Worcester Cathedral — Attraction in Worcester

Physically wonderful, but spiritually dubious... A beautiful, fascinating and well-managed cathedral, full of wonderful features and interesting information. An immersive experience when you contemplate more than 1,000 years of history beneath, around and above you. The crypt has particularly enjoyable interpretation panels. The tomb of King John is a must-see, but Prince Arthur's Chantry is perhaps more intriguing as it raises questions about how very different our history could have been had he not died at 16, passing the throne to Henry VIII. I also had no idea that Stanley Baldwin was buried here (thank you, friendly guide!). Sadly, though, any trace of spirituality was extinguished by the cathedral's overt links to expensive private schools. The nearest has taken over buildings so that a true piece of history - the 13th Century 'Christ in Majesty' - cannot be seen by hoi polloi like myself. Another private school was allowed an exhibition of artwork in the Chapterhouse, where each painting must have cost the same as a state school's annual art budget. I found it obscene. The cathedral seems to worship the wealthy and privileged few, which left a very sour taste. Hopefully, the clergy have mentioned passing a camel through the eye of a needle to the rich parents! I'm sure it's not unusual for cathedrals, but this seemed blatant enough to be offensive and Worcester Cathedral might want to try raising its ethical appearance to the standard of its extremely impressive architecture. I won't be back to this elitist institution, but I can't imagine they want the likes of me except as...

I mean, really anywhere in Worcester town centre loses a point because you can't park near it and traffic will be horrific while you travel to and from it. Even if you are disabled.

The Cathedral is no exception. Nowhere to park. A badly designed roundabout meaning its almost impossible to even drop somebody off nearby.

It's bigger than most churches but they don't really do a lot with the space. It has a tower you can't go up, some cloisters you can't look in and a crypt you can't go down. In fact, you are only allowed into the Cathedral if :

A) you attended King's School B) It's Remembrance Day C) You are too foreign to read the notice that says "No Riff Raff"

There's normally some foreign visitors there, talking loudly and pointing at things, asking horrified staff "can we touch"?

Very occasionally Aled Jones shows up with the Songs Of Praise crowd and they allow normal folk to enter the Cathedral. Once he goes away, they quickly usher the common folk out the back before the vicar gets home.

If Jesus visited, He would be turned away because He didn't attend King's School. Unless He pretended that He couldn't read the "King's School Only" sign.

For a more authentic taste of Worcestershire religion try one of the many churches or even the mosque. I haven't visited them all but Claines church is easily the best. It's only got wooden seats but they have got stained glass windows, a pulpit, an organ and all the things you would expect from a church AND unlike Worcester Cathedral, you can park on the...

Worcester Cathedral, is an Anglican cathedral in Worcester, England, situated on a bank overlooking the River Severn. It is the seat of the Bishop of Worcester. Its official name is the Cathedral Church of Christ and the Blessed Mary the Virgin, of Worcester. The present cathedral church was built between 1084 and 1504, and represents every style of English architecture from Norman to Perpendicular Gothic. It is famous for its Norman crypt and unique chapter house, its unusual Transitional Gothic bays, its fine woodwork and its "exquisite" central tower, which is of particularly fine proportions. The Cathedral contains the tomb of King John. The Cathedral Library at Worcester, located since the 19th century in the loft above the South Nave, contains nearly 300 medieval manuscripts, 55 incunabula, and 5500 post-medieval printed books. Of particular note are the Worcester Antiphoner (the only book of its kind to survive the Reformation), the will of King John and a 1225 copy of Magna Carta. The large scriptorium at Worcester produced many manuscripts and was a place of work for many famous scribes, such as the chronicler John of Worcester and the unnamed monk identified by his distinctive handwriting as The Tremulous Hand...