Southwark Cathedral stands beside Borough Market and London Bridge on the south bank of the Thames. A church has occupied the site for more than a thousand years; the present building preserves much of its Gothic form from 1220 to 1420. Inside, look for stained glass, the ornate font cover, historic tombs and a small display of Thames finds. Candlelight concerts make use of the cathedral’s resonant interior, and you may spot Hodge, its resident cat.
A church beside London Bridge
Christian worship has taken place on this site for more than a thousand years, though accounts differ on when the first church was built. A minster here appears in the Domesday Book of 1086. In 1106, the church became an Augustinian priory dedicated to St Mary, known as St Mary Overie. The name refers to its position over the river.
After the monasteries were dissolved under Henry VIII, the church became St Saviour’s and served as a parish church. Southwark Cathedral gained its cathedral status in 1905, when the Diocese of Southwark was created. The building has changed through fires, rebuilding and restoration, so the long history of the site is not all visible in one stretch of masonry.
Gothic architecture and details inside
Much of the cathedral’s present form dates from 1220 to 1420, although the nave was reconstructed in the late 19th century. The building’s Gothic structure draws the eye upward to its arches and windows. Inside, the light from the stained glass gives the space a different character from the stonework outside.
Look for the ornate reredos, the decorated font cover and preserved sections of earlier building work displayed behind glass. The cathedral also contains tombs and memorials, including those of the 15th-century court poet John Gower and Edmond Shakespeare, William Shakespeare’s brother. Take time to look around rather than treating the interior only as a passage through the building.
Tours, concerts and a resident cat
Guided tours provide more context on the cathedral’s history and the surrounding area. The site’s location near London Bridge and Borough Market makes it straightforward to include with a visit to either. The cathedral also hosts candlelight concerts; its acoustics are a particular part of the experience.
A small exhibition displays artifacts recovered from the Thames, offering a glimpse of the river’s past. Hodge, the cathedral’s resident cat, may also be around during your visit. As this is an active place of worship, keep your voice low and treat those praying or attending services with consideration.
Preguntas frecuentes
Is Southwark Cathedral free to visit?
Entry is free, and donations are welcome.
What can you see inside Southwark Cathedral?
Look for Gothic arches, stained-glass windows, an ornate reredos, a decorated font cover, historic tombs and a small display of Thames artifacts.
Can you take a guided tour?
Guided tours are available and give more detail about the cathedral’s history and its surroundings.
Where is Southwark Cathedral?
It is beside Borough Market near London Bridge, on the south bank of the Thames.
