4 Best Sights in The West Country, England

At the heart of Exeter, the great Gothic cathedral was begun in 1275 and completed almost a century later. Its twin towers are even older survivors of an earlier Norman cathedral. Rising from a forest of ribbed columns, the nave's 300-foot stretch of unbroken Gothic vaulting is the longest in the world. Myriad statues, tombs, and memorial plaques adorn the interior