15 Churches in the UK Worth Your Visit

The British landscape is dotted with thousands of beautiful stone churches, from tiny village chapels to grand medieval cathedrals. These amazing churches in the UK stand as remarkable time capsules of British history, art, and faith.

Many of these sacred buildings have stood for hundreds of years, some dating back nearly a millennium. This guide covers 15 exceptional churches in the UK that deserve a spot on your travel itinerary when visiting Great Britain.

15 Best Churches in the UK to Visit

1. Westminster Abbey

Westminster Abbey stands as perhaps the most famous church in the UK. Located in the heart of London, this spectacular Gothic church has witnessed nearly every royal coronation since 1066 and many royal weddings, including that of Prince William and Catherine Middleton in 2011.

• Type: Anglican (Church of England)

• Location: 20 Deans Yard, Westminster, London, SW1P 3PA

• Distance from Nearest Airport: About 27 km from Heathrow Airport

• Timings: Monday-Saturday 9:30 am-3:30 pm (closed to tourists on Sunday)

• Mass Timing: Daily services; Sunday Eucharist at 10:30 am

• Contact Number: +44 20 7222 5152

• Website:https://www.westminster-abbey.org/

• Email:[email protected]

• Highlights: Poets’ Corner (burial place of famous writers), royal tombs, medieval architecture, Coronation Chair

• Best Time to Visit: Weekday mornings to beat crowds

• Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible with ramps and lifts

• Visitor Tips: Book tickets online to avoid queues. Consider attending Evensong (usually at 3 pm) for free entry and a chance to experience the abbey’s famous choir.

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2. St Paul’s Cathedral

St Paul’s Cathedral, with its massive dome, dominates the London skyline and ranks among the most recognizable must-visit churches in the UK.

Designed by Sir Christopher Wren after the Great Fire of London destroyed the original medieval cathedral, St Paul’s survived the Blitz bombings of World War II to become a symbol of British resilience.

• Type: Anglican (Church of England)

• Location: St. Paul’s Churchyard, London, EC4M 8AD

• Distance from Nearest Airport: Roughly 29 km from Heathrow Airport

• Timings: Monday-Saturday 8:30 am-4:30 pm (closed to tourists on Sunday)

• Mass Timing: Daily services; Sunday Eucharist at 11:00 am

• Contact Number: +44 20 7246 8350

• Website:https://www.stpauls.co.uk/

• Email:[email protected]

• Highlights:Dome climb with Whispering Gallery, tombs of national heroes like Admiral Nelson and the Duke of Wellington, beautiful mosaics

• Best Time to Visit: Early mornings or late afternoons

• Accessibility: Lifts to most areas except the very top galleries

• Visitor Tips: The climb to the dome’s galleries involves hundreds of steps but offers spectacular views of London. Whisper against the wall in the Whispering Gallery and hear it on the opposite side. Check the website for special closures due to services.

3. Southwark Cathedral

Source: wikimedia

Southwark Cathedral sits quietly beside the River Thames near London Bridge and Borough Market, making it a perfect stop during a food tour. It is often overshadowed by its more famous neighbors but offers a peaceful retreat.

One of the oldest Christian churches in the UK, it has stood by the Thames for more than 1,000 years and maintains a friendly, welcoming atmosphere despite its grand architecture.

• Type: Anglican (Church of England)

• Location: London Bridge, London SE1 9DA

• Distance from Nearest Airport: Approximately 30 km from Heathrow Airport

• Timings: Daily 8:00 am-6:00 pm

• Mass Timing: Daily services; Sunday Eucharist at 11:00 am

• Contact Number: +44 20 7367 6700

• Website:https://cathedral.southwark.anglican.org/

• Email:[email protected]

• Highlights: Medieval architecture, Shakespeare connections (memorial), beautiful stained glass

• Best Time to Visit: Weekday mornings

• Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible

• Visitor Tips: Combine with a visit to Borough Market for lunch. Look for the famous Southwark Cathedral cat, who often lounges in the nave!

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4. St Martin-in-the-Fields

Source: wikimedia

St Martin-in-the-Fields sits at the northeast corner of Trafalgar Square, making it one of the most accessible top churches to visit in the UK for tourists exploring central London. This neoclassical church is known as much for its music as for its outreach work.

St Martin’s has a bright, airy interior that feels different from many darker medieval churches.

