Westminster+Abbey+(Big+Ben+&+House+of+Parliament)

The Webminster Abbey

The life of Westminster Abbey revolves around the daily pattern of worship; Morning Prayer, Evensong, and the Eucharist. In addition, the Abbey hosts a number of services throughout the year to mark anniversaries and special occasions in the life of the nation.

General Opening Times
[|Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday]9.30am - 4.30pm (last admission 3.30pm) [|Wednesday]9.30am - 7.00pm (last admission 6.00pm) [|Saturday]9.30am - 2.30pm (last admission 1.30pm) [|Sunday]Worship only No Tourist VisitingKings, queens, statesmen and soldiers; poets, priests, heroes and villains - the Abbey is a must-see living pageant of British history. Every year Westminster Abbey welcomes over one million visitors who want to explore this wonderful 700-year-old building. Thousands more join us for worship at our daily services. The Abbey is in the heart of London. Once inside audio guides are available in eight languages or there is the highly-popular verger-led tour. The palace is closely associated with the two Houses, as evidenced by the use of the word "Westminster" to refer to "Parliament". MPs offices are in nearby buildings such as Portcullis House and Norman Shaw Buildings.

The palace originally served as a royal residence but no monarch has lived there since the sixteenth century. Most of the current structure dates from the nineteenth century, when the palace was rebuilt after a fire in 1834 destroyed most of the building. The architects responsible for rebuilding the palace were Sir Charles Barry and Augustus Pugin. The building is an example of Gothic. One of the most notable features of the palace is the clock tower, a tourist attraction that houses the bell known as Big Ben, name erroneously assigned to the clock tower. The palace contains over a thousand rooms, the most important for the Halls of the House of Lords and the House of Commons. The palace also includes meeting rooms, libraries, corridors, canteens, bars and gyms.

Westminster Abbey has resounded to music every day for over one thousand years. Singing has played a hugely important role, from the plainsong Offices sung by the monks of the tenth-century monastic foundation to the daily choral services sung by [|the Choir of Westminster Abbey] today. Over the intervening centuries some of the most illustrious British organists, singers and composers have been closely associated with the Abbey, which continues to play a leading part in the musical and cultural life of the nation today.

The palace is closely associated with the two Houses, as evidenced by the use of the word "Westminster" to refer to "Parliament". MPs offices are in nearby buildings such as Portcullis House and Norman Shaw Buildings.


 * No two days are the same at Westminster Abbey. There’s always lots going on, from special events and festivals, to lectures and debates, concerts to bell ringing. Find out more about what’s on this week and forthcoming events.

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