What is your favourite UK Cathedral (or Minster/Abbey)?

[Littledidsheknow]

The companion thread to my “favourite castles”thread!
Which is your favourite UK cathedral?
I love side chapels, bell towers, stained glass, cloisters, burial places, flying buttresses, crypts, interesting history… all the classic stuff!

I’ve particularly enjoyed Lincoln, York Minster, Winchester, Wells and Salisbury in recent years.
I used to live in Worcester, and enjoyed popping in there after a bit of shopping, too.

Please recommend your favourites! Thanks!

My favourite of his so far is The Offing, which I loved deeply, so it has a lot to live up to I do love a cathedral setting though; it's right up my alley.

I also loved the Offing, this is very different, but not in a bad way! I think he’s a remarkable writer.

Just to add:

The Rosslyn Chapel
Halifax Minster (where Gentleman Jack has a tombstone)
St Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh

Is that the one they call Paddy's Wigwam?

Yes, it is. It’s a beautiful building and free to enter but I would recommend paying to do the tour of the crypt. Also, if you are in Liverpool, the Anglican cathedral is well worth a visit, as are its gardens with their own natural water spring. The Whispering Arch is good fun in the Anglican cathedral. The two cathedrals are literally connected by a street named Hope.

Yes. The crypt is definitely worth it.

@CharityShopCharlie Look at the beautiful art in the RC Liverpool cathedral. It’s very good! The central stained glass installation is a masterpiece. It’s stunning.

I really fancy a visit.

If you do, I strongly recommend a visit to this vastly underrated museum, which is only a few minutes’ walk away from the Metropolitan Cathedral. It was designed by Alfred Waterhouse (he of the Natural History Museum/St Pancras station fame). It is an absolute gem.

https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/victoria-gallery-and-museum/

Is that the building that inspired the term redbrick university?

Well, I’ll be danged! I never knew that. Yes, you are right, I’ve just searched it. It is the most beautiful building with an eclectic archive and an absolutely stunning art collection. It’s not on the beaten path so it’s never too busy. Also, the cafe is rather fine. I just remember sitting my finals exams here. On Saturday mornings!

I'm in Liverpool next week. I'll add this to my list. Thank you.

St Magnus cathedral in Kirkwall, Orkney is very special - and a bonus is a chance to visit to the gorgeous Orkney islands! Highly recommended!

I am lucky enough to belong to a visiting choir - we sing in cathedrals when their own choir is on holiday. I’ve sung in pretty much all the ones you’ve mentioned (and a load more :-)) except Salisbury. I’m off to Hereford in a couple of weeks so I’ll soon add a new one to my list.

Definitely pay to visit the Chained Library.

The ‘tiny market town’ of Ripon is actually a city (1865)…😉 (the locals are very offended if ‘town’ is used 😊)

(Ripon has the added bonus of Fountains Abbey very nearby - walking distance - on Boxing Day their is a pilgrimage from RC to FA, with a carol service at the abbey)

www.visitripon.co.uk

It's a lovely cathedral. We went to Fountains Abbey while staying in Ripon and couldn't get a signal. Getting back to the car, phones went crazy as the queen had died.

@ThePieceHallI agree. The building is lovely and the cafe is good too.

It always used to be the case that a city is determined by the existence of a cathedral. Ripon is a city.

Hereford also has a really good cafe in the cloisters, and a beautiful modern stained glass window dedicated to the SAS.

beautiful modern stained glass window dedicated to the SAS.
Oh yes, I'd forgotten about that, it's lovely. I didn't know it had a cafe though.

Hereford also has outstanding stained glass windows by Thomas Denny in the Audley Chantry. They are about the Herefordshire poet Thomas Traherne and the colours are outstanding. There’s even a Hereford Bull. They are a visual treat.

I’m off to Hereford next week as it happens. A cathedral visit is on the cards (not my first, here’s Elgar looking up at it and contemplating the renovation works).

York Minster. I find it a very moving experience whenever I visit.

Durham. Just stunning. Unfortunately I live in Cornwall so another visit is not planned for a good while yet.

Closer to home Wells is beautiful, and Exeter. Sherborne Abbey is a bit unexciting from the outside but wonderful inside.

Rievaulx Abbey is also a magical place