How to holiday in the UKUK Cathedral cities

Chester

Visit the UK's cathedral cities for startlingly beautiful architecture

This compact and busy little shire city may not have the best-looking cathedral, but taken as a whole this is a handsome gem packed with historical interest, good shopping and quirky architecture.

What to see and do

Chester Cathedral, Tel 01244 324756, www.chestercathedral.com
Open daily 9am-5pm, Sundays 12.30pm-5pm Admission (including GuidePORT audio tour) Adults £4 (Concession £3, Children 10-16 years £1.50).

Grosvenor Museum, 27 Grosvenor Street, Tel 01244 402008, www.grosvenormuseum.co.uk
Featuring carved tombstones. Open Mon-Sat 10.30am-5pm, Sun 1pm-4pm Admission free.

Chester Zoo, Upton-by-Chester, 01244 380 280, www.chesterzoo.org
This is a fine zoo with many endangered species, including meercats and black rhinos. If you are not taking a picnic, the better restaurant is the Victorian house near the lions, Oakfield House. Open daily from 10am. Closing times vary with season. Admission Adult £14.95 (Concessions £13.50, Children 3-15 years £10.95).

Useful information

Visitor Centre, Vicar’s Lane, Tel 01244 402445, www.visitchester.com.
Walking tours can be booked here daily, departing at 10.30 from the Town Hall information centre.

Derry

Perched on a hill above the banks of the River Foyle, Derry is split into three areas – the Catholic Bogside, Protestant Waterside and the mixed commercial centre. The only remaining completely walled city in Ireland, St Columb’s Cathedral, the city’s oldest building, was designed in Planter’s Gothic style and claims to have the oldest peal of bells in Ireland.

What to see and do

St Columb’s Cathedral and the Chapterhouse Museum, Tel 028 7126 7313, www.stcolumbscathedral.org
Open daily 9am-5pm Admission and tours are £1.50 per person. Tours last 30 minutes and run on an impromptu basis every day until 4pm.

The Tower Museum, Union Hall Place, Tel 028 7137 2411, www.derrycity.gov.uk/museums
Tells the story of Derry. Open Tues-Sat 10am-5pm (closing times vary with season) Admission £4.

The Museum of Free Derry, 55 Glenfada Park, Tel 028 7136 0880, www.museumoffreederry.org
Open Mon-Fri 9.30am- 4.30pm, Sat 1pm-4pm (April–Sept); Sun 1pm-4pm (July-Sept) Admission Adults £3 (Concessions £2).

Useful information

Tourist Information Centre, Tel 028 7137 7577, www.derryvisitor.com.

Lincoln

The old town of Lincoln is compact and easily toured in a day. A weekend allows a little further exploration down the steep lanes and into the more modern parts. Lincoln’s startlingly beautiful
Cathedral built over two centuries following the Norman Conquest, is undoubtedly one of England’s finest. A stroll around the surrounding lawns and streets confirms both its staggering size and architectural merit.

What to see and do

Lincoln Cathedral, Tel 01522 561600, www.lincolncathedral.com
Open summer Mon-Fri 7.15am-8pm, Sat-Sun 7.15am-6pm; winter Mon-Sat 7.15am-6pm, Sun 7.15am-5pm Admission Adult £4 (Concessions £3, Children 5-16 years £1). Roof tours, floor and tower tours are bookable at the main desk inside the cathedral. Alternatively, phone 01522 561600 or email visitors@lincolncathedral.com.

Floor tours are daily (Mon-Sat) at 11am, 1pm and 3pm Apr-Sep, then 11am and 2pm Oct-Mar. Roof tours are at 11am and 2pm on Tues, Thurs and Sat. 2pm on Mon, Wed and Fri.

The Castle, CastleHill, Tel 01522 511068, www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/lincolncastle
Open Daily 10am-6pm (May to August), 10am-5pm (April to Sept), closes at 4pm in winter Admission Adult £4 (Concessions and Children £2.65).

The Collection, Dane’s Terrace, Tel 01522 550990, www.thecollection.lincoln.museum
Open daily 10am-4pm Admission free.

Museum of Lincolnshire Life, Burton Road, Tel 01522 528448, www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/museumOflincolnshirelife
Open Apr-Sep daily, 10am-4pm; Oct-March Mon-Sat 10am-4pm Admission Adults £2.25 (Concessions £1.50).

Ellis’s Windmill, Burton Road, Tel 01522 528448
A working flour mill close to the Museum of Lincolnshire Life. Open Apr-Sep Sat-Sun 1pm-5pm; Oct-April Suns only 1pm-dusk Admission Adults £1 (Children 65p).

