Britain’s oldest door
Yep, the Abbey is home to the UK’s first ever door. It's made up of five vertical planks that come from a single tree, estimated to have grown between AD 924 and 1030. Some say the door might even be older than England itself!
You’ll find the door in Chapter House on the right-hand side as you enter and, as you'll notice, it scrubs up pretty well for being a century old. Although it looks like the entrance to a mysterious secret passage, sources say behind the door lies a modest storage cupboard with a leaf blower.
Britain's oldest door – looking good for almost 1000 years old.
The most famous chair in history
Doors, chairs – the Abbey really pulls it out the bag with famous fixtures and furnishings. This humble 700-year-old chair has been famously sat on by 39 monarchs during their coronations. It’s officially the oldest piece of furniture in the UK that’s still used for its original purpose and has seen a lot of history. It was evacuated during the war, survived a bomb attack from the suffragettes, and most recently was graffitied on by some naughty Westminster school boys.
The chair is just before the exit as you leave the Abbey – saving the best ‘til last in our opinion.
The Coronation chair (much less glass-y IRL)
The Stained Glass
The Abbey boasts some seriously impressive stained glass windows which are best seen from the inside as the light shines through. The great rose window is the most famous – a circular patterned extravaganza that sits above the entrance to the Abbey, creating a show-stopping arrival. There’s also a memorial window dedicated to Sir Isaac Newton featuring celestial and scientific symbols. And, the most recent addition, is the Hockney Window designed as a tribute to Queen Elizabeth II featuring a modern design by artist David Hockney.
The Abbey's stunning stained glass
The Abbey Gardens
It’s not all about dark corners and gothic sculptures – there are peaceful green spaces, too. The College Garden, which was once used to grow food and medicinal herbs for the occupants of the Abbey, is now a chill area to soak up the sun. There’s also the Cloister Garden which can be viewed from the windows of the Cloister. It was formally used by monks for quiet reflection and features a border of colourful flowers and a fountain in the centre.
The Abbey's Cloister gardens
Chapter House and The Pxy Chamber
These gorgeously preserved medieval areas of the Abbey can be found in the East Cloister and still have the same architecture and flooring from the 11th Century. So, you get a real feel for what the Abbey was like back in the day. Or, say, what the Chamber of Secrets in Harry Potter might have been like.
Chapter House was where monks swapped secrets during their daily meetings – called so because they included a reading of a chapter of St Benedict’s Rule. The Pyx Chamber was once used for storing the King’s valuables and you’ll see one of the large, now empty, medieval chests there.
Westminster Abbey's Pyx Chamber
The Abbey Shop
This impressive shop deserves a shout out for the sheer range of Abbey-themed trinkets. From fine china coronation-themed tea cups to medieval-style bookmarks, there’s something for every shopper. And if you’re after something a bit more boujee, head to the back of the shop and down the stairs to find a fancier selection of gifts including monarch-inspired necklaces.
Enjoyed this? Check out our complete guide to the borough of Westminster or read why we think London's Uber Boat is the VIP way to travel.
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