Westminster Abbey is the great Gothic church in London, built between the 13th and 16th centuries beside Parliament Square. It has been the coronation church of Britain since William the Conqueror in 1066, and the burial place of more than 3,300 people.
Why it is worth the trip
You enter through the west door past the earliest surviving full-length portrait of an English king, Richard II, and walk over the Cosmati pavement laid before the High Altar. The aisles carry the names of monarchs, prime ministers, poets, scientists and the Unknown Warrior, which is why William Morris called it a National Valhalla. At the east end the Henry VII Chapel, called the wonder of the world, lifts your eyes into Perpendicular Gothic stonework. Step through Liddell's Arch into Little Deans Yard and the cloisters when you want the crowds to thin and the building to settle around you.
The best time to go
Go early in the day, since the crowds build as the hours pass and the aisles reward unhurried reading. Worship is offered every day of the year, so check the Abbey's own arrangements for services before you set out. If you also want to see the Palace of Westminster, plan for July or August, when Parliament is away and tours of the building are available.
How long to allow
Give the Abbey half a day rather than an hour, because the building rewards the time you give it. There is a restaurant and a café within the precinct if you want to break the visit.
Getting there
The Abbey is accessible by bus and rail, and the nearest Tube station is Westminster.
What to book ahead
Check the Abbey's own site for visiting arrangements and service times before you go, and reserve anything you can in advance for the day you plan to visit.
Nearby
The Abbey forms a UNESCO World Heritage Site with the Palace of Westminster, including the Elizabeth Tower and Big Ben, and St Margaret's Church, all close by.