Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey has been the ceremonial site of almost every British coronation, from William the Conqueror in 1066 to Queen Elizabeth II in 1953. Monarchs buried here include Henry VII, Elizabeth I and Mary, Queen of Scots. The abbey is full of monuments and memorials to famous people.
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A tour of the many Coronation treasures offers insight into the grandeur of the occasion. The present abbey dates, in part, from the 13th centurv and is a powerful expression of En~lish Gothic style, with French elements.
Henry VII's chapel has a style of airy elegance that represents Gothic at its finest. Tiered sculptures line the walls, and the lofty roof is hung with exquisite fan vaulting. The Tomb of the Unknown Warrior commemorates the hundreds of thousands of British servicemen killed in World War 1. In the south transept is Poets' Corner, resting place of Chaucer, Robert Browning and Alfred Tennyson, among others.
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