Southwark Cathedral, London
Locals call it "Suth-uck," but you can just call it London鈥檚 oldest Gothic church鈥攁nd one of its best-kept secrets. Parts of Southwark Cathedral hail from the 12th century, though you wouldn鈥檛 know it from the modest tourist traffic. Inside, you'll stumble across all kinds of treasures, like a late-13th-century wooden knight who鈥檚 been lying down on the job for about 700 years.
Southwark started life as a priory, became a palace church for Henry VIII, and was eventually bought by a plucky group of merchants in 1611. With a bit of a Victorian glow-up during the 1800s, it officially got its cathedral badge in 1905 (better late than never). The building took quite a beating during the London Blitz鈥攁bout 1,600 bombs were dropped on the site鈥攁nd you can still spot the scars on its outer walls if you look closely.
Now, if you鈥檙e in a browsing mood, look up at the colorful 15th-century roof bosses鈥攂asically medieval doodles carved in wood鈥攁nd don鈥檛 miss the tomb of poet John Gower. The latter was pals with Geoffrey Chaucer ("father of English literature", best known for The Canterbury Tales) and once served as poet laureate to Richard II. Fancy...
There鈥檚 also the Harvard Chapel, marking the baptism spot of John Harvard鈥攜es, that very Harvard鈥攖he local lad who went off and founded a university in the U.S. you might have heard of.
Back in Shakespeare鈥檚 day, Southwark wasn鈥檛 just the place to pray鈥攊t was the place to play. Theaters like The Globe, The Rose, and The Swan turned the area into London鈥檚 entertainment hotspot. William himself bunked nearby for a while, close enough to hear the cathedral bells, and he used to worship here, too.
Was he a regular churchgoer? Hard to say. Shakespeare鈥檚 religious leanings are about as clear as a London fog. But his friends certainly showed up here. Even Shakespeare鈥檚 younger brother, Edmund鈥攁n actor like his big bro鈥攚as buried here in 1607.
Today, the cathedral tips its hat to the Bard with a stunning memorial: a reclining Shakespeare statue, casually lounging beneath a stained glass window sparkling with scenes from his plays. It鈥檚 literary London at its finest.
Before you leave, wander through the churchyard, now a lovely herb garden, and follow the charming Millennium Courtyard right down to the river. It鈥檚 history, drama, and a breath of fresh air鈥攁ll tucked just out of sight from the tourist crowds.
Southwark started life as a priory, became a palace church for Henry VIII, and was eventually bought by a plucky group of merchants in 1611. With a bit of a Victorian glow-up during the 1800s, it officially got its cathedral badge in 1905 (better late than never). The building took quite a beating during the London Blitz鈥攁bout 1,600 bombs were dropped on the site鈥攁nd you can still spot the scars on its outer walls if you look closely.
Now, if you鈥檙e in a browsing mood, look up at the colorful 15th-century roof bosses鈥攂asically medieval doodles carved in wood鈥攁nd don鈥檛 miss the tomb of poet John Gower. The latter was pals with Geoffrey Chaucer ("father of English literature", best known for The Canterbury Tales) and once served as poet laureate to Richard II. Fancy...
There鈥檚 also the Harvard Chapel, marking the baptism spot of John Harvard鈥攜es, that very Harvard鈥攖he local lad who went off and founded a university in the U.S. you might have heard of.
Back in Shakespeare鈥檚 day, Southwark wasn鈥檛 just the place to pray鈥攊t was the place to play. Theaters like The Globe, The Rose, and The Swan turned the area into London鈥檚 entertainment hotspot. William himself bunked nearby for a while, close enough to hear the cathedral bells, and he used to worship here, too.
Was he a regular churchgoer? Hard to say. Shakespeare鈥檚 religious leanings are about as clear as a London fog. But his friends certainly showed up here. Even Shakespeare鈥檚 younger brother, Edmund鈥攁n actor like his big bro鈥攚as buried here in 1607.
