Things to do in London - Westminster Abbey - Church of St Peter

Church of St Peter at Westminster also well known as Westminster Abbey is a sizeable Gothic church situated to the west of the Palace of Westminster. Famous for its architectural beauty, this historically rich place was originally founded in 616 and was assigned to Benedictine monks later on. This Medieval monument has been a place of significant national events like coronations, as well as a burial site for monarchs since 1066. Many well-deserved citizens, artists (Geofrey Chaucer, Henry Purcell, George Heandel), politicians, generals and people of science has been memorialised here. Also it has been a fact that except for Edward V and Edward VIII, all British monarchs have been crowned in Westminster Abbey. It also played an important role as a great seat of learning in England, right after Cambridge and Oxford. Put in this light, it becomes obvious why the first third of the King James Bible Old Testament and the last half of the New Testament were translated here. Nowadays, it is devoted to regular Mass services and celebrations of national importance as it is still a Royal Peculiar.