Useful information

Tourist Information Centres, 9 Castle Hill, Cathedral Quarter, and 21 The Cornhill (High Street Quarter) Tel 01522 873213/873256, www.lincoln.gov.uk.
Time Travel passes are available here. Three-day adult pass, £9.99.

St Andrews

Perched on the western point of a sweeping sandy bay, the sedate city of St Andrews, dramatically overlooked by the impressive remains of its medieval cathedral and castle, is Scotland’s oldest and most prominent university town – and the centre of the world for the golfing fraternity.

What to see and do

The Castle, Tel 01334 477196, www.visit-standrews.co.uk and www.historic-scotland.gov.uk
Pass by effigies of the more infamous St Andrews’ historic residents at the visitors’ centre, before entering the castle. Once inside be sure to visit the claustrophobic bottle dungeon (prisoners were lowered into a room carved out of the rock through a cylindrical stone funnel, shaped like the neck of a bottle), and a children’s favourite, the mine and countermine, built during the siege of 1546-7. 

Open March-Sept daily 9.30am-5.30pm, closes at 4.30pm during October; Nov-March daily except Thursdays and Fridays 9.30am-4.30pm Admission Adult £5.20 (Concessions £4.20 and Children £2.60). Combined Castle and Cathedral ticket: Adult £7.20, Concession £5.20 and Children £3.60.

The Cathedral, Tel 01334 472563, www.historic-scotland.gov.uk
A highpoint of the cathedral is the 100-foot high tower, all that’s left of St Rule’s Church. Another treasure is housed in the museum: the 8th-century Pictish sepulchre with its well-preserved friezes. Exploring the grounds is free. Open March-Sept daily 9.30am-5.30pm, closes at 4.30pm during October; Nov–March daily except Thursday and Friday 9.30am-4.30pm Admission Adult £4.20 (Concessions £3.20, Children £2.10). Combined Cathedral and Castle ticket Adult: £7.20, Concession £5.20 and Children £3.60.

The St Andrews Preservation Trust Museum and Garden, 12 North Street, Tel 01334 477629 www.standrewspreservationtrust.org
A neat 17th-century cottage has excellent mock-ups of a Victorian-Edwardian chemist’s shop and 1950’s grocers and next to the house at one end of the garden is a two-seater privy. Open Daily 2pm-5pm during exhibitions (Feb-July, Sept-Nov) and by appointment at other times. Admission free.

The British Golf Museum, Bruce Embankment, Tel 01334 460046, www.britishgolfmuseum.co.uk
Full of golfing memorabilia. Open March-Oct Mon-Sat 9.30am-5.30pm, Sun 10am-5pm, Nov-March daily 10am-4pm Admission Adults £5.50 (Concessions £4.50, Children 6-15 years £2.90).

St Andrews Aquarium, The Scores, Tel 01334 474786, www.standrewsaquarium.co.uk
Fascinating aquatic life at the beachside aquarium. Open Mon-Fri 10am–4pm, Sat-Sun 10am-5pm; Admission Adult £6.20 (Concessions £5.50, Children £4.40).

St Salvator’s College and Chapel, North Street, Tel 01334 464010, www.saint-andrews.co.uk  
Wander around St Andrews’ oldest surviving college and visit its ornate chapel. Open unrestricted hours Admission free to grounds, entrance to buildings not allowed.

St Mary’s College, South Street, Tel 01334 462852, www.st-andrews.ac.uk/~www_sd
See the thorn tree planted by Mary Queen of Scots. Open College gates closed from 6pm onwards.
Admission free to grounds, entrance to buildings not allowed.

St Andrews Botanic Garden, Tel 01334 476452, www.st-andrews-botanic.org
St Andrews’ hidden gem is a superb ecologically-themed garden outside the town centre. Open summer daily10am-7pm; winter daily 10am-4pm Admission Adult £2 (Children 5-16 years £1).

Useful information

Tourist Information Centre, 70 Market Street, Tel 01334 472021, www.standrews.co.uk.
There are some lovely walks and cycle paths (for bike hire, visit www.scotland-inverness.co.uk/cycle) around St Andrews.

St Davids

The charming and orderly St Davids, reputed to be Britain’s smallest city, is situated on the coast in the Pembrokeshire National Park. When you step through the ancient stone gateway of Porth y Twr at the centre of town, you experience one of those eureka moments.

Reclining at the bottom of a valley is the great expanse of a medieval cathedral with its anchored central tower and, next to it, the ruins of the Bishop’s Palace.

What to see and do

St Davids Cathedral, The Close, Tel 01437 720199/720204 (guided tours 01437 721715) www.stdavidscathedral.org.uk
Open Mon–Sat 8.30am-6pm, Sun 12.45pm-5.45pm Admission free, but a donation is requested. Cathedral Library and Treasury free. Photography and video charge from £1.50-£3.

