Westminster Abbey - Royal Wedding and Coronation Venue.

Westminster Abbey, recently famous for the royal wedding of Prince William to Kate Middleton on the 29th April 2011 is one of the best examples of medieval architecture in London. The present Westminster Abbey, the third on the site was built in the 13th century in early gothic style by Henry III. Henry VII added the chapel in the late gothic perpendicular style during the 18th century. The West front towers, completed in 1745 were designed by Nicholas Hawksmoor. Westminster Abbey is the resting place of British Monarchs, and as the setting for coronations and other great pageants. It also contains an impressive collection of tombs and monuments. More than 3,000 notable people are buried here, including Charles Darwin, David Livingstone and Isaac Newton. Monarchs were interred here until George II in 1760. Elizabeth I has a huge tomb here, which also contains the body of her half sister "bloody" Mary I. On the exterior, the West front towers are impressive, as are the massive flying buttresses which help transfer the great weight of the 102 ft (31m) nave.

Westminster Abbey

Westminster Abbey Buttresses

Westminster Abbey Towers

The North Transept has three chapels on the east side containing some of the Abbey's monuments.

St Edward's chapel houses Edward the Confessor's shrine and the tombs of the other medieval monarchs. The royal coronation chair, which was constructed in 1308 can be found nearby. It has been used for crowning monarchs since 1308, the last being Elizabeth II in 1953. Coronations have been held in Westminster Abbey since 1066.

Lady chapel has a superb vaulted ceiling and choir stalls from 1512.

Chapter House has tiles dating back to the 13th century. Parliament first met here in the 14th century.

Henry VII Chapel contains the statues of nearly 100 saints.

South Transept contains poets corner where memorials to famous literary figures, such as Dickens, Chaucer and Shakespeare can be found. The Nave is the highest in England.

Cloisters, linking the Abbey to the other buildings was built mainly in the 13th and 14th century.

The Houses of Parliament and Big Ben, the name for the vast bell hung in 1858 and not the world famous four faced clock in the 320 ft (106m) tower that rises above the Houses of Parliament are within close walking distance.