• Type: Anglican (Church of England)

• Location: Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 4JJ

• Distance from Nearest Airport: About 26 km from Heathrow Airport

• Timings: Daily 8:30 am-6:00 pm

• Mass Timing: Daily services; Sunday Eucharist at 10:00 am

• Contact Number: +44 20 7766 1100

• Website:https://www.stmartin-in-the-fields.org/

• Email:[email protected]

• Highlights: Free lunchtime concerts, The Café in the Crypt, brass rubbing centre

• Best Time to Visit: Lunchtime for concerts

• Accessibility: Fully accessible with ramps and lifts

• Visitor Tips: Enjoy lunch in the atmospheric Café in the Crypt, which has original brick vaulting and tombstones in the floor!

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5. Holy Trinity, Sloane Street

Source: wikimedia

Holy Trinity on Sloane Street represents the height of Victorian church design and stands as one of the most beautiful worship places for Christians in the UK in London’s fashionable Chelsea district. Often called the “Cathedral of the Arts and Crafts Movement.”

Its interior features stunning decorative work by some of the greatest artists of the late 19th century.

• Type: Anglican (Church of England)

• Location: Sloane Street, London SW1X 9BZ

• Distance from Nearest Airport: About 25 km from Heathrow Airport

• Timings: Usually open daily 9:00 am-5:00 pm

• Mass Timing: Sunday Eucharist at 11:00 am

• Contact Number: +44 20 7730 7270

• Website:https://sloanechurch.org/

• Email:[email protected]

• Highlights: William Morris stained glass, Sir Edward Burne-Jones designs, Arts and Crafts decorations

• Best Time to Visit: Afternoon when sunlight streams through the stained glass

• Accessibility: Step-free access at the main entrance

• Visitor Tips:Located in the shopping district of Sloane Square, it’s an ideal spot for quiet contemplation between shopping trips. Take time to study the extraordinary east window designed by Burne-Jones and executed by Morris & Co.

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6. St Mary-le-Bow

Source: wikimedia

St Mary-le-Bow might not be the largest church in London, but it holds a special place among historic churches in the UK thanks to its famous Bow Bells. According to tradition, true Londoners (“Cockneys”) are born within earshot of these bells.

The current church was rebuilt by Christopher Wren after the Great Fire of London.

• Type: Anglican (Church of England)

• Location: Cheapside, London EC2V 6AU

• Distance from Nearest Airport: About 28 km from Heathrow Airport

• Timings: Monday-Friday 7:30 am-6:00 pm

• Mass Timing: Weekday Eucharist at 1:10 pm

• Contact Number: +44 20 7248 5139

• Website:https://www.stmarylebow.org.uk/

• Email:[email protected]

• Highlights: The famous Bow Bells, Christopher Wren’s architecture, Norman crypt

• Best Time to Visit: Weekday lunchtime

• Accessibility: Step-free main entrance

• Visitor Tips:Visit during a weekday lunchtime when the church hosts concerts or recitals. The café in the crypt serves excellent food. The church was completely destroyed during the Blitz in WWII and rebuilt.

7. St Dunstan and All Saints

Source: wikimedia

St Dunstan and All Saints in Stepney is one of London’s oldest parish churches, with roots stretching back to around 952 CE, making it one of the most ancient Christian churches in the UK still in use. This church offers a glimpse into medieval London.

It’s known as the “Church of the High Seas” due to its historic connection with sailors and the East India Company.

• Type: Anglican (Church of England)

• Location: Stepney High Street, London E1 0NR

• Distance from Nearest Airport: About 34 km from Heathrow Airport

• Timings: Daily 8:00 am-6:00 pm

• Mass Timing: Sunday Eucharist at 10:00 am

• Highlights: 10th-century foundations, sailor memorials, historic churchyard

• Best Time to Visit: Weekends

• Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible

• Visitor Tips:Explore the historic graveyard with monuments dating back centuries. Look for the ancient 10th-century stone cross in the churchyard and the medieval brass commemorations inside. The area has strong connections to East London’s maritime history.

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8. Westminster Cathedral

Source: wikimedia

Not to be confused with Westminster Abbey, Westminster Cathedral serves as the mother church of Catholic churches in the UK in England and Wales.

Its striking neo-Byzantine design stands out dramatically from London’s otherwise predominantly Gothic and classical architecture.

• Type: Roman Catholic

• Location: 42 Francis Street, London SW1P 1QW

• Distance from Nearest Airport: About 26 km from Heathrow Airport

• Timings: Daily 7:00 am-7:00 pm

• Mass Timing: Multiple daily Masses; Sunday Mass at 10:30 am

• Contact Number: +44 20 7798 9055

• Website:https://westminstercathedral.org.uk/

• Highlights: Byzantine architecture, beautiful mosaics, tower viewing gallery

• Best Time to Visit: Early morning or late afternoon

• Accessibility: Fully accessible with lifts

• Visitor Tips: Climb the tower for panoramic views of London. The cathedral choir is world-renowned – try to catch a service with music.

