10 Best English Cathedrals to Marvel At
Some of the most stunning buildings to visit around the country are the epic cathedrals that tower over their surrounding towns and cities. From their intricate architecture to their history and grandeur, there are so many reasons to visit some of the best English cathedrals. Here are our top 10 cathedrals in England and why you should pay some of them a visit on your next day out.
England has some of the best cathedrals in Europe, and even the world. They are brilliant places to visit whether you’re looking to go for religious reasons, curious about the history behind each one, or interested in the incredible architecture that makes them unique against their modern backdrops.
Many of the best English cathedrals just happen to be some of the biggest, but there are so many more features besides their size that make them unique. If you’ve visited these 10 incredibly beautiful churches in England and you’re looking for something new to see on your next day out, check out the best English cathedrals that we’ve rounded up for you, right here.
1. Durham Cathedral, Durham
Durham has one of the oldest cathedrals in England, and certainly one of the most stunning. Its Romanesque architecture began building in 1093 and restoration work continues to this day due to its sheer size and detail. Don’t worry though, the cathedral has its own team of craftsmen to look after it.
The cathedral is situated by a picturesque river, so you can’t ask for a better cathedral to visit if you’re looking to go on a nice walk afterwards. With some of the best preserved monastic buildings in England, Durham Cathedral is well worth a visit and is one of the clear frontrunners for the best English cathedrals. A hard one to beat… just look at it!
Harry Potter fans will love that Durham Cathedral was used as a filming location for the famous film series. Apparently the cloister was used as the quadrangle where Harry releases his owl, and the Chapter House was used as Professor McGonagall’s classroom.
Want to visit? Add in one of these 16 ideas for a brilliant day out in County Durham.
2. Liverpool Anglican Cathedral, Merseyside
If you’re curious about English cathedrals by size, Liverpool has one of the 3 largest cathedrals in England – Liverpool Anglican Cathedral – and you can tell as soon as you get anywhere near this epic building. Depending on how you arrive and what direction you come from, you’ll need to tackle a pretty large hill to make it up to the cathedral, but it’ll be so worth it when you do for the views.
Trying to see the top of this cathedral when you’re next to it is quite a neck-stretcher. The cathedral was designed by Giles Gilbert Scott and built in 1903, and surprisingly Scott was just 22 years old at the time and had never produced any buildings before. Despite his inexperience, the cathedral continues to be one of the focal points of the Liverpool cityscape to this day.
Although Liverpool Anglican Cathedral is the second cathedral in the area, it certainly doesn’t pale in comparison. Look out for ‘The Welcoming Christ’ sculpture that hangs on one of the facades, and take a walk along the full length of the building (but take your comfy shoes, because this is officially the longest cathedral in the world, at 207 yards!).
3. Norwich Cathedral, Norfolk
This cathedral began construction in 1096 and didn’t finish until 1145, and the level of detail added in that time is quite magnificent. The cathedral is unique due to its huge wooden spire that can be seen for miles around and sets the skyline of Norwich apart, towering over the rest of the city.
Norwich is home to one of the most intact Norman cathedrals in England, showing off its Romanesque architecture far and wide. And it turns out humans aren’t the only ones who consider Norwich Cathedral to be one of the best English cathedrals, as a pair of peregrine falcons made their home high up on a nesting platform in recent years. If you decide to visit this cathedral, definitely head up there to see if you can catch a glimpse, or check out the live cam to see if they’re at home.
You might also spot the Norwich “bosses”, which are carved faces and animals – over 1000 of them on the whole cathedral – that tell the story of the bible from creation to day of judgement. There are kings, peasants, soldiers, acrobats, and many more medieval personalities adorning the cathedral walls, and they have been called ‘one of the greatest hidden glories of medieval art’.
4. Wells Cathedral, Somerset
Wells Cathedral is another beautiful building with rich history and plenty of intricate stonework to draw the eye. Built between 1175 and 1490, it is well known as being one of the most stunning Gothic cathedrals in the country, and it’s not hard to see why.
Wells Cathedral is based in one of England’s smallest cities, but in fact it is the cathedral that makes Wells a city in the first place, since in the UK cities either need to have a cathedral, university, large population or a specific local government to be classed as such. Its imposing stonework is perhaps the most prominent structure in Wells, so if you’re in the area it’s definitely one to see.
Its incredible exterior has the claim to fame of having the second oldest working clock in England, and the cathedral also has the heaviest ring of ten bells in the world. In 1980, an excavation found that Wells Cathedral was originally built on the site of an ancient Roman mausoleum, giving it a whole other time period of fascinating history to discover. We’re convinced this is one of the best English cathedrals, by far.
5. Lincoln Cathedral, Lincolnshire
You can’t miss Lincoln Cathedral as you drive into the city, with its slightly ominous look, and although it isn’t the biggest cathedral in England, it supposedly once held the crown for the tallest building in the world from 1311 to 1549, until its huge spire collapsed.
Lincoln Cathedral was built using locally sourced stone, which was also used to carve the famous “Imp”. We love a historic building with a legend attached, and Lincoln Cathedral has a great one; in the 14th century it was said that two imps were causing a bit of chaos for the cathedral. When an angel asked them to stop, one of the imps threw rocks at the angel, who promptly turned the imp to stone.
You might notice that the cathedral is slightly pink in places. This colouring dates back to the 1120s when a fire broke out in the cathedral causing a temperature of over 300°C, and turning the Lincolnshire limestone pink.
