Southwark Cathedral

What to expect

Southwark Cathedral stands on the south side of London Bridge, close to Borough Market. It began as an Augustinian priory dedicated to St Mary, and after the dissolution under Henry VIII became a parish church. The present Gothic building was rebuilt between 1220 and 1420, and the church became a cathedral in 1905 when the Diocese of Southwark was created.

Inside, a stained-glass window shows scenes from Shakespeare's plays, with an alabaster statue of Shakespeare at its base, and a stone in the choir paving marks the burial of his brother Edmund in 1607. The Harvard Chapel remembers John Harvard, who was baptised here in 1607. The nave was rebuilt in the 1890s to echo its 13th-century predecessor. The building is compact and quiet, and a visit takes about half an hour.

Don't miss

• The Shakespeare memorial window and alabaster statue
• Stone for Edmund Shakespeare in the choir
• The Harvard Chapel
• Tomb of Lancelot Andrewes behind the high altar
• The Gothic nave

Tips for your visit

• Dress modestly and keep your voice down; it is a working church.
• Combine it with Borough Market, which is right next to it, and with Tate Modern and Shakespeare's Globe along the river.
• Look for the resident cat, Hodge, if he is about.