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!

Its so lovely you are right about the light, I need another trip to that one lol, I love these little towns/ cities with these mesmerising cathedrals, St David's, Kirkwall, Wells and Dunblane all absolutely fascinating and mesmerising.😍

Worcester and Lichfield

That’s a myth, if you’re interested. In fact, the status of ‘city’ is awarded by the monarch. We are not a rational democratic system.
https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/what-makes-a-city

As I said upthread, Rochester is no longer a city as when the local towns merged into a Unitarian authority, someone forgot to reapply for its city status. There is a campaign to reinstate it.

someone forgot to reapply for its city status

Ha ha! I just read yesterday that Birmingham City Council sold a school by mistake 12 years ago but only realised recently! Paperwork eh?!

Anyway, I’m loving this thread, thank you everyone.

Durham. I went back there this year after last visiting thirty years ago. Besides the beauty of the place, its stunning architecture and lovely surroundings, one thing that really stood out for me was being warmly welcomed at the door with a smile and a chat - so different from the ticket booth and card machine which greets you at so many of our cathedrals

Absolutely love Llandaff and Worcester - and Guildford is pretty special too. We were there on a sunny spring day, and the light in the building, with all the blue and gold embroidered kneelers, is gorgeous.

Not in Halifax, no. Nearby. Happy Valley Land!

St Davids is one of my favourites. We were lucky enough to be there when the Welsh Youth Orchestra were rehearsing for a performance. The acoustics were amazing. We holiday in the CITY of St David’s every summer. It is the most beautiful place. I have whiled away hundreds of hours while my children have paddled in the stream at the bottom of the hill, just outside the cathedral. Also, the refectory is ace.

Bolton Abbey.

I used to go as a child. Took DH when he was still a boyfriend, 9am on a winters morning and the sun was shining so brightly but there was ice and mist everywhere. We stood on the stones in the middle of the river looking at it. It’s very Elven. Nobody else was around. Utterly magical.

Durham. No argument. <gavel>

Bit ironic, given your username...

The poster you were correcting didn't say 'City status IS determined by a cathedral," they said, "It always used to be the case that a city is determined by the existence of a cathedral," and the very 'proof' you linked to actually supported them, not you, "Historically, cities were settlements with a cathedral."

So, in this case, someone IS indeed wrong on the internet - you!

Difficult to decide which my favourite is as I love exploring cathedrals and each has its own story. I do like Wells, Salisbury and Liverpool both the Anglican and Metropolitan. Chester is also nice and not too big.

Liverpool Met

This thread is making me feel quite cultured as I have visited many of the cathedrals/religious buildings mentioned.

My mum was quite the culture vulture so we were dragged taken round many religious buildings and other buildings of importance in the UK and abroad as children.

I didn't appreciate it at the time, but I do now.

Not been around this thread for a while but delighted to see it’s still on the go!

Now I’m spoilt for choice. We’re lucky to have so many beautiful places to visit here.

Second this.

I love St David’s (and Pembrokeshire generally) I love how it just seems so disproportionate to a tiny city in a very sparse part of the country!

Yes, I’ve loved this thread. I’m not a person of faith but I do love cathedrals and churches and other places of worship. I’ve visited very many of the ones named in this thread but I’ve got a few more on my list.

Gosh well, as long as someone’s entertained. Formally, it’s down to the monarch.

Place marking to read later

We visited Ripon for the first time last month. The Cathedral is fabulous, I loved the tiny crypt! Lovely volunteers too