The Most Famous & Beautiful English Cathedrals
England is home to a splendid collection of religious buildings, but none are more impressive than its famous cathedrals, one of the largest draws for visitors. Here then are the best cathedrals in England for you to enjoy and, if you are lucky, visit…
As well as hosting the weddings and funerals of the kings and queens of England, the best English cathedrals, as well as smaller churches, chapels, and crypts have been featured in famous works of art and literature as well as in popular Hollywood film franchises.
Notably, the incredible Gloucester Cathedral was featured as a set in several of the Harry Potter films and is high on the list to visit for any Harry Potter fans.
England’s finest churches are typically in Norman or Gothic architecture, but a few are more modern, featuring works of modern art or neoclassical architecture.
Visitors may also enjoy free choral performances at several of these sites, or view important sacred and historic relics, like two of the four surviving copies of the Magna Carta, which turned 800 years old in 2015. These copies can be viewed at Salisbury Cathedral and Lincoln Cathedral.
In addition to the rich history and culture, you’ll find while visiting these important sites; the cathedrals can be a wonderful place to dine.
Within the crypt, near the magnificent tombs of Admiral Lord Nelson and the Duke of Wellington, the café and restaurant at St. Paul’s Cathedral specializes in English cuisine, including locally-sourced honey from bees in Regent’s Park.
We’ve assembled a list of our favorite English cathedrals–you’re sure to be fascinated by history, culture, and care taken to build and preserve these pillars of the community.
The Best Cathedrals In England
1. York Minster
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We’ve featured York on this site several times before, and there’s so much to love about the place but it is the Minster which is the city’s most important cultural site.
Towering over the city, the former priory (minsters are actually former monasteries) can be seen from miles away and is a worthy start to our list.
The Cathedral and Metropolitical Church of Saint Peter in York, more commonly known as York Minster, is the cathedral of York, and is one of the largest cathedrals in Northern Europe.
2. Canterbury Cathedral
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Canterbury is home to the Archbishop of Canterbury, the highest office in the Church of England and the head of the worldwide Anglican Communion.
The cathedral, which is one of the oldest and most famous Christian structures in England, is also the scene of one of the most infamous assassinations in English history – that of Thomas Beckett by the followers of his adversary, Henry II in 1120.
Aside from the cathedral, its home, the pretty town of Canterbury is well worth strolling around.
We’ve done a separate post on Canterbury Cathedral (click on link).
3. Liverpool Catholic Cathedral
As the Liverpool folk song goes: “If you want a cathedral, we’ve got one to spare…” Liverpool is home to both an Anglican and a Roman Catholic cathedral, which owes to a large Irish population.
The Catholic cathedral is of modern construction and was finished in 1967 and is a proud symbol of the sectarian harmony achieved in a city with a long history of Catholic-Protestant tension.
Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral is the seat of the Archbishop of Liverpool and features a circular, modern, yet neoclassical design.
4. Christchurch Cathedral of Oxford
This unusual cathedral is also part Chrischurch college founded by Cardinal Wolsey back in Henry VIII’s reign. It’s one of the 40 or so Oxford colleges, but the only one to house a cathedral.
The nave, choir, main tower, and transepts are of late Norman architecture. The cathedral also features Perpendicular style architecture and a large rose window.
5. Coventry Cathedral
Coventry Cathedral has an interesting history.
The original cathedral was bombed during the second world war, resulting in its near complete destruction.