All of England’s cities contain at least one cathedral. But some cathedrals dominate a city more than others, and these places are often known as Cathedral Cities.
English cathedral cities tend to be smaller towns that grew up around an ancient and magnificent cathedral, which plays a central role in the life of the city.
They aren’t places such as London or Liverpool which, although they contain great cathedrals (two in Liverpool’s case), have a lot more to them. The Cathedral is just one of many things that makes them great.
Here are what we believe to be the best of these Cathedral Cities.
Truro
Truro Cathedral in Cornwall is the newest cathedral on our list.
It was built and consecrated just over 100 years ago – it opened in 1910 – to accommodate the new diocese of Truro, which covers Cornwall.
Despite its age, it is built in an old style – the Gothic Revival style popular with many Victorian and Edwardian buildings. Standing in the middle of town near the river Truro it is a magnificent sight from the water.
Wells
Wells is a small city in Somerset, near Bath, dominated by Wells Cathedral.
The Cathedral was started in 1175 in the ‘Early English’, a reasonably simple, style.
The nearby Cathedral School’s choristers are particularly famous and, as well as providing the music for the Cathedrals services, perform internationally too.
Their Sunday morning procession from the school to the Cathedral has been a tradition for years.
Canterbury
Although a larger place than many on this list – it is the main city of Kent in England’s South East – Canterbury too is dominated by its Cathedral.
Canterbury Cathedral is perhaps the most important Christian site in the country as the base of the Church of England and its head, the Archbishop of Canterbury.
It was also the site of one the most infamous murders in English history, that of Thomas Beckett, then Archbishop of Canterbury.
The killing was perpetrated in 1170 by Henry II’s soldiers (history is divided on whether they were acting on orders to “rid [him] of this troublesome priest”).
Pilgrimages to Canterbury became common after the murder – Thomas was canonised and a shrine to his memory was situated in the cathedral.
They became the focus of Geoffrey Chaucer’s famous 14th century stories, ‘The Canterbury Tales’.
Winchester
This lovely and historic cathedral city was the capital of the mediavel province of Wessex during King Alfred’s time (and so is often called the first capital of England as Alfred is sometimes seen is the de-facto first King).
It’s home to the gorgeous Winchester Cathedral and one of the top (and posest schools in England, Winchester college).
Exeter
Exeter is the county town of Devon, the South West county famous for its cream teas, beach holidays and rolling countryside.
The pretty city is on the River Exe which winds its way through the town on its way to the Exe estuary (at the appropriately named Exmouth) on the south Devon coast.
Exeter Cathedral is in the centre of town. Built in the 13th century it replaced the original Norman church on the site with a new building in the ‘Decorated Gothic’ style.
It’s now the seat of the Exeter diocese and home to the Bishop of Exeter.
York
Another large town – it was a borderline inclusion to this list as there so much more to York – containing one of the great churches of Europe: York Minster.
(A Minster is a cathedral that used to be a monastery).
The Minster towers over the medieval city centre – it can be seen from miles away over the flat Vale of York – and is one of the most popular tourist destinations on northern England.
In addition to the Minster, York has a fine Roman and Viking past, some fantastic medieval streets, and a lovely castle.
Ripon
Another Yorkshire cathedral city, but much smaller than York.
However it still contains one of the North’s finest buildings, Ripon Cathedral.
Gloucester
Gloucester Cathedral’s magnificence was recognised by the Harry Potter movie producers who based many of the