Find places to visit in Britain by name, location, type of attraction, or other keyword.
This listings directory of over 950 entries is being phased out.
It now excludes places and things of interest in North East England.
These can be found in ABAB’s Places.
Places to visit in Yorkshire will be moved to ABAB’s Places during May.
Tap/Click ‘find listings’ for a detailed search – or just have a browse.
Ripon Cathedral, or more properly the Cathedral Church of St Peter and St Wilfred, was founded by St Wilfred in the 7th century, on the site of an earlier monastery. The original crypt of St Wilfred's Saxon church still survives - one of the oldest church buildings in Britain - beneath the later medieval Gothic building. The cathedral has several notable features, in addition to its crypt, not least the beautiful rood screen and quire. There is also a fascinating exhibition of the treasury in the library, which includes the Ripon Jewel. The cathedral is not too hemmed in by the surrounding city; it's a very pleasant spot with tempting cafes opposite.
Ripon
York Minster dominates the City of York, literally – it is allegedly the largest church in northern Europe - and spiritually. The Cathedral and Metropolitical Church of St Peter in York is the seat of the Archbishop of York, Bishop of the Diocese of York and the second highest cleric in the Church of England after the Archbishop of Canterbury. There has been a church on the same spot since 627AD - buit for the baptism of King Edwin of Northumbria - but the site of York Minster has been built on since at least Roman times. Most of the present building was constructed between 1220 and 1472, restored after damaging fires in the 19th century and, more recently, in 1984.
Highlights include: just standing in the enormous nave; wondering how the beautiful roof of the Chapter House holds up; checking out the kings on the King’s (Quire) Screen; looking at the stained glass – they say that York Minster’s 128 windows hold more than 50% of England’s medieval stained glass. There is a ‘Revealing York’ museum in the undercroft.
Entry to York Minster is relatively expensive.
The spectacular ruins of Elgin Cathedral still impress. The cathedral was established in 1224 on land granted by King Alexander II and was dedicated to the Holy Trinity. Though suffering fire and, most famously, sacking by the Wolf of Badenoch, Alexander Stewart, the Earl of Buchan, the cathedral continued to grow and thrive, and was known as ‘the lantern of the north’, until the Scottish Reformation of in 1560, when the cathedral was abandoned. Gradually, it fell into an ever-worsening state, until it began to receive some care and attention in the 19th C. Highlights of a visit now include the magnificent 13th C west front, octagonal chapter house, carved stonework and Scotland’s tallest gravestone (5m high and dedicated to the Anderson family).
Elgin
St Giles' Cathedral is the City Church or High Kirk of Edinburgh and the mother church of Presbyterianism. It was founded c1124, though little, if anything, of that building remains visible. Probably its most recognisable feature is its crown spire, a landmark on the Royal Mile between the Palace of Holyrood and Edinburgh Castle. Particular features include:
the Chapel of the Order of the Thistle - Scotland's chivalric company of knights, appointed by the Monarch;
a 6 foot tall statue of John Knox, leading Protestant reformer and probably St Giles' most famous minister (who was also buried in the churchyard);
a Copy of the National Covenant;
beautiful stained glass windows;
and at least 66 green men...bet you can't spot them all.
Edinburgh
The cathedral that often gets missed, because everyone tends to flock to Westminster or St Paul's. But Southwark Cathedral is a beautiful oasis of calm and claims to be the earliest Gothic church in London, dating from 1220. Situated adjacent to London Bridge in an area that used to be renowned for its vice, it has a fascinating history and numerous features, including a soaring nave, a wonderful altar screen that dates from the 16th century and several interesting tombs. It became a cathedral in 1905 and its full name is the Cathedral Church of St Saviour and Mary Overie.
St Paul's is the seat of the Bishop of London and one of London's iconic landmarks. It stands at the top of Ludgate Hill, the highest point in the City of London, where it is believed the first church, dedicated to St Paul the Apostle, was built on the same spot in 604AD. The present Baroque cathedral was designed by Sir Christopher Wren and replaced 'Old St Paul's', which was destroyed in the Great Fire of London in 1666. It was built between 1675 and 1708. It famously survived the Blitz of 1940/41 and is the burial place of two of Britain's greatest heroes, Horatio Nelson and the Duke of Wellington (and Christopher Wren). The funeral services of Winston Churchill and Margaret Thatcher were held at St Paul's. It is on most visitors' 'must see' list, but the Cathedral, like Westminster Abbey, charges a hefty entrance fee.
Westminster Abbey has been at the centre of English, and British, state occasions - coronations, weddings, funerals, services of commemoration - since William the Conqueror was crowned there on Christmas Day 1066. The Abbey was founded by King Edward the Confessor in the 11th century, though the present building is largely 13th-14th century, with the addition of 18th century towers. The interior of the abbey is breathtaking and contains the tombs of many of England's great monarchs, including Edward I and Elizabeth I, as well as memorials honouring heroes and poets - and the tomb of the Unknown Warrior. A sense of history is all around you.
However, entry is expensive and it can get incredibly crowded. Photography is allowed, within reason. However, you can download images from the Abbey's website - as shown here - which are copyright Dean and Chapter of Westminster.
Westminster
Lincoln Cathedral, dedicated to St Mary, is a magnificent Gothic building which, together with the castle, dominates the city. It dates from the 11th century and is believed to be the fourth largest cathedral in area in Britain (after Liverpool, St Paul's and York Minster). For almost 240 years, from 1311 to 1549, when its central spire collapsed, Lincoln Cathedral was the tallest building in the world. Highlights include many ornate carvings, two enormous rose windows, the treasury and medieval libraries. Notable burials/tombs include Katherine Swynford, mistress then wife of John of Gaunt, the cadaver tomb of Bishop Richard Fleming and the entrails of Eleanor of Castile, first wife of Edward I. The Cathedral also owns one of four surviving copies of Magna Carta from 1215, on display in a purpose-built secure facility at Lincoln Castle.
Lincoln
Leicester Cathedral is dedicated to St Martin, a 4th century Roman soldier, and possibly stands on the site of a Roman temple and Anglo-Saxon church. The first Bishop of Leicester was Cuthwine, in 680AD, but the last Saxon bishop fled from the Danes in the 9th century and, for a thousand years, Leicester had no bishop - until the church of St Martins was made Leicester Cathedral in 1927. The Cathedral is probably best known since 2015 as the burial place of Richard III and there are a number of exhibits (as well as his tomb) relating to the king in the church, including modern stained glass windows depicting his life in St Katherine's Chapel. Other features include the medieval north porch and the new cathedra and cross. Though the original church of St Martin's was built by the Normans, most of the current building, including the 220 foot high spire, is Victorian. Keen and helpful guides...it's almost dangerous on your own.
Leicester
Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion and seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury. The Cathedral was founded by St Augustine in 597AD, though the present building dates mostly from the late medieval period. Archbishop Thomas Becket was murdered here in 1170 and it thereafter became a place of pilgrimage. The Cathedral is a holy place and part of a World Heritage Site.
If your favourite attraction is not listed yet, and you have a good quality digital photograph of it that you are able to freely send, please get in touch.