Westminister Abbey

The history of Westminister Abbey, according to tradition, goes back to the 7th century. We do know that Monks began living here in the 10th century. In 1065, King Edward consecrated a stone abbey on this site.

Since 1066, the English and then British monarchs have held their coronations here. In 1579, Elizabeth I made it a Royal Peculiar. This means that the church is responsible directly to the King or Queen, not to a bishop.

There are many tombs inside the Abbey. The Abbey is open for tourists from Monday to Saturday. The entrance fee is 12 pounds. The income is used to maintain the building and run the Abbey. It receives no money from the Queen, the Government or the Church of England.

Worship services are held every evening during the week, Saturday afternoon and on Sunday. All are welcome to attend.

Where East and West Meet

Here at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, the East is divided from the West. This is the location from which the Prime Meridian is measured. Since 1884, this spot marked 0 degrees Longitude.

Actually, modern reference systems have caused the Prime Meridian to shift. These systems mark 0 degrees about 102.5 meters East of the traditional line in Greenwich.

The observatory was commissioned by King Charles II in 1675. It was the first purpose built scientific research facility in Britain. It is no longer used for its original purpose but is a museum.