St Mary Redcliffe - 'the fairest parish church in England'
St Mary Redcliffe: Bristol's medieval parish church. Free entry, hexagonal porch, fan-vaulted choir, the Cabot whalebone and weekday lunchtime organ recitals.
St Mary Redcliffe is the finest medieval church in the South West, and argubly in England. Queen Elizabeth I described it in 1574 as “the fairest, the goodliest, and most famous parish church in England.” She was being fair.
Cost
Free. Donations welcomed at the door.
What to see
The hexagonal north porch (around 1325) is unique in English architecture. The fan-vaulted choir roof is covered in over a thousand gilded bosses. The Cabot whalebone, mounted high on the interior wall, was brought back from Newfoundland in 1497 by the explorer John Cabot. Outside, in the churchyard, a tramway rail displaced by a bomb in 1941 has been left as a memorial.
When to visit
Monday to Saturday 08:30 - 17:00. Closed to tourists during services on Sundays. Free organ recitals most weekday lunchtimes are a genuine highlight.
Access
Step-free entry at the west door with ramp. Accessible toilets in the visitor centre on the south side. Free audio guides available.
This attraction is Stop 19 on the Bristol Insight circuit.