Westminster Abbey to be lit for Lumiere London Festival
Monday, 4th January 2016
Westminster Abbey will be the spectacular backdrop for a light installation as part of Lumiere London, the city's first major light festival. The exterior of the Abbey will be lit each evening of the festival, from Thursday 14th - Sunday 17th January 2016.
The installation, The Light of the Spirit, has been designed by the French artist, Patrice Warrener. He has lit more than 60 buildings around the world, and is known for his intricate, vibrant illuminations. This will be the first time that Westminster Abbey, a designated World Heritage Site and one of the UK's leading visitor attractions, has been lit in this way.
To celebrate the festival, the Abbey will be open to visitors from 6.30pm – 9.00pm (last entry at 8.00pm) on Friday 15th January, at the special reduced entry fee of £5.00. The Abbey Shop and Cellarium Café will also be open. Visitors can download an audio tour of the Abbey ahead of their visit. The tour is available in eleven languages, for both iPhone and Android devises.
More than 20 international artists have been commissioned to transform buildings and streets in the capital for the first Lumiere London. The festival will include installations in locations from Leicester Square, Piccadilly, St James's, Carnaby Street and Oxford Circus in the West End, to the German Gymnasium and Granary Square at King's Cross. All are free to attend.
Lumiere London is produced by Artichoke, and is supported by the Mayor of London and VisitLondon.com.
