What’s inside Westminster Abbey? Artifacts, monuments, and Gothic design

The High Altar, rebuilt after wartime damage, is where coronations and royal weddings are centered. Decorated with marble and mosaics, it remains one of the Abbey’s most sacred spaces, symbolizing centuries of royal devotion and national ceremonies.

Henry VII Chapel, known as the Lady Chapel, dazzles with fan-vaulted ceilings and carved stalls. It houses the tomb of Henry VII and Queen Elizabeth I, making it both a royal mausoleum and a masterpiece of Tudor artistry.

Poets’ Corner commemorates literary giants such as Chaucer, Dickens, and Shakespeare. Busts, plaques, and tombs here celebrate Britain’s greatest authors, dramatists, and poets, making this corner a cultural pilgrimage site for literature enthusiasts worldwide.

Housed near the High Altar, the Coronation Chair has crowned every English monarch since 1308. Crafted for Edward I, it originally enclosed the Stone of Scone, symbolizing centuries of continuity in Britain’s royal coronation tradition.

The Nave is the Abbey’s longest section, flanked by towering Gothic arches and intricate statues. It holds the grave of the Unknown Warrior, a poignant memorial honoring soldiers who lost their lives during the First World War.

The Cloisters, built between the 13th and 15th centuries, connect different Abbey areas. Once used by monks for prayer and study, today they provide a quiet, atmospheric walkway with memorials and access to the Chapter House.

The Chapter House features some of the oldest English wall paintings and stained glass. Once a meeting place for the King’s Great Council, it now offers insight into medieval governance alongside breathtaking 13th-century decorative stonework.

Dedicated to Henry V, this smaller Lady Chapel includes his chantry and tomb. Intricate carvings and medieval detailing celebrate the warrior king’s reign, offering a striking blend of royal memory and devotional artistry.

The Abbey holds tombs of 30 monarchs, including Elizabeth I, Mary Queen of Scots, and Edward the Confessor. Each tomb represents dynastic struggles and shifting alliances, transforming the Abbey into a living chronicle of Britain’s monarchy.

The Abbey’s stained glass, ranging from medieval fragments to modern commemorations, casts vibrant light across the interior. Windows depict saints, monarchs, and wartime heroes, reflecting evolving artistry while preserving centuries of British religious and cultural memory.

The Triforium houses the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Galleries, displaying rare manuscripts, coronation regalia, and medieval artifacts. From this elevated viewpoint, visitors enjoy breathtaking views of the Abbey’s Nave and intricate Gothic architecture from above.

Located behind the High Altar, the Shrine of Edward the Confessor is a focal pilgrimage site. Intricately carved, it enshrines the saint-king’s remains, attracting monarchs, pilgrims, and visitors seeking spiritual connection across nearly a millennium.

The North Transept is known as Statesmen’s Corner, featuring memorials to leaders like William Gladstone and Winston Churchill. Statues and inscriptions commemorate Britain’s political figures, highlighting the Abbey’s role in celebrating both governance and national history.

This area contains striking medieval tombs and memorials to figures such as Sir Isaac Newton. Its winding aisles and sculpted stonework create a reflective space where science and culture meet Britain’s enduring religious traditions.

The Great West Door serves as the ceremonial entrance for royal occasions, flanked by the Abbey’s iconic twin towers. Completed in the 18th century, the towers showcase striking Gothic revival design and frame the Abbey’s monumental façade.