First inhabited by Benedictine monks back in the 10th century, this Gothic church is one of the most important icons of London.
A century after the arrival of the monks, King Edward the Confessor rebuilt the church and chose it as his burial site. Henry III had the abbey rebuilt again in 1245 and managed to turn it into one of the most important Gothic buildings in the country. The work on the present church was mostly finished during the reign of Richard II, and Henry VII added a chapel to the church.
Westminster Abbey has been used for the royal coronations since the 1066 coronations of both King Harold and William the Conqueror. Nowadays, it is also a setting for royal weddings and another royal (and state) ceremonies. In 2011, Prince William and Catherine Middleton got married here.
Many other notable figures are buried in the abbey or have their memorials here, for example, Sir Isaac Newton, William Blake or Lewis Carroll.