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9. Temple Church

Source: wikimedia

Temple Church is a rare round church built by the Knights Templar in the 12th century, making it one of the most historically intriguing and famous churches in the UK. Its unusual circular design was modeled after the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem.

Built by the Knights Templar in the 12th century, this unusual round church was made famous in Dan Brown’s “The Da Vinci Code.”

• Type: Anglican (Church of England)

• Location: Temple, London EC4Y 7BB

• Distance from Nearest Airport: About 28 km from Heathrow Airport

• Timings: Monday-Friday 10:00 am-4:00 pm (hours vary)

• Mass Timing: Sunday Choral Communion at 11:15 am

• Contact Number: +44 20 7353 8559

• Website:https://www.templechurch.com/

• Email:[email protected]

• Highlights:Round nave, medieval stone effigies of knights, legal history

• Best Time to Visit: Weekdays

• Accessibility: Limited step-free access

• Visitor Tips: Join a guided tour to learn about the Knights Templar and the church’s connection to the legal profession. The stone effigies of knights on the floor are particularly interesting.

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10. St Dunstan-in-the-West

Source: wikimedia

St Dunstan-in-the-West on Fleet Street features one of London’s most unusual clocks—a striking timepiece with two giants that strike the hours. This small but fascinating church ranks among the more quirky top churches to visit in the UK.

• Type: Anglican (Church of England)

• Location: 186 Fleet Street, London EC4A 2HR

• Distance from Nearest Airport: About 28 km from Heathrow Airport

• Timings: Monday-Friday 8:00 am-6:00 pm

• Mass Timing: Wednesday Eucharist at 1:15 pm

• Contact Number: +44 20 7405 1929

• Website:https://www.stdunstaninthewest.org/

• Email:[email protected]

• Highlights: Famous clock with moving figures, statue of Queen Elizabeth I, historic interior, Roman Catholic chapel

• Best Time to Visit: Weekday afternoons

• Accessibility: Step-free entrance

• Visitor Tips: Wait outside on the hour to see the giants strike the clock. The church has a Romanian Orthodox chapel inside—a rare example of two denominations sharing space among Christian churches in the UK.

11. Ely Cathedral

Ely Cathedral, known as the “Ship of the Fens” because it rises dramatically from the flat fenland landscape, ranks among the most impressive medieval must-visit churches in the UK outside London. Its unique octagon tower is an engineering marvel.

• Type: Anglican (Church of England)

• Location: Ely, Cambridgeshire CB7 4DL

• Distance from Nearest Airport: About 110 km from London Stansted Airport

• Timings: Monday-Saturday 9:00 am-5:00 pm, Sunday 12:00 pm-4:00 pm

• Mass Timing: Sunday Eucharist at 10:30 am

• Contact Number: +44 1353 667735

• Website:https://www.elycathedral.org/

• Email:[email protected]

• Highlights: Octagon Tower and Lantern, Lady Chapel, painted ceiling

• Best Time to Visit: Late spring or early autumn

• Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible, accessible toilets

• Visitor Tips: Take the guided “Octagon Tower Tour” for spectacular views of the surrounding countryside. The cathedral’s size is astonishing given that Ely itself is a small city.

12. York Minster

York Minster stands as Northern Europe’s largest Gothic cathedral and one of the most magnificent historic churches in the UK.

Its enormous stained glass windows, particularly the Great East Window, contain more medieval stained glass than anywhere else in the country.

• Type: Anglican (Church of England)

• Location: Deangate, York YO1 7HH

• Distance from Nearest Airport: About 50 km from Leeds Bradford Airport

• Timings: Monday-Saturday 9:00 am-4:30 pm, Sunday 12:30 pm-3:15 pm

• Mass Timing: Daily services; Sunday Choral Eucharist at 11:00 am

• Contact Number: +44 1904 557200

• Website:https://yorkminster.org/

• Email:[email protected]

• Highlights: Great East Window, Central Tower climb, medieval stained glass, Chapter House

• Best Time to Visit: Weekday mornings

• Accessibility: Step-free access, accessible toilets

• Visitor Tips: Book tower climb tickets in advance – the view from the top spans the entire city of York. The Undercroft Museum beneath the cathedral tells the story of the site’s 2,000-year history.

13. Canterbury Cathedral

Source: wikimedia

Canterbury Cathedral serves as the mother church of the Anglican Communion worldwide and ranks among the most significant worship places for Christians in the UK. Its blend of Romanesque and Gothic architecture tells the story of evolving building styles over centuries.

