Liverpool Cathedral

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About Liverpool Cathedral

Liverpool Cathedral, of the Church of England, sits atop St James's Mount at the southern end of Hope Street. It was designed by Giles Gilbert Scott, who won the competition at age 22, and was built from 1904 to 1978 in a neo-Gothic style using local red sandstone. It is the largest cathedral in Great Britain and one of the largest in the world, at about 189 metres long.

The interior is impressive for its size and height: the nave, without columns to block the view, leads to the space beneath the central tower, with vaults more than 50 metres above the floor. The main organ is among the largest in Britain, and the tower bells form one of the highest and heaviest peals in the world. The cathedral has modern stained glass, the Lady Chapel and contemporary artworks, such as a neon sign by Tracey Emin.

The tower, at 101 metres, can be climbed by lifts and stairs to the top, with views over the city, the Mersey, the other cathedral and, on clear days, the mountains of Wales. Below the cathedral, in the old quarry, lies St James cemetery, turned into a garden.

Entry to the cathedral is usually free, with a suggested donation; the tower requires a ticket. Hope Street links this cathedral to the Catholic one about 1 km to the north.