We live within walking distance of Westminster Abbey, just a few steps beyond the Parliament building and Big Ben in Elizabeth Tower. Although we’d visited once before – briefly, to hear an organ recital (amazing!) in December – we’d never had a chance to enter and really explore. So today we bought tickets and (for £10 extra) signed up for a tour guided by a Verger, one of the assistant clergy. Although the church was packed with tourists wandering around with headphones and audio tour guides, our little group of eight enjoyed a personal tour from Alex, a delightful man with an incredible knack for storytelling.
In the span of 90 minutes he walked us through more than a thousand years of British history, from the earliest monastery to the modern church, recounting the ascendance and transition of kings and queens, describing the coronation ceremony, and pointing out the graves and memorials for kings, queens, and notable people. He gave us access to spaces unavailable to the general tourist, as we sat in the posh seats of the choir and had a private visit to the shrine of King Edward the Confessor. Truly a memorable experience!
Afterward, we were free to wander through the nave and cloisters. The oldest part of the church is in Norman style, predating the Gothic style used in newer sections. Some of the wooden furniture dates to the 15th century. I was particularly impressed by the names one might see on the floor, or wall, where a grave (or memorial marker) honors luminaries from Isaac Newton to Stephen Hawking, from Lord Tenneyson to Emily Bronte. In retrospect, my photo gallery is dominated by these names!
Prices & entry times | Westminster Abbey (westminster-abbey.org)
David Kotz 