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Church · Westminster, City of Westminster, London, England

Westminster Abbey

Westminster Abbey is the abbey church beside Parliament Square in Westminster, London, which has been the coronation church since 1066.

Why go

Westminster Abbey is a working church whose website is published by the Dean and Chapter of Westminster; its own pages say Benedictine monks founded it in 960, that it has been the coronation church since 1066 and is the resting place of 17 monarchs, and that the present church was begun by Henry III in 1245. The Abbey's visit page says entry and tour tickets can be booked in advance and that advance booking is highly recommended to guarantee entry at busy periods. It names the North Entrance on Parliament Square as the way in, says every door has walk-through security where bags are inspected, and says bags larger than cabin-bag size are not permitted. The Queen's Diamond Jubilee Galleries in the 13th-century triforium display treasures from the Abbey's collection. With the Palace of Westminster and St Margaret's Church the Abbey forms a World Heritage Site, according to the UK National Commission for UNESCO; this record is the Abbey church only.