Chilling out with priests and that...
Value: 7
Queues: 8
Shop: 6
Family Friendly: 8
Enjoyment: 7
Total 36/50
It’s strange that you can live in one place your whole life and never delve into the various rabbit holes right there on your doorstep. Since we started this feature, re-reviewing London’s infamous landmarks, it became clear that I hadn’t been to anything that wasn’t actually free. That’s the tight-fisted Brits for you.
Westminster is a historical hub of political power slap bang in the middle of London. Standing side by side you have the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben and Westminster Abbey. Rich in symbols of conviction and influence, this is an area at the centre of our country’s political and monarchic heartbeat that has seen evolution, devastation and a handful or rather misjudged decisions.
The Abbey sits to the right of the Houses of Parliament. A gargantuan embodiment of gothic architecture, the towering points of this enigmatic building are saturated in over a thousand years of history, with the outside of the church only hinting at the regal splendours of the interior.
The church is divided into chambers and chapels with pocket-sized alleys veering off sporadically down tunnels of stoned walls. Each area is gloriously different to the one before. The Shrine of St Edward the Confessor is a weathered block of stone and wood with elegantly engraved scriptures set into various parts of the shrine. Then there's Henry VII’s Lady Chapel, where colourful rays of heavenly light shine through the stained glass windows, and from there it's on to the The Royal Airforce Chapel, which sits at the end of this wide space. A pint-sized alcove, it's decorated with some seriously alternative window art that depicts tigers, snakes and a variety of wildlife. One of the wandering vicars tells me it's his favourite part of the church.
Not being religious in any way, it’s nice to know that I can still take some pleasure from the optimism of this building. And while each area differs from regal gothic to ancient resting place, the real mind-blowing potency hits you when you look up. The Abbey has the highest gothic vault in England, reaching 102 feet, which is equally as impressive as the ivory-looking icy intricacies that loom over the Chapter House section of the Abbey, entwining into one another like a giant spider’s web.
Walking through the Cloister Garth, an outside alley facing a grassy area in the middle of the building, the Hogwarts-esqe alcoves lead towards the Nave, a seminal port of call for the Abbey. Fundamentally this is the ‘church’ area where prayers and choirs hold forth. I overhear a tour guide explaining that over three thousand bodies are buried under the building, which means that pretty much everywhere you stand you’re above a decomposed corpse of some general or Lord. It quickly transcends from this point to a place that, although full of life, is also telling image of fallen greatness.
The overall charm comes from the sheer diversity of the design: the fact that it doesn’t walk a conventional line of vision is what gives it its character. From the outside it looks pretty enormous but when walking around you realise that it doesn't actually take that long. It’s a two-hour jobbie at best, unless your interest spans deeper than pretty windows and quick-fix tombs, which mine obviously doesn’t.
Tickets stand at £16 per adult with family tickets starting from £32. It’s on the pricier side of things, but it is what it is. I paid £4.50 for a pint the other day and that only lasted 15 minutes, so in the grand scheme of things, it’ll keep you busy for a few hours. Plus, if you’ve never been before, it’s definitely worth a punt.
Westminster Abbey is open to visitors Monday to Saturday throughout the year. On Sundays and religious holidays, the Abbey is only open for worship but all are welcome. General opening times are 9.30am to around 5.00pm, but this is subjected to change so be sure to check the website below. Prices range from £16 per adult, school children £6 and family tickets can be bought from £32.
For more information visit the Westerminster Abbey website
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