Your Favourite Cathedral

Durham Cathedral is absolutely divine with all its differently carved columns.
Carlisle Cathedral, which is local to me has a very beautiful east window which was recently voted Britain's favourite stained glass window, and of course, St. Paul's in London.

I would struggle to pick just one.

St.Pauls and Westminster Cathedral deserve a mention, I remember them from my school days. Attended a carol concert at Westminster Cathedral, the acoustics are amazing.

I have a soft spot for Chelmsford Cathedral, not as breathtaking as the others mentioned, but it feels homely to me.

Visited York Minster for the first time this year and was blown away. We attended one of the daytime prayer services, I was moved to tears.

Ely Cathedral and York Minster.

Two very beautiful buildings.

However, how lucky are we t have so man beautiful churches and cathedrals dotted across our lands.

Four years of walking in crocodile to and from my prep. school to Chelmsford, for Sunday morning service, did rather put me off the place at the time, GrannyGravy13. But attending an ordination service there a few years ago revealed a soft spot for it, in spite of my atheist convictions.

There is something very special about St David’s, because it has an air of mystery about it, when you walk down the hill to get there you feel you’ve stumbled into another, ancient world. Location is as important as interior and exterior beauty for a cathedral I think. My other favourite is Southwell Minster.

Ely and Salisbury. Happy memories of both.

GillyMo

Toledo is beautiful.

Our hotel room overlooked the roof of the cathedral!

I think they all have an appeal - all exude an air of calm.

I grew up in Derby and went to the cathedral often so it has quite a homely feel for me.

Living near to Leicester means that I have been to events at the Cathedral quite often. It really feels like part of the community and we have a king buried there.

Durham Cathedral is very special - not least because I spoke to Bryan Ferry there.

I echo the choice of Reims - beautiful.

I would love to see the Cathedral of Brasília (without tour busses) and Dili Cathedral – East Timor and (if it's still standing (?) St. Sophia Cathedral, Kiev – Ukraine

I love York and Lichfield - and Coventry Cathedral which is very special for the endurance, new architecture and history. I think it's very moving.

The Sagrada Familia had to have a mention as it is truly awesome - like dripped sand... and the modern work is beautiful too in a different but sympathetic way. I love it (when not too busy to enjoy it!
The Florence Duomo is up there (off season) too fot me.

Smaller churches can also be stunning, surprising or moving... but this is s thread about cathedrals so maybe for another time.

I don’t have one favourite but these I have visited and loved:

Durham
York
Salisbury
Wells
St David’s
Lincoln
Canterbury

All very beautiful. There will be others which I have yet to visit.

There are many beautiful ones abroad, too, of course.

Durham, Wells.

I forgot to mention Selby Abbey and Ripon Cathedral, too.

Worcester Cathedral

We hadnt planned to visit it. It was a spur of the moment decision as we were walking past and saw the doors wide open.
That was Easter Sunday or Monday, about 12 years ago.
As we went in, we were greeted and shown all around.

I am generally not a fan of such buildings.
They can make me feel uneasy in in a way that I can neither explain nor understand (though if i had to try, i would blame the coldness, the 'old' smell and their history which I 'feel' as almost a knot in the pit of my stomach).

But for some reason Worcester Cathedral gave me quite the opposite feeling that day. I remember it clearly as a light, warm and welcoming experience, one that has left a big impression on me.

I forgot to mention catholic Westminster Cathedral, not ancient like Westminster Abbey, nevertheless quite beautiful inside and out. The striped exterior reminds me of Brunelleschi's Duomo in Florence which I visited years ago, not fully appreciating it at the time suffering from culture overload. Having already done Rome before we arrived in Florence.

Not a cathedral, but I thought the Scrovegni Chapel in Padua was also very beautiful, starry ceiling and very old Giotto frescoes.

Sagrada Familia. I remember a couple walking up the steps in front of me. At the entrance they just stopped, completely. A few seconds later, I did exactly the same thing. I've never before seen such a beautiful interior.

I seldom go to cathedrals or churches, but I absolutely love Worcester Cathedral, Lichfield Cathedral and York Cathedral.

I'm an atheist, so I don't go for the religious part, but just the buildings themselves. Utterly gorgeous! And I always make sure to buy something from their shop to help support them.

It's difficult to pick a favourite because they are all beautiful and unique.

Lichfield with its three spires, Gloucester, Hereford is just lovely and of course houses the Mappa Mundi as Luckygirl mentioned. St David's in its unique setting. Exeter (graduation ceremony) brings back memories.
Coventry is thought-provoking.
Truro has an amazing Rose Window.

These are the ones that immediately come to mind but all are a testament to the architects and the building skills of hundreds of years ago.

Beverley, a Minster but as big as lots of cathedrals - very special atmosphere.

Exeter cathedral is not far away from me and it is beautiful.
I see it fairly regularly. It has an air of peace and tranquillity, both inside and out.
I managed to go there on my wedding day, before flying off on my honeymoon.
I also very much like St. Paul's in London.

Chester and Durham.

The Anglican Cathedral in Liverpool.

Salisbury
Durham
St Magnus (Kirkwall, Orkney)
Glasgow

Oh yes, forgot about Liverpool, but I would choose the amazing Roman Catholic Cathedral.

The Sagrada’s in a separate league, but I did think we were doing homegrown here.
It’s Durham’s position too with the view of it from the riverbanks. Walking, it’s up Sadler Street, then right onto the short, but cobbled Owengate, until it opens out onto the Palace Green - and the audible gasps/wows from first time visitors.

Lichfield,where I live.