Today, the cathedral tips its hat to the Bard with a stunning memorial: a reclining Shakespeare statue, casually lounging beneath a stained glass window sparkling with scenes from his plays. It鈥檚 literary London at its finest.
Before you leave, wander through the churchyard, now a lovely herb garden, and follow the charming Millennium Courtyard right down to the river. It鈥檚 history, drama, and a breath of fresh air鈥攁ll tucked just out of sight from the tourist crowds.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in London. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "黑料吃瓜网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
Download The 黑料吃瓜网 App
Southwark Cathedral on Map
Sight Name: Southwark Cathedral
Sight Location: London, England (See walking tours in London)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: London, England (See walking tours in London)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in London, England
Create Your Own Walk in London
Creating your own self-guided walk in London is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Harry Potter Walking Tour I
The Harry Potter phenomenon began with author J.K. Rowling, who famously dreamed up the series while delayed on a train from Manchester to London. With the release of Harry Potter and the Philosopher鈥檚 Stone in 1997, the literary world changed forever. Across seven books, readers followed Harry鈥檚 evolution from an orphaned schoolboy at Hogwarts to a brave young wizard confronting evil... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.7 Km or 1.7 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.7 Km or 1.7 Miles
Beatles London Walking Tour
The Beatles, often hailed as one of the most influential bands in music history, began their journey in Liverpool in 1960, but it was in London that they truly became global icons. While Liverpool gave them their start, the British capital became their professional playground during the peak of Beatlemania. From recording sessions and business deals to public performances and personal milestones,... view more
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.8 Km or 3 Miles
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.8 Km or 3 Miles
South Bank Walking Tour
London鈥檚 South Bank, stretching along the southern side of the River Thames, roughly between Westminster Bridge and Tower Bridge, is one of the most interesting and liveliest parts of the British capital. Here, London鈥檚 old soul and modern edge shake hands... and then probably go grab a pint together. Famous for its arts, culture, food, and scenic riverside walks, the area has a long and... view more
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.8 Km or 3 Miles
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.8 Km or 3 Miles
Covent Garden Walking Tour
A shopping and entertainment hub on the eastern fringes of London's West End, Covent Garden is a district historically associated with the former fruit-and-vegetable market 鈥� currently a shopping spot popular with locals and tourists alike.
Once a slum area, today the north of the district is given over to independent shops centered on Neal's Yard and Seven Dials. Both places offer... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.0 Km or 1.9 Miles
Once a slum area, today the north of the district is given over to independent shops centered on Neal's Yard and Seven Dials. Both places offer... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.0 Km or 1.9 Miles
London's Historic Pubs Walk
If there鈥檚 any more iconic symbol for London than Big Ben or the London Eye, then it must be the traditional English pub. And London sure is full of them, dating from pre-Victorian times to just about five minutes ago.
With so much history surrounding London there is no shortage of historic pubs to choose from. Whether you fancy half-timbered, rambling watering holes or small but perfectly... view more
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 5.6 Km or 3.5 Miles
With so much history surrounding London there is no shortage of historic pubs to choose from. Whether you fancy half-timbered, rambling watering holes or small but perfectly... view more
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 5.6 Km or 3.5 Miles
Shakespeare's London Walking Tour
You might know him as 鈥渢he Bard,鈥� but to England, William Shakespeare is practically the patron saint of poetic plot twists. Born in 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon to John Shakespeare, a glove maker and town official, and Mary Arden from a prosperous farming family, young William started life with ink in his veins and Latin on his mind. Grammar school likely gave him his first taste of rhetoric.... view more
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.7 Km or 2.9 Miles
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.7 Km or 2.9 Miles
Useful Travel Guides for Planning Your Trip
London Souvenirs: 18 Distinctively British Products for Travelers
Most visitors to London consider shopping as part of their must-do London experience. From street markets to Victorian arcades to snobbish Sloane Square to busy Oxford Street, there are a host of shops selling items which typically represent this vibrant city. Whether you are shopping for souvenirs...