Westminster, Government district in Central London, England
Westminster is a district in central London that stretches from the Thames riverbank to Oxford Street. The area includes Parliament, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, and several large parks such as St. James's Park.
The place grew around Westminster Abbey in the 11th century when Edward the Confessor rebuilt the church. The royal connection later brought government institutions to settle nearby.
The National Gallery, Tate Britain, and National Portrait Gallery form a concentration of art institutions that display collections spanning multiple centuries.
Many Underground stations are spread throughout the district, making access to all parts of the capital easier. Walking between main sights is manageable, but distances add up over the course of a day.
Charing Cross in the southern part of the district marks the notional center of London. All official distance measurements in Britain refer to this spot.
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