Filed under: Attractions, Church, Prince William, royal wedding, top-feature
All Eyes on Royal London
When the news broke on November 16, 2010 that Prince William had finally proposed to his long time girlfriend Kate Middleton, all eyes turned to London. Immediately after the proposal, questions about the upcoming royal wedding were all over the media. Who would design the dress? Where would the ceremony take place? Prince William and his fiance aren’t revealing any of these details just yet, but all of the attention on the royal family might have you thinking about planning a trip to the city currently in the international limelight: London.
There are endless possibilities for exploring this capital city, but one attraction will be the center of attention for travelers with an interest in the upcoming royal wedding. While the location for the ceremony hasn’t been announced, one possible place is Westminster Abbey, the iconic church where Princess Diana’s funeral was held. One other option is St Paul’s Cathedral (travel guide), where Prince Charles and Diana were married in 1981. According to the press, this wedding won’t be as lavish as the wedding of Charles and Diana as a result of two reasons: the state of the British economy and the fact that Prince William is not next in line for the throne.
According to the British media, Kate Middleton recently made a private visit to Westminster Abbey. This church is over 1,000 years old and has been the site where British kings and queens were crowned. It is fascinating for visitors with an interest in history who will see many tombs in the church, including 17 monarchs, along with famous poets and politicians. If this church was chosen as the site for the royal wedding, it could hold over 2000 people.
Westminster Abbey has long been one of the most popular attractions in London. One of the most interesting ways to see this site is by attending a service. Westminster Abbey is still a fully functioning church, with regular masses and concerts on the schedule. Check the official website of Westminster Abbey to confirm the times of services, but in general there are masses and evening concerts most days of the week. If you’re traveling on a budget, attending services is one way to avoid paying an entry fee. The music during services is spectacular and exposes visitors to the incredible acoustics of this church built in 960 AD.
Attending services is just one way to enjoy Westminster Abbey. While thousands of people join in for service every week, another popular option is taking an audio tour. Available in eight languages, these audio tours will help you to understand the significance of what you’re looking at. If you choose not to attend a service, the entry fee for Westminster Abbey is £15.00 and includes an audio guide. In general, the church is open from 9:30 am – 3:30 pm, although checking the schedule online before your visit is a wise decision.
If Prince William and his bride do choose Westminster Abbey as the site of their royal wedding, you will be glad to have visited before all the major news coverage of the event. The church is located right in the heart of central London, near famous Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament (travel guide). If you’re staying outside of central London, Westminster Abbey is easy to reach on the tube (London’s subway system) by taking a train for the Westminster, St James’s Park, or Victoria Station.
Many visitors are surprised just how much there is to see at Westminster Abbey. This huge church is not an attraction you will see in half an hour, so plan some time in your itinerary to really explore. Highlights include Poet’s Corner, where you will see the tombs of Geoffrey Chaucer, Charles Dickens, and Rudyard Kipling. Other highlights include the Great Cloister, Henry VII’s Lady Chapel, and St Catherine’s Chapel Garden. The audio guide will provide interesting information as your progress through each area of the church.
For the royal family, Westminster Abbey has played a significant role. The church has been the location of both happy and sad occasions, including the wedding ceremony of the Queen and of her late mother, and also the location of Princess Diana’s highly televised funeral. Some British journalists are speculating that it is time for Westminster Abbey to be the location of another happy moment in the lives of the royal family, insinuating that it might the location of Prince William’s royal wedding.
Since the engagement announcement, all eyes have been on London and Britain in general. The country is already expecting a surge in tourism and this wedding could bring a significant boost to the lagging British economy. If watching the television programs and reading the news about Prince William and Kate Middleton’s royal romance has left you with a desire to explore London, there’s no time like the present to visit Britain and be a part of the buzz.
Address: Westminster Abbey, 20 Dean’s Yard, London. (travel guide)
Photo Credit: all photos from the personal collection of Jessica Colley.
2 Comments