Day Trips to Cities in England with Big Cathedrals

York, Durham, & Liverpool, England

I’m in the process of wrapping up my posts from our time in the UK. I have photos and stories to share from the three cities where we did some day trips in late-October, but they weren’t enough to each garner a post of their own. So I started wracking my brain for how to tie them together, and I quickly came to a unifying link. So, what do the towns/cities/villages of York, Durham, and Liverpool have in common? Other than the fact that they’re all wonderful places for a wee day trip, they all also are home to some pretty impressive and monumental cathedrals.

If you’re at all familiar with English cities, you’ll know that the presence of a huge cathedral isn’t anything out of the ordinary.  Like Scottish castles, English Cathedrals are overwhelmingly abundant. While we only visited a handful, these three cathedrals stood out as being particularly impressive. I hope you’ll indulge me as I try to wax poetic about our day trips to cities in England with big cathedrals.

York

We were only in York for a short afternoon, but the sun was shining (a rarity in October!) and we enjoyed wandering around the narrow cobbled streets and admiring the cute storefronts and shops. We even spent some time in the Railway Museum! Definitely a must-see if you’re a train lover (or want to escape the rain from outside!).

I’m glad that Mac and I arrived downtown mid-morning. We were able to walk the walls surrounding the city, and take in the market and other shops while the town was still relatively quiet. Things got quite chaotic and crowded by mid-day as fellow travellers and tourists filled the streets. Despite the crowds, it’s hard to ignore the beauty and charm of York.

Eventually we passed by the giant cathedral and all its glory. York Minster Cathedral has been a presence in some form or anther on its current location since the 600’s. Through various fires and periods of disrepair, the cathedral has been rebuilt into the impressive structure it is today. The cathedral is visible from nearly every vantage point in the city. Although we didn’t go inside, it’s hard to deny its commanding size and beauty.

Durham

Our brief afternoon in Durham was spent with our CouchSurfing host-turned-friend en route to Helmsley. The main purpose of our visit was to check out the Durham Cathedral. This UNESCO World Heritage site is home to the shrine of St. Cuthbert and construction began way back in 1093. The body of St. Cuthbert was taken from the Holy Island of Lindisfarne and transported over the course of several hundred years eventually to be laid to rest in Durham Cathedral.

Unfortunately pictures are not allowed inside, but I can tell you that it was absolutely stunning. It’s so large that it was hard to get a grasp of its size. The interior columns are intricately detailed, and the vaulted ceilings only add to the immenseness of the space.

We spent an hour or so wandering around the town and were able to get a view of the cathedral from across the river. From afar the cathedral was even more impressive!

Liverpool

During our week-long house sit near Warrington, I left Mac alone with the three pooches one day and spent the afternoon in Liverpool. Admittedly, I didn’t see many of the main attractions often associated with Liverpool (namely, anything associated with The Beatles), but I did enjoy my free afternoon quasi-aimlessly wandering the streets. My first stop was to the Liverpool Cathedral – the largest one in England. And let me tell you, it. is. LARGE.

At nearly 200m long, it’s the world’s longest cathedral, and by volume, it ranks as the world’s fifth-largest cathedral. It’s definitely the biggest cathedral in Britain, and I was continually impressed and awed by its size.

After exploring the nooks and crannies of the cathedral, I made my way to the waterfront and strolled along the promenade. The gloomy weather had me ducking into a vegan cafe to spend a few hours sketching and chatting with some fellow travellers. I walked along the waterfront and took in some of the art installations there before taking the train back to Mac and the pooches.

Our day trips to cities in England with big cathedrals might not have had the glamour of Scottish beaches, or a vibrant London, but they included some of what I liked best about England. Quaint narrow streets, charming cafes, and a day spent exploring and learning about new corners of this small island.

What’s the biggest cathedral you’ve ever been in?

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