The front of Westminster Abbey. Taken from the ramp leading into the
public bathroom across the street from the Abbey.
My favorite tourist destination in London. I like to think of it as the
attic of the U.K. because so much is packed into it. In fact, the feeling
I have in Westminster Abbey is a magnified version of the one that I have
in the British Museum - a sense of awe due to the fact that I'm actually
in the presence of things (or people) that I've only read about. From an
architectural point of view, the Abbey is rather mediocre when compared
to other cathedrals in the U.K. It doesn't have the innovative style of
Ely, the Gothic grandeur of York, or the sheer impressiveness of St. Paul's.
But, it does have a sense of history that puts all of the other cathedrals
to shame. That sense is on display when one first walks through the door.
Right past the grave of the Unknown Soldier is the grave of David Livingstone,
of Livingstone and Stanley fame. His is just the first of literally hundreds
of graves of people whose actions have helped shape our world's history.
Yet, the item that was most interesting to me wasn't a grave of a particular
person (although the tombs of Elizabeth I and Mary I are impressive). It was
the Coronation Chair upon which every monarch of the U.K. has been crowned
since the 13th century. I thought, "Wow! Here's a real symbol of England!
A piece of living history!" But, upon a closer examination, I was disappointed
in an amusing sort of way. The chair is covered with carved graffiti, made
by schoolboys when the Abbey held a boys' school in its grounds. In some
ways, it's very fitting that this chair is still used during coronation
ceremonies. It fits the British temperament: no matter how bad it looks,
anything can be fixed with a stiff upper lip and some ceremony.
While it doesn't cost anything to enter the nave, it does cost £4
(£2 for students) to get back behind the choir screen (where all the
good stuff is). Please be aware that photography is allowed only on Wednesdays
between 6 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. There is no charge for picture taking.
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