Porth y Twr, The Close, Tel 01437 720199, www.stdavidscathedral.org.uk
The medieval tower gatehouse above the cathedral was restored in 2001 and now houses an exhibition about the cathedral. Open daily 10.30am-5.30pm Admission £1

The Bishop’s Palace, Tel 01437 720517, www.cadw.wales.gov.uk
Exploring the extensive ruins of the palace is a delight. Open Apr-May daily 9.30am-5pm (6pm June-Sep), Nov-March 9.30am-4pm Mon-Sat; Sun 11am-4pm Admission Adults £3.10 (Concessions £2.70).

Useful information

Tourist Information Centre, I High Street, Tel 01437 720392, www.visitpembrokeshire.com.
For details on Pembrokeshire National Park contact either the tourist office or the National Park Authority (Tel 0845 3457275, www.pcnpa.org.uk). For additional information on the park and the coastal path visit www.walesdirectory.co.uk.

The surrounding countryside along the coast is ideal for walking and cycling (for bike hire contact the tourist board or visit www.touristnetuk.com).

Salisbury

The meeting point of five Roman roads and five rivers, the medieval market town of Salisbury has played host to Romans, Saxons and Normans. The early gothic cathedral is a showstopper, and there’s plenty to attract a 21st century traveller.

Salisbury Cathedral boasts Britain’s largest cloisters, oldest clock and tallest spire. There is an original copy of the Magna Carta (as with Lincoln castle). For those who can manage 332 steps, the cathedral rooftop tour provides an alternative perspective on this glorious structure.

What to see and do

Salisbury Cathedral, Tel 01722 555120, www.salisburycathedral.org.uk
Guided tours of the cathedral are free from 10am-4pm and booking is not necessary. Open summer 7.15am-7.15pm, evensong is at 5.30pm daily Admission free, but a £4 donation is requested.

Salisbury Cathedral rooftop tours, Booking line 01722 555156, www.salisburycathedral.org.uk
Rooftop tours are not suitable for those suffering from vertigo, or who are unable to climb the 332 steps unassisted. Admission Adult £6.50 (Concessions and Children £5.50) Tours last between 90 minutes and 2 hours), at least once a day.

Salisbury and South Wiltshire Museum, King’s House, The Close, Tel 01722 332151, www.salisburymuseum.org.uk
Features a fascinating exhibit contextualising Stonehenge. It’s also superb for children – the costume gallery contains mini-Viking and Elizabethan outfits. Open Mon-Sat 10am-5pm, Thursday evening (July-Aug) 5pm-7pm; Sun (July-Aug) 2pm-5pm. Admission Adults £5 (Concessions £3.50, Children £2).

Mompesson House, The Close, Tel 01722 335659 (information line 01722 420980), www.nationaltrust.org.uk
A perfect example of a Queen Anne townhouse, which featured in some scenes from Ang Lee’s 1995 adaptation of Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility. Open March-Nov, 11am-5pm (closed Thursdays and Fridays) Admission Adults £4.95 (Children £2.45). There is a reduced rate of £1 when arriving by public transport.

Wardrobe Military Museum, 58 The Close, Tel 01722 419419, www.thewardrobe.org.uk
A history of redcoat infantry. Open April-Nov daily, 10am-5pm (Except Feb-March and Nov closed on Mondays) Admission Adults £3.50 (Concessions £2.40, Children £1.50). Garden only entrance £1.50.

Old Sarum, Tel 01722 335398, www.english-heritage.org.uk/oldsarum
This Iron Age hill-fort, which sits high above Salisbury’s chalk plains, was home to Salisbury’s first cathedral in the 11th century. Open March - June and Sept 10am-5pm, July – Aug 9am – 6pm, Oct 10am – 4pm and the rest of year 11am-3pm Admission Adult £3 (Concessions £2.40, Children £1.50).

Useful information 

Tourist Information Centre, Fish Row, Tel 01722 334956, www.visitsalisbury.com.

The tourist information centre can provide information about attractions to visit in the surrounding Wiltshire countryside. 

These include prehistoric Stonehenge (Tel 0870 333 1181, www.english-heritage.org.uk/stonehenge), the stately homes of Wilton House (Tel 01722 746700, www.wiltonhouse.com), Stourhead (Tel 01747 841152, www.nationaltrust.org.uk), and Longleat with its safari park (Tel 01985 844400, www.longleat.co.uk) and Salisbury Race Course (Tel 01722 326461, www.salisburyracecourse.co.uk).

The tourist information centre organises a 90 minute walking tour of Salisbury’s historic city centre with Blue Badge Guides daily at 11am March - Oct, Adult £3.50 (Children £1.50) Tel 01722320349, www.salisburycityguides.co.uk).