Westminster Abbey has this way of stopping you in your tracks the moment you step inside. It's not just another London church – it's where English history has been unfolding for nearly a thousand years, and somehow you can feel that weight in the air.

The building itself dates back to the 13th century, though there's been a church on this spot since around 959. What strikes me most is how it manages to be both grand and intimate at the same time. Those soaring Gothic arches reach 101 feet above you, but the Purbeck marble columns and intricate stonework draw your eye to smaller, more human details.

Walking through Poets' Corner feels oddly familiar, even if it's your first visit. Shakespeare, Dickens, Geoffrey Chaucer – their memorials are here alongside scientists like Darwin and Newton. It's like wandering through a British literature textbook, except these are real tombs and monuments, not just names on a page.

The royal connections are everywhere. Every English monarch since 1066 has been crowned here, from William the Conqueror to Charles III. Westminster Abbey houses the shrine of St Edward the Confessor, and the tombs of Elizabeth I and Mary Queen of Scots sit surprisingly close to each other, considering their complicated history.

What makes this place unusual is its status as a "Royal Peculiar" – it's not technically a cathedral or parish church, but falls directly under the Crown's jurisdiction. This explains why it has always operated somewhat independently from the Church of England hierarchy.

The acoustics are remarkable. If you're lucky enough to hear the choir during Evensong, you'll understand why this has been London's most important religious site for centuries. The music seems to rise naturally with the architecture, filling those vast spaces in a way that feels almost inevitable.

Discover all the secrets of Westminster Abbey with our complete London audio guide – there are stories tucked into every corner that aren't immediately obvious to casual visitors. The Henry VII Chapel alone, with its fan-vaulted ceiling, deserves more time than most people give it.

Despite the crowds that visit Westminster Abbey, it remains an active place of worship. Morning prayers still happen daily, and major state occasions continue to unfold here, just as they have for centuries.