Cathedrals

"Salisbury is the quintessential English cathedral town." (Great Britain Michelin Guide)

That is very hard.
Salisbury for aesthetics and setting.
Canterbury for history and importance.

For absolute beauty of the building and spire, Salisbury.

For the overall setting and history, Canterbury.

Me? My 3 favourites, in order - St Pauls by a country mile, and a draw between Worcester and York.

Tough choice, I loved both, but I think Canterbury if I had to choose only one. I always tell myself I'll be going back, it makes it easier to pick just one. No matter what you choose it will be the right decision.

The first thing you need to do is go to each cathedral's website and make sure there will be no closures on the day you plan to visit. Canterbury cathedral's nave was closed for a full week in June for graduation ceremonies when we were there. We could not see the site of Becket's martyrdom. Not only that but the cathedral did not seem at all ready for visitors during this time. Tours were disrupted. Guidebooks seemed to be unavailable (ordinarily for sale in the gift shop -- which was closed because or was in the nave). We managed to get the attention of some docents and salvaged the visit but it was a disappointment.

If this is your first cathedral visit, I would pick Salisbury. I would definitely take a tour with a docent. If possible take the floor tour and the tower tour. Salisbury has a wonderful spire. On the tower tour you go up in the " attic" and see the wood structure above the vaults and you climb up the inside of the spire! Lots of stairs so check the mobility requirements if that is an issue.

Salisbury also has a copy of the Magna Carta, one of four originals that have survived. It's the 800th birthday of the Magna Carta so this is the year to go!

Salisbury is also a nice town and worth staying the night. I would try to get to Old Sarum too if you have the time, just north of town.

Canterbury is also a very nice and quite popular cathedral. I have been several times. It has superb medieval stained glass (that survived the English Civil War). Try to find a docent who can explain it to you. Also, the crypt is awesome, huge pillars, and some rare medieval painting.

Do both, but add in Wells, Lincoln, Gloucester and Ely too. And Norwich...and Durham

Loved both so hard to choose. I really liked the exterior of Canterbury with the statuary and loved the cloister area and also the stained glass. Liked the interior of Salisbury a bit better. Both are fantastic and both have lots of history, maybe Canterbury a bit more on that front. Having been to both if a friend asked me which to go to I would probably suggest Canterbury.

Are you planning to do one as a day trip from London - both are about equidistant timewise on the train, Canterbury a little shorter train ride? If you would be coming to either from somewhere else is the location of one more convenient than the other? That may be the determining factor since they're both well worth seeing.

This is a great article (by Paul Johnson in The Spectator) on England'd best cathedrals, and a list I find I wholeheartedly concur with.
http://www.spectator.co.uk/columnists/104456/visiting-cathedrals-here-are-englands-top-ten/
Interestingly he lists Canterbury and Salisbury at #4 and #5. There is no disputing Durham at #1 !!

Interesting article, David, and thanks for sharing it. I remember being in the Durham Cathedral one late, rainy, gloomy evening just before it closed to visitors for the night. It was truly awe-some!

Thanks everyone for the advice and information. I appreciate this forum.

I've been to Canterbury only once and Salisbury a couplethree times. I must like it best.

Great article, David. Though it's dated 2007, I don't think any of the cathedrals have changed much since then. ;-)

Of those listed, I've been to Canterbury, York, Durham, Ely, Wells, Salisbury, and St. Pauls, some of them many years ago (but still, not much changed....). Durham blew us away with its setting, carved nave columns, and history. The guide took us to see the Millenium Window, dedicated in 1996, but, he explained, not celebrating the year 2000, but rather the millennium of the cathedral's dedication in 996. This is the sort of historical reference that shrinks a Yankee down to size.

As for Linda's question, I agree with the others, Canterbury and Salisbury are very different, like chalk and cheese as some posters here say. Salisbury for architectural unity and pastoral surroundings, Canterbury for architectural variety and powerful history. Proximity of Stonehenge, Old Sarum, Winchester and other sights might be the tie-breaker for Salisbury if you can pick just one.