Westminster Abbey is a Gothic monastery church in London that is the traditional place of coronation and burial for English
monarchs. Neither a cathedral nor a parish church, Westminster Abbey is a
place of worship owned by the royal family. Located next to the
Houses of Parliament in the heart of London, Westminster Abbey is a
must-see for any London visitor. With its oldest parts dating to the
year 1050, the Abbey contains some of the most glorious medieval
architecture in London. Because of its royal connections, it was spared
King Henry VIII's general assault on monastic buildings during the
Reformation. The interior is a veritable museum of English
history. Among many highlights are the medieval coronation throne;
Poet's Corner with its memorials to William Shakespeare, Charles
Dickens, and other giants of literature; and the tombs of Queen
Elizabeth I, "Bloody" Queen Mary, explorer David Livingstone and
naturalist Charles Darwin.