If you’re in Lincoln, don’t skip a visit to Lincoln Cathedral as it really is one of the best English cathedrals (just don’t upset the angels while you’re there…).
6. Ely Cathedral, Cambridgeshire
Ely Cathedral dates back to AD 673 when it was an Abbey Church, but the current building dates back to 1083. It wasn’t granted Cathedral status until 1109 though. Built by Benedictine monks, it’s clear they were determined to make this cathedral stand out in terms of its incredible design. You only have to glance at this feat of architecture to see how unique it is among the other cathedrals on this list, with a 52-metre-high octagonal tower giving it its impressive height.
One interesting feature of this cathedral is its Physick Garden; during Medieval times, the monastery at Ely Cathedral worked to heal sick people with various herbs and plants gathered in the local area and grown in the monastery. There’s also the story of Queen Etheldreda, who died from a tumour in her neck. The story goes that the tumour was sent as a ‘divine punishment’ for wearing necklaces when she was younger, which supposedly showed her vanity.
Ely Cathedral is undoubtedly one of the best English cathedrals for its history and architecture, so don’t forget to bring your camera for this one. You may also want to pair your visit with one of these 15 popular days out in Cambridgeshire.
7. Canterbury Cathedral, Kent
Canterbury Cathedral might be most well-known for being home to the famous Archbishop of Canterbury, which is the highest office in the Church of England, as well as the 1120 assassination of Thomas Beckett (Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain) by the followers of Henry II. If you love history, you’ll love a visit to this cathedral in Kent.
For these reasons, we think it’s one of the best English cathedrals, and it’s also one of the oldest in England being founded as early as 597, and completely rebuilt between 1070 and 1077. In 1538, everyone’s favourite (and most temperamental!) king, Henry VIII, detroyed Becket’s shrine at the cathedral, but you can still learn more about Becket and the history if you visit.
Canterbury Cathedral is surrounded by the picturesque town of Canterbury, so you can make a day of your visit to this cathedral and see more in the area as there’s plenty to walk to nearby.
8. York Minster, Yorkshire
York Minster is the largest cathedral in England by volume, and one of the best English cathedrals by far if you are going purely by aesthetic. A bird’s eye view will show its cross shape, but even from the ground its length alone is something to marvel at. The structure can also be seen for miles around thanks to its height, and it’s no surprise to learn that it took over 250 years to complete the building process between 1220 and 1472.
York Minster has tonnes of fascinating features, so there’s likely something for all interests; it’s the second-largest Gothic cathedral of Northern Europe, people travel from all over to see its medieval stained-glass windows, and the interior is absolutely stunning and well-maintained, making it an easy choice for our list of the best English cathedrals.
Some of the fascinating history you might learn at York Minster includes the 1984 cathedral roof fire which broke out due to a lightning strike, and the famous Rose Window which features two red Lancaster roses and two red and white Tudor roses.
This cathedral is one of the first stops in our York Day Trip Itinerary: What to Do, See, Eat & Drink, so check it out if you’re visiting.
9. Salisbury Cathedral, Wiltshire
Salisbury Cathedral is a little more modest in its design, but this great example of early English architecture has a rich history that’s well worth the visit. If you like your cathedrals big and boastful though, you’ll be happy to know that Salisbury Cathedral actually has the tallest church spire in the United Kingdom.
Built between 1220 and 1258, it’s the tower that makes this cathedral a great day out. You can join the Tower Tour which takes you inside the interior of the hollow spire, to navigate its historic wooden scaffolding and learn all about what it took to build the cathedral.
If Wells Cathedral’s second oldest working clock in England impressed you, then you’ll love Salisbury Cathedral which is home to the official world’s oldest working clock, dating back to around 1386 AD. Despite its more humble aesthetic, this is definitely one of the best English cathedrals.
10. St. Paul’s Cathedral, London
You would be forgiven if you forgot that St. Paul’s Cathedral in London is in fact a cathedral, since it doesn’t quite resemble the more traditional cathedral designs you see on this list. Still, it’s actually one of the best cathedrals in the world, and one of our top 11 iconic landmarks in London.
It is believed four cathedrals took up this spot in the past, but the cathedral as it is today is the work of Sir Christopher Wren, one of the most famous architects in Britain. After the Great Fire of London, the cathedral was built between 1675 and 1710 and continues to be a prominent London landmark, playing host to the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana in 1981, and many more historic events.
Whether you appreciate it for its immense city architecture, or its significance throughout history, St. Paul’s Cathedral is undoubtedly one of the best English cathedrals to visit on your next day out.
Curious to see one of these amazing architectural marvels in person? There are so many to choose from in England, with our rich history offering many great spots to visit for your fix of history, architecture, culture and more.
If architecture in particular is your thing, you might be interested in checking out these 17 fascinating castles in England, or these 13 impressive stately homes in England for your next day out.
Quick List: 10 Best English Cathedrals to Marvel At
- Durham Cathedral, Durham
- Liverpool Anglican Cathedral, Merseyside
- Norwich Cathedral, Norfolk
- Wells Cathedral, Somerset
- Lincoln Cathedral, Lincolnshire
- Ely Cathedral, Cambridgeshire
- Canterbury Cathedral, Kent
- York Minster, Yorkshire
- Salisbury Cathedral, Wiltshire
- St. Paul’s Cathedral, London
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