Fodor's Expert Review Sherborne Abbey

As much as the golden hamstone exterior, majestic tower, and fine flying buttresses impress, the glory of Sherborne Abbey is the delicate 15th-century fan vaulting that extends the length of the soaring nave and choir. Some features from the original 8th-century cathedral, like a Saxon doorway in the northwest corner, still remain. If you're lucky, you might hear "Great Tom," one of the heaviest bells in the world, pealing out from the bell tower. Guided tours are offered from April through September on Saturday (10:30 am) and Sunday (11:15 am), plus Tuesday (10:30 am) and Friday (2 pm) through November. Tours from December through March need to be made by prior arrangement.