The City of Westminster

The City Within a City

Westminster achieved the status of a city in 1540 when it became a bishopric By 1500 the houses of the city of London began over a mile to the east, a mile to the north, and in the west continued until they met the boundaries of the City of Westminster. Many of the important public buildings of "London" where actually in the City of Westminster.
Westminster Abbey was originally a Benedictine monastery in London.
A major English Gothic structure, it is a national shrine. In 1245 Henry III demolished a Norman church and began a new eastern portion, inaugurating centuries of development. The chapter house was built in 1250, the cloisters and main monastic buildings in the 14th cent.
The nave was completed in the 16th cent., as was Henry VIII's Lady Chapel with its noted fan vaulting.
Christopher Wren and Nicholas Hawksmoor built (1722-40) the western towers.
French influence is seen in the nave, the highest in England, and in the flying buttresses.
Almost all English monarchs since William I have been crowned in the Abbey, and noted English subjects are buried there, e.g., Chaucer and Robert Browning in the Poets' Corner.
 
Westminster Abbey is the most famous church in Great Britain The kings and queens of England are crowned there, and many rulers and famous men of Britain are buried there. The church is built in the shape of a cross, in the style of architecture called Gothic. There are a number of chapels in Westminster Abbey, of which the most notable is the Chapel of Henry VII. There are nearly 100 statuettes in the Chapel of Henry VII, and in it are buried Mary Queen of Scots, William and Mary, Queen Elizabeth 1, and other kings, queens, and members of the royal family. The Poet's Corner contains the tombs of Chaucer, Spenser, Browning, Tennyson, and many other famous writers and poets. The first church on the site of Westminster Abbey was built in 616, but the present building was begun over seven hundred years ago. Further building was done over several hundred years. The building of two of the Abbey's towers was begun in 1732. Westminster Abbey was hit by bombs during World War 11, but it was not seriously damaged and the damage has been repaired.
Westminster Cathedral The Cathedral Church of Westminster, which is dedicated to the Most Precious Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ, was designed in the Early Christian Byzantine style by the Victorian architect John Francis Bentley.

HOW TO GET THERE
The nearest tube and train station is Victoria, in addition the 11 and 24 bus lines stop immediately in front of the Cathedral Piazza, on Victoria Street. The front entrance to the Cathedral is off the Piazza. Access is from Victoria Street, Ashley Place, or Ambrosden Avenue. The entrance to Clergy House is on Francis Street.
 

CAR AND COACH PARKING
There are meters for cars in the streets behind the Cathedral and a multi-storey car park in Rochester Row. Car parking is free on Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holidays. Short-term coach parking (up to 2 hours) is on Victoria Embankment, Park Lane, Tothill Street and Marsham Street.

GIFT SHOP
The Cathedral shop is open as follows: Monday to Friday - 9.30am - 5.15 pm, Saturday and Sunday - 10am - 4.45pm
TOWER LIFT
The Campanile Bell Tower is 273 feet in height and from a four-sided viewing gallery it is possible to see much of London. The lift is open as follows:
April to November - 9am to 5pm (daily) December to March - 9am to 5pm (Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday)
INFORMATION DESK The Information Desk is located at the back of the nave and is open daily from 10am to 5pm.
DISABLED VISITORS There is disabled access, and wheelchairs are also available. A loop system is installed - hearing aids should be turned to the 'T' setting.

 The official site of the Catholic Cathedral of Westminster - with details of services, events, music, and other spiritual and pastoral activities.