The first time I visited Westminster Abbey, I could only drive by it on a bus. Going inside for a look is much better. The wow factor is considerable.
A church was first put on this site in the 7th century, and coronations of British monarchs have been held here since, gulp 1066. There have been 16 royal weddings here since the year 1100 (the last was Prince William and Catherine Middleton - too bad we don't hear much about that couple), and the current building started to go up in 1245.
As you'd expect, it's a great honor to be buried here ... or at least saluted here. There are all sorts of members of the Royal Family from eons ago here, and other citizens are mentioned here too. Names? Isaac Newton, Clement Atlee, Charles Darwin, David Livingstone ("Dr. Livingstone, I presume?"), Nelson Mandela, Stephen Hawking, T.S. Eliot, Lord Tennyson, Laurence Olivier, Charles Dickens, Lord Byron ... it goes on and on. Think Elton John will be presented here someday? I'd bet on.
This is also a giant church, of course, and services are held here. It's all overwhelming in a way, especially when mixed in with large crowds. But it's all an amazing place, definitely worth a visit.
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