Westminster Abbey
The Abbey Tower
Westminster Abbey was founded in 96
0 AD as a Benedictine monastery . You can see the chapels where those monks worshiped and the deeply worn stone stairs they climbed.
It has been England's coronation church since 1066 (William the Conqueror). The coronation chair used at every coronation since 1301 is here. (A woman in our tour group actually asked the verger when the next coronation was scheduled. Honestly. He ever so politely replied that he couldn't foretell the future. )
The tombs (with effigies) of Elizabeth I, Mary Tudor, Mary Queen of Scots are here and Geoffrey Chaucer is among those buried or memorialized in the poets corner. There is a nave and grave of the Unknown Warrior and memorials to FDR, Churchill, Isac Newton, Charles Darwin and others.
The abbey is still used -- as an active church as well as a tourist site. (Of course it changed to Church of England along the way!) Princess Diana and Queen Mother Elizabeth had their funerals here.
This picture is part of the Abbey Garden. It's a tranquil acre of land that has been cultivated for 1,000 years -- the oldest garden in England.
This is Big Ben and Parliament. It was great visiting this area. We hope to go back and see Parliament in session
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