Westminster Abbey

Where: London, England

When: June 8, 2003

With: FSU flatmates

If there was a building that has witnessed the most historical events of any other in the world, Westminster Abbey would probably be it. Founded in 960, it witnessed William the Conqueror entering London as the first "king of England". When he did claim England as his own, this was the building where he was coronated, and where almost every monarch of England has been crowned since. It has been the site of numerous weddings (most recently, Prince William and Kate Middleton), and it is where many monarchs and historical figures have come to rest. Over its 1,000 years, it has seen pretty much all of London history. 

Cameras are not allowed on the interior, so my photos are limited to the exterior. But the inside is pretty amazing. The number of famous monarchs buried in here is just overwhelming: Queen Elizabeth II, Queen Mary I, Mary Queen of Scots, and Henry V, just to name a few. Poet's Corner holds the remains of some of Britain's most famous authors and artists including Charles Dickens, T.S. Eliot, Rudyard Kipling, and Laurence Olivier. Other notable burials include Charles Darwin, Oliver Cromwell, Stephen Hawking, David Livingstone, Isaac Newton and Charles Darwin. It's impossible to not trip over a familiar name as you tour the halls of this beautiful building. 

So sadly, this post will be somewhat short and focus on the outside. While it hasn't always had this outer facade and its very impressive and overwhelming interior, the construction of the building has been an ongoing process for years. I'm always amazed at how buildings like this were created so long ago and continue to stand. The two towers here were constructed in the 1700s, but were the last addition to the building. 

The one modern update to the exterior are the statues of 20th century martyrs. This includes notable figures such as Martin Luther King Jr. 

Around the back part of the abbey is what's called the North Rose window. It has a distinctly different look than the front, covered in flying buttresses. This is where the entrance to the building is for most layman. 

I wish I had more to post, but without being able to dive into the inside photographically, I can't find much else to say other than that this is one of my favorite sites in London. I find it fascinating and every time I go through here I find something (or someone) new.