Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
this street and take the first pedestrian crossing you see on the right to enter Parliament
Square.*
Parliament Square is a patch of green surrounded by Westminster Abbey and Houses
of Parliament. You'll find several statues and memorials here, including one of Winston
Churchill facing Big Ben.
Peace campaigner Brian Haw protested the War in Iraq here for almost a decade. He wasn't
alone either. Several people lived in tents in Parliament Square starting in 2001 hoping to
impact their neighbors across the street in the Houses of Parliament. Haw was arrested in
2010 and died the following year.
Westminster Abbey
Price: £18.00
Address: 20 Deans Yard
Hours:
Monday,
Tuesday,
Thursday
and
Friday,
9:30am-4:30pm;
Wednesday,
9:30am-7pm; Saturday, 9:30am-2:30pm
Website:
www.westminster-abbey.org
*Located on Parliament Square, refer to the map above to see where is best to cross and
reach Westminster Abbey.*
While
Westminster Abbey
as a church is almost a thousand years old, the current structure,
which is Gothic, was erected by King Henry III in 1245. Every coronation ceremony since
1066 has taken place at Westminster Abbey, it's also hosted royal weddings, including that
of Prince William and Kate Middleton in 2011.
Many tombs of kings, queens and intellectuals are located in Westminster Abbey. Poet Ben
Johnson and scientist Issac Newton are buried here, as is actor Sir Laurence Olivier.
Local's tip:
It costs money to enter Westminster Abbey, unless you're visiting for a service,
but it's free to enter neighboring St. Margaret's Church, so make sure to stop in there. Fa-
cing the main entrance, this will be the white church to your left.
