by Stephanie Chatfield
When I visited Westminster Abbey, I hadn’t anticipated just how deeply it would affect me. It wasn’t even on my list of top places to visit in London, so I was utterly surprised by the almost physical reaction I had as we made our way through the abbey. Surrounded by centuries of history — by the tombs of monarchs and poets, in a place that has witnessed coronations, royal weddings, and generations of worship — I found myself unexpectedly moved.
It was more than awe; it was a quiet sense of reverence that settled over me, and I left feeling both humbled and inspired.
The abbey as we see it now was mostly built in the Gothic style in the 13th century under Henry III. Its intricate stonework, flying buttresses, and spectacular stained glass windows are awe-inspiring. The fan-vaulted ceilings in the Henry VII Chapel are particularly jaw-dropping.
Ah, the ceilings of Westminster Abbey — absolutely mesmerizing. They’re more than just architectural feats; they’re soaring visual poetry carved in stone and light.
Queen Elizabeth I’s final resting place in Westminster Abbey is one of its most fascinating and symbolically rich tombs — Elizabeth’s effigy is striking. She lies in regal repose, wearing the crown and robes of state, her hands clasped in prayer. The sculptor captured her commanding presence even in death — serene but unmistakably royal.
Everywhere I turned, I was met with a story, a life once lived, a piece of the past — and with each step, I felt more acutely aware of how fleeting our own time really is.
Westminster Abbey continues to be an active place of worship, with regular services, as well as being a major tourist attraction, drawing millions of visitors each year. It hosts important national events, including state funerals, royal weddings, and special services, making it a focal point for British history and culture.
Index of Adventures
- A Pre-Raphaelite Look at Hitchcock’s Vertigo
- Balancing on the Bridge
- Dante Gabriel Rossetti’s Home
- From Tennyson to TikTok: Are We All Living the Lady of Shalott’s Curse?
- On Storms
- Paul McCartney, Photographs 1963–64: Eyes of the Storm
- Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens
- Pre-Raphaelite Princess of Star Wars
- St. Pancras Old Church Gardens
- The Magic Down the Rabbit Hole
- The Wounded Dove
- Unconventional Beauty
- Visiting Lizzie Siddal at Highgate Cemetery
- What Grows from Grief