History
1,000 years of history
As well as being a place of worship, Westminster Abbey has become a treasure house of art, textiles and other artefacts. This is also where some of the most significant people in Britain's history are buried or commemorated.
Find out more about the Abbey’s historyIn this section
Key parts of the Abbey
Lady Chapel
A glorious example of late medieval architecture built by Henry VII, which is the burial place of 15 kings and queens including Elizabeth I, Mary I and Mary Queen of Scots.
Key parts of the Abbey
Poets' Corner
More than 100 poets and writers, including Geoffrey Chaucer, William Shakespeare, Jane Austen, the Bronte sisters, Charles Dickens and Philip Larkin, are buried or remembered here.
Key parts of the Abbey
Royal tombs
There are 30 kings and queens buried in the Abbey, the first of whom was Edward the Confessor whose magnificent shrine stands at the centre of the church.
Key parts of the Abbey
The Quire
Since the 10th Century, music has been a key part of our tradition of worship. The quire is where the Abbey choir sings from at our daily choral services.
Key parts of the Abbey
The Cloisters
A busy thoroughfare dating from medieval times, the cloisters were also a place where the Abbey's monks engaged in meditation, exercise and rituals.
Key parts of the Abbey
Chapter House
Dating from the 13th Century, this is where the Abbey's monks 'held chapter'. It features an imposing central pillar fanning out to a vaulted ceiling and wall paintings showing scenes from the Bible.
Key parts of the Abbey
Abbey gardens
Behind the walls of the Abbey precincts are gardens which have been in cultivation for over 900 years. In monastic times, they were used to grow food and to provide a space for quiet meditation.
Key parts of the Abbey
Pyx Chamber
One of the oldest surviving parts of Westminster Abbey, built around 1070. It still possesses many medieval features including tiles from the 11th century.
Key parts of the Abbey
Modern Martyrs
Ten statues to 20th Century Christians who gave up their lives for their beliefs, including Dr Martin Luther King Jr and St Oscar Romero.
Architecture
Although Westminster Abbey was founded in 960AD, the building we see today dates from the reign of Henry III in the 13th century – and it’s been added to ever since.
Learn more about our architectural historyWar damage
The Abbey suffered damage during World War Two, but daily worship continued.
How the Abbey survivedThe Royal Air Force Chapel
A chapel dedicated to the men of the Royal Air Force who died in the Battle of Britain.
Discover more
The biggest challenge we face is maintaining such a large physical collection of material within a historic building – believe it or not, there’s just not enough space for it all.
