This is one of the most famous religious buildings in Britain and the world at large.

Westminster
Abbey is one of the landmarks featured in Dan Brown’s controversial novel The Da Vinci Code. As a
result of the book’s popularity, the Abbey saw waves of new tourists.

It has played an important role in the British political, social and cultural affairs for centuries.

Although it goes by the name abbey, the building is no longer one, at least since 1539. However, it
still hosts important religious events.

The real name of Westminster Abbey is the Collegiate Church of Saint Peter at Westminster.

Around 1560, the abbey was designated with a special “Royal Peculiar” – which is a church
responsible directly to the Sovereign.

Seventeen royal weddings have taken place at Westminster Abbey with the most recent on 29 April
2011. This was the royal wedding of Prince William of Wales now Duke of Cambridge.

Over 3,300 people have been buried or commemorated at Westminster Abbey. This includes
seventeen British monarchs including King Henry V and all the Tudors except for Henry VIII. Other
notable people buried at Westminster Abbey include Isaac Newton, Edward the Confessor and
Charles Dickens.

The entire Abbey is covered by a Cosmati pavement made up of thousands of cut pieces of mosaic
and porphyry. Brass letters on it tell the date, the King and its origin, which is 1268, Henry III and
Rome. There are missing letters that explain the symbolic meaning of how long the universe would
last (which is 19,683 years).

During the Second World War, about “60,000 sandbags were used to protect immoveable royal and
medieval tombs. The Coronation Chair was sent for safety to Gloucester Cathedral and the
Coronation Stone was buried secretly within the Abbey.”