• Type: Anglican (Church of England)

• Location: Canterbury, Kent CT1 2EH

• Distance from Nearest Airport: About 100 km from London Gatwick Airport

• Timings: Monday-Saturday 9:00 am-5:00 pm, Sunday 12:30 pm-5:00 pm

• Mass Timing: Daily services; Sunday Eucharist at 11:00 am

• Contact Number: +44 1227 762862

• Website:https://www.canterbury-cathedral.org/

• Email:[email protected]

• Highlights: Trinity Chapel (site of Becket’s shrine), medieval stained glass, Norman crypt

• Best Time to Visit: Spring or autumn

• Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible, accessible toilets

• Visitor Tips: Don’t miss the spot where Thomas Becket was murdered in 1170. The cathedral precincts and herb garden are beautiful places to relax after touring the cathedral.

14. Liverpool Cathedral

Source: wikimedia

Liverpool Cathedral holds the title of the largest cathedral in Britain and the eighth largest church building in the world. This massive Gothic Revival building is one of the newer famous churches in the UK, completed only in 1978 after 74 years of construction.

• Type: Anglican (Church of England)

• Location: St James Mount, Liverpool L1 7AZ

• Distance from Nearest Airport: About 13 km from Liverpool John Lennon Airport

• Timings: Daily 10:00 am-5:00 pm

• Mass Timing: Sunday Eucharist at 10:30 am

• Contact Number: +44 151 709 6271

• Website:https://liverpoolcathedral.org.uk/

• Highlights: Tower views, largest pipe organ in the UK, massive central space

• Best Time to Visit: Weekday afternoons

• Accessibility: Fully accessible with lifts, accessible toilets

• Visitor Tips: Take the Tower Experience for spectacular views over Liverpool and beyond to Wales. The cathedral’s sheer scale is breathtaking – it houses both the UK’s largest organ and heaviest peal of bells.

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15. Durham Cathedral

Durham Cathedral sits dramatically on a rocky promontory above the River Wear, creating one of Britain’s most striking architectural views. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is considered one of the finest examples of Norman architecture in Europe.

It ranks among the most beautiful must-visit churches in the UK and appears in several Harry Potter films as Hogwarts corridors.

• Type: Anglican (Church of England)

• Location: The College, Durham DH1 3EH

• Distance from Nearest Airport: About 40 km from Newcastle Airport

• Timings: Monday-Saturday 10:00 am-4:00 pm, Sunday 12:30 pm-4:00 pm

• Mass Timing: Daily services; Sunday Eucharist at 10:00 am

• Contact Number: +44 191 374 4069

• Website:https://www.durhamcathedral.co.uk/

• Email:[email protected]

• Highlights: Norman architecture, Galilee Chapel, cloisters (seen in Harry Potter films)

• Best Time to Visit: Early morning or late afternoon

• Accessibility: Step-free access, accessible toilets

• Visitor Tips: Walk around the outside of the cathedral for stunning views of the building perched on its peninsula. The cathedral’s massive pillars are decorated with unique zigzag patterns characteristic of Norman design.

FAQs

How many churches are in the UK?

There are approximately 39,000 churches in the UK, representing various Christian denominations. The Church of England alone has over 16,000 churches. This incredible number reflects Britain’s deep Christian heritage spanning nearly 2,000 years.

Can Christians pray in public in the UK?

Yes, Christians can freely pray in public in the UK, where religious freedom is protected. Worship places for Christians in the UK range from grand cathedrals to local churches, with public prayer also accepted.

Can Christians get married in the UK?

Yes, Christians can marry in churches across the UK. Anglican and Catholic churches in the UK offer wedding services. Non-UK residents may marry there too, though extra paperwork and preparation time are usually needed.

What are the 4 largest churches in the UK?

The four largest churches in the UK are Liverpool Cathedral, St Paul’s Cathedral, York Minster, and Westminster Abbey—all Anglican. While Catholic churches in the UK are numerous, these major landmarks are Anglican by denomination.

Are there any Catholics in the UK?

Yes, around 5.2 million Catholics live in the UK, about 8% of the population. Catholic churches in the UK are widespread, with strong communities in Liverpool, Glasgow, and London. Westminster Cathedral is the main Catholic church.

Can tourists attend church services in the UK?

Yes, tourists can attend services at churches in the UK with mass timings listed online or onsite. Arriving early, following the congregation, and being respectful is encouraged. Choral Evensong at major cathedrals is especially popular.

Do I need permission to visit a church in the UK?

No permission is needed to visit most historic churches in the UK during daytime hours. Major churches may charge entry fees, but prayer access is free. Smaller churches might be locked—check entrance signs for contact info.

Is there parking available at churches in the UK?

Parking at famous churches in the UK varies. Rural churches may have small lots or street parking, while urban ones like Westminster Abbey and St Paul’s are best accessed by public transport due to limited parking.