London Buildings West End Westminster AbbeyWestminster Abbey
The Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster, which is usually referred to informally as Westminster Abbey, is a large, mainly Gothic church, in Westminster, London, just to the west of the Palace of Westminster. 
It is the traditional place of coronation and the burial site for English, later British and later still (and currently) monarchs of the Commonwealth Realms. Westminster Abbey briefly held the status of a cathedral from 1546–1556, and is a Royal Peculiar. During Henry VIIIth's 'Dissolution of the monasteries' when England left papal authority, Westminster Abbey should have been dissolved too. It was saved however, by letters of patent declaring it a cathedral at Henry's request - being unable to destroy such a significant building.
Westminster Abbey is organised into the College of St Peter, which comprises the Dean and four residentiary Canons (one of whom is also Rector of St Margaret's Church, Westminster, and Speaker's Chaplain), and seventeen other persons who are members, as well as twelve lay vicars and ten choristers.
Westminster Abbey and its property is in the care of the Librarian, the Keeper of the Muniments, and the Surveyor of the Fabric. Lastly, the educational role of the
Abbey is reflected in the presence of the Headmaster of the Choir School, the Headmaster and Under Master of Westminster School, and the Master of The Queen's Scholars.The two western towers were built in the 18th century by Nicholas Hawksmoor, in the Gothic Revival style. The Place of Westminster, including the Clock Tower holding Big Ben is also Gothic Revival; built just under a century later by Barry and Pugin.
The last person to be buried in Westminster Abbey (rather than ashes) was "the unknown soldier, who was interred in 1920 to represent all those that fell in the First World War. It is traditional for royal brides to lay their bouquet on the unknown soldier's tomb.
The current queen's coronation took place in Westminster Abbey in 1953. Her father died in 1952, though the tradition is for the coronation to occur the year after the previous monarch's death.
Westminster Abbey, London, SW1P 3PA
The Queen's Coronation in 1953
