ 24.95

Chapel of Our Lady or Chapel of Henry VII

The elegant Chapel of Our Lady (or Henry VII), which is separated from the monastery complex by the copper eastern gate, is an example of late Gothic architecture, which left its mark on the interior of the room. The peculiarity of the chapel is the giant windows with a pattern of vertical and horizontal lines and openwork vaults with a height of 20 m, decorated with fan ribs and pendants reminiscent of giant stalactites. The general picture of solemnity and sophistication is complemented by the figures of the apostles and saints, hidden under the canopies, and the multicolored military flags of the Order of the Bath.

The chapel was founded by order of Henry VII in 1503, in which the king found his last refuge. His beloved wife, Elizabeth of York, is also buried here. Both tombs, engraved in full height with sculptural gilded portraits of the dead, were made by the Florentine Torrigiano, who became famous as a rival of Michelangelo. Queen Mary Stuart and Elizabeth Tudor are buried here, as well as the commander Oliver Cromwell.

Courtyard and cloisters

While exploring the cathedral, do not forget to visit the abbey's courtyard, surrounded by four cloisters - covered galleries built of light stone in the 13th-14th centuries. At that time, the courtyard was the center of the monastery's life. Here the novices spent most of their time. The library was located in the northern part, the southern cloister was adjacent to the refectory, and in the western was the abbot's house.Church books are now kept in the monks' bedchambers, a museum operates in the former sacristy, and its collection includes wax statues of historical figures. There is also a small cloister on the territory, on the site of which an infirmary operated during the Middle Ages.

Chapter building

The mid-11th century door separating the East Cloister from the Chapter Building is the oldest in Britain. The eastern gallery of the cathedral leads to a Gothic hall in the shape of an octagon. The role of its sides is played by lancet windows filled with multi-colored stained-glass windows, striking with a variety of patterns repeated in the tiles of the stone floor. Under the windows, the room is surrounded by a carved arcade that creates harmony in all parts of the interior. The walls are decorated with paintings united by the theme of the Apocalypse.

The history of the Chapter Building dates back to the 12th century. Initially, the premises were intended for meetings of the inhabitants of the monastery, at the end of the century the hall became the seat of the Grand Royal Council, and two centuries later - the House of Commons. Royal treasures were kept in the underground until 1660.

College garden

Not far from Westminster Abbey is the oldest garden in Great Britain - College Garten. The first plane trees were planted here in 1849, then the territory was divided into plots where fruits, vegetables, medicinal herbs and flowers were grown. The colorful flowerbeds were intended to delight the eyes of the monarchs walking here, who underwent treatment in the nearby infirmary.

Today the garden is privately owned, and the houses surrounding it are inhabited by ordinary Londoners. That is why the entrance to the College Garden is limited: it is allowed to visit it every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 10:00 to 18:00 in the summer and from 10:00 to 16:00 in the winter. Among the local attractions, the most interesting is the sculptural group "Crucifixion", created by Enzo Plazzotta.

Church of St. Margaret

The Church of the Great Martyr Margaret of Antioch was founded in the 12th century and completely rebuilt in 1486-1523. In 1614 it became the official parish church of the Parliament; British Protestants expressed dissatisfaction with the neighboring splendid abbey and preferred liturgy in a "more appropriate" cathedral. This tradition continues to this day.

Between 1734 and 1738, architect John James rebuilt the northwest tower, while the facade of the building was faced with light limestone from Portland. 139 years later, the interior was completely renewed. A real masterpiece is the east window with a Flemish stained glass window from 1509, created in memory of the betrothal of Arthur Tudor, Henry VIII's older brother, to Catherine of Aragon.

The last refuge in the church was found by the Czech engraver Wenzel Hollar and the British pioneer printer William Kexton. Many famous Englishmen, including Winston Churchill and Clementine Hozier, chose the cathedral as the site of their wedding.

Rules of behavior

Regardless of what denomination you belong to and for what purposes you came to visit a popular London landmark, remember that Westminster Abbey is primarily a state shrine - an institution that unites true believers. While in the cathedral, observe the rules of religious etiquette:

• Pay attention to clothes: women should give up bright accessories, short skirts and neckline, men - from shorts and open T-shirts. Do not take backpacks or bulky bags with you.
• Mobile phones should be turned off while in church.
• Photo and video filming in the temple is strictly prohibited.
• If you are taking a child with you, explain to him that the holy house is not a place for games and loud conversations.
• Be polite and do not distract worshipers with your actions.

Opening hours and ticket prices

The abbey can be visited on weekdays from 09:30 to 15:40 (Wednesday until 18:00), on Saturdays from 09:30 to 13:30. On Sundays, the entrance for sightseers is closed (except for those wishing to participate in the liturgy or take the sacrament).

Entrance fees for visitors:

• £ 22 - for adults (£ 20 when buying tickets online)
• £ 17 - for students
• £ 9 - for children from 6 to 16 years old

Group rates:

• £ 40 - two adults and one child
• £ 45 - two adults and two children

Children under 5 years old and disabled people accompanied by their guardians have the right of free admission. On Wednesday, a ticket bought after 4:30 pm will cost half the price.

Tip: For those who have purchased the London Tourist Pass, skip-the-line tickets and free admission to the Abbey and 74 other London attractions await.

Where is it located and how to get there

The cathedral is located in the central area of ​​the capital of England - Westminster. You can get here by public transport:

• Metro (Jubilee, District and Circle lines) to Westminster and St. James's Park;
• by bus: lines 148, 211 to Parliament Square and 3, 87 to Abingdon Street.

The monastery complex is located on the south side of Parliament Square, west of Westminster Palace, a few steps from the Thames. If you decide to visit it in the morning, you will have ample time to then explore the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben.

Video: Mysteries of Westminster Palace

Westminster Abbey in London on the map