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 this beautiful London cathedral visit their official website linked above.
Facts For Your Visit
Fee: No, except for the Tower Viewing Gallery.Address: Victoria St, London SW1P 1LT, UK
Phone: 020 7798 9055
Official Website: Westminster Cathedral
Westminster Cathedral Reviews
Rated out of 5
A lovely church that is a Catholic Church, but everyone is welcome no matter what religion you follow. It is also one of the biggest in the UK and is over a 100 years old. I really enjoyed my visit and lit a candle for a friend who is sick even though I'm not a Catholic. It also has beautiful mosaics and marble work. It even has a lovely cafe downstairs with friendly staff.
o s - a week ago
Went to a Mass here, evening Mass. If you’re Catholic visiting London don’t miss the opportunity to attend a Mass here. The choir is amazing and the whole experience is very different to what a lot of people get in the parish churches. Even if you’re not Catholic or Christian, the building and Mass is worth seeing. Make sure you bring some coins to donate and you can also light a candle for a loved one.
Leo King - a week ago
Stunning, but busy. Went early on a weekday at 10.30am and it was hard to see much as too many people crammed in. Definitely still worth a visit. Spent around 3 hours and I don’t think I saw everything.
Jennie Lancaster (Lilywhite) - a month ago
This is the Catholic cathedral close to Victoria - not to be confused with Westminster Abbey near the Houses of Parliament. It's an odd building - as if it's not sure what it is trying to be. That said, the mosaics and beautifully decorated interior makes for a weird, Byzantine experience. Undoubtedly it's beautiful and almost out of keeping with its location. Definitely worth seeing!
Joe Sidonio - 2 months ago
Finally a church in London that doesn't charge entrance ( see Westminster Abbey and St Paul's cathedral). Beautiful place. We stayed for some time in the calmness of this spiritual place
Paulo Eduardo da Silva - 2 weeks ago
Directions
| Tube Line | Nearest Station | Walking Time |
|---|---|---|
| Circle, District and Victoria Line | Victoria Station | 4 MInutes |
How to get to Westminster Cathedral by Tube
From Victoria Station exit onto Victoria St. and walk to your right (east) for about 4 minutes. Watch for the square in front of Westminster Cathedral on your right.
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Accommodations near Westminster Cathedral :
Photo Gallery
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Exterior of Westminster Cathedral -
Beautiful mosaic artwork inside Westminster Cathedral -
Photo Credit: Matt From London - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: It's No Game - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: It's No Game - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: KirkandLynn_photos - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: It's No Game - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: KirkandLynn_photos - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: a.l.w - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: KirkandLynn_photos - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Dmitry Djouce - cc license via Flickr
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