7/16 Westminster Abbey, London

Sorry I have been running late in posting things, but I have been busy sightseeing and shopping in this wonderful city.  I have been to Westminster Abbey in the past, but it has been several years, and I decided this time to put it high on my priority list and make sure I get a verger tour this time.  Vergers are people in the Church of England who help with services.  They may be full-time or part-time employees, or even volunteers.  

I had a terrible time getting a verger tour because when I tried to reserve an entrance time, it kept telling me that no verger tours were available.  I even tried several different times and day, but no luck, and I did not to pay for an entrance unless I could get a tour.  So, on this day, I walked the block from the hotel to the abbey, and was second in line to get to the ticket booth!  When I got there, I asked how I could get a verger tour and entrance ticket for the same time so I did not have to pay the expensive entrance fee twice.  

I was thrilled that both were available, even though entrance tickets were booked until afternoon.  TIP:  If you go to any museums or cathedrals or almost any attraction for that matter in the U.K call ahead or check online about making reservations.  I did not do this and found most places had only afternoon tickets available.  Most museums in London are free, but you still need tickets. Actually, the best thing to do is to visit London in early May or September when crowds are less. 

So, in I went!  It would take a very long day to take photos of everything in the abbey, but I took a few very general photos and focused more on what they call Poet's Corner.  I have a couple of photos of the outdoors and a video of a full bell peal, but I am having problems getting those off my cell phone, so stop by again in a few days.  

A few photos of the interior of the abbey.  

 

 

The main alter is in the middle of the church, not at the far end.  There  is a screen behind it that was originally used to keep the members of the religious orders from being seen by the regular church members.  Also the choir or quire is behind the screen, but can still be heard.  

 

 

The choir or quire seating.  

 

 

 

A closeup of part of the alter, and the place where a king or queen is crowned.   

 

 

Another of my ceiling photos! 

 

 

The tomb of an unknown soldier.  

A memorial to Sir Isaac Wilson. 

A memorial to several authors:  Jonson, Burns, Shakespeare, Southey, Keats, and Shelly.

 

 

David Garrick was a famous actor and playwright.  This large memorial on the floor indicated he is buried under it.    

Famous Scottish poet, Robert Burns.

 

 

Memorial to George Frederick Handel.  

And four more famous authors or performers:

 

 

The photos below are all of queens and kings:  first is Queen Elizabeth I. 

 

 

She is buried not too far from her half-sister, Queen Mary.  

 

 

And one of the oldest kings of England, Edward the Confessor.  

I know this photo looks weird, but I had to take it upside down because the window lighting was causing problems.  

One of the most interesting burials in Westminster Abbey is Ben Jonson (misspelled here) who insisted on being buried standing up so he would not take up more than a square foot of earth's space!  This plaque is on the wall near his grave, which is on a busy walkway near the Nave, and is very hard to read. 

 

 

And, of course, like any attraction, you exit through the store.