Westminster Cathedral
Westminster Cathedral is beautiful and elaborately decorated complete with a 273 foot Bell Tower in the heart of central London
Westminster Cathedral is a young building by London standards, but possesses spectacular architecture and beauty. The seat of the Archbishop of Westminster, it is the largest Catholic church in both England and Wales.
Construction on Westminster Cathedral began in 1895 on land acquired by the Catholic Church in 1884. The site was owned by Westminster Abbey back in the 17th Century and was subsequently sold and used for a variety of things including a prison until being purchased by the Catholic Church.
Westminster Cathedral does not conform to the typical late-Victorian architecture popular at the time of it's construction, but is designed in the style of a Byzantine basilica constructed of reddish brick. The interior is richly and painstakingly decorated with intricate tile mosaics and over 125 different types of marble.
A very popular feature is the Tower Viewing Gallery where you can enjoy some fabulous views of London from 200 feet above the streets and view some beautiful illustrations showing the design of the Cathedral.
Westminster Cathedral is open to the public daily. There is only an admission charge to go up into the Tower Viewing Gallery which is open daily from 9:30am to 5:30pm and until 6pm on weekends.
There are many other attractions within easy walking distance of the Westminster Cathedral. Some of these include the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben, Horse Guards Building and Parade, Buckingham Palace, Westminster Cathedral, Saint James's Park, and Hyde Park. These attractions can be nicely combined into a memorable one or two day walking tour.
For more information about The Westminster Cathedral including hours of operation visit their official website: Westminster Cathedral
Elaborate Interior of Westminster Cathedral ©TourbyTransit.com
Exterior of Westminster Cathedral cc licensed flickr photo shared by Catholic Westminster
