Westminster Abbey Building Photos, Venue for Royal Wedding London, Design, Location, Image

Westminster Abbey London Architecture

Key Religious Structure – Historic Abbey Building in England, UK venue for Princess Diana funeral

post updated 27 August 2024

Date built: 1045-app.1400

Architect: various

Location: Whitehall, Westminster, central London, SW1

Status: Grade I Listed

Westminster Abbey London building
photo © Nick Weall

The Collegiate Church of St Peter, Westminster

Address:
20 Dean’s Yard, London SW1P 3PA, England, UK

Contact:
Telephone 020 7222 5152

Building Opening Times:
Open Mon-Tue,Thu-Fri,Sun 9:30am-4:30pm; Wed 9:30am-7pm; Sat 9:30am-2:30pm

Nearest Tube station:
Westminster

Westminster Abbey

The Royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton took place at Westminster Abbey on April 29, 2011.

Westminster Abbey Building London
photograph © Nick Weall

There has been an abbey building at this site since at least 10th century.

Construction of the present church was begun in 1245 by Henry III, and completed in 1517.

Westminster Abbey Building London UK
photo © Nick Weall

The two Westminster Abbey western towers were built between 1722 and 1745 by Nicholas Hawksmoor in the Gothic style.

Westminster Abbey is the traditional place of coronation and burial site for English, later British and later still (and currently) monarchs of the Commonwealth realms.

Westminster Abbey Building London England
photo © Nick Weall

UNESCO World Heritage Site, designated 1987
Listed building Grade 1
Portland stone facades
Purbeck marble was used for the walls and the floors

On 6 September 1997 the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales was held at the Abbey.

Royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton venue London venue for Princess Diana funeral ceremony London venue for Princess Diana funeral
photos © Adrian Welch, 29 Apr 2013

29 Jun 2009

Westminster Abbey Architecture Competition

New £10m corona – crowning feature – for the roof of the abbey building, to replace existing pyramid form dating from 1958.

Crown-like design to be ready by the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2013, pending the public consultation which is now on.

The corona would be located over the Crossing, the site of every coronation since that of William the Conqueror in 1066.

The abbey is also considering an education centre, café and public access to its upper gallery.

2020 Vision Exhibition
Development Plans for Westminster Abbey

Exhibition outlining the development plan, 2020 Vision, for Westminster Abbey

Where: Abbey’s Chapter House
When: 30 Jun – end of Sep 2009
Exhibition opening times: Open Daily 10.30am – 4.00pm
Entry: Free

General photos of this historic building in the heart of the British capital city:
Historic Abbey Building in England Westminster Abbey Historic Abbey Building London Historic Abbey Building in London
photos © Nick Weall

Abbey and Deans Yard:
Westminster Abbey Deans Yard
photo © Nick Weall

Jewel tower, opposite Houses of Parliament just west of the abbey building:
Westminster Jewel tower Jewel tower Westminster
picture © NW ; AW

Westminster Cathedral, Victoria, SW1
Date: 1910
Design: John Francis Bentley architect
Westminster Cathedral
photos © Adrian Welch
Westminster Cathedral
Largest Roman Catholic church in England and Wales

Westminster Buildings

Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Galleries at Westminster Abbey

Location: 20 Dean’s Yard, London
, SW1P 3PA, England, UK

Architecture in London

Contemporary Architecture in London

London Architecture Links – chronological list

London Architecture – best buildings in the UK capital

London Architecture Walking Tours – building walks with experienced guides

London Architect

Key Westminster Buildings

Westminster Hall
Date built: 1399
Design: unknown

Westminster School – The Weston Building
Date built: 1865; refurbishment – 2006:
Design: Feilden Clegg Bradley Architects LLP

Westminster Underground Station
Date built: 1999
Design: Hopkins Architects

Whitehall Buildings

Houses of Parliament

Houses of Parliament
photograph © Nick Weall

Westminster Academy – Naim Dangoor Centre, London
Design: Allford Hall Monaghan Morris

London Buildings

Westminster Office Building

Westminster Kingsway College

Westminster Sustainable Building

London Church Buildings

Spire London Docklands Tower
Design: HOK, Architects
Spire London Docklands skyscraper building
image from architect
Spire London Docklands Tower

Comments / photos for the Westminster Abbey London ArchitectureHistoric British Abbey Building page welcome

Website: www.westminster-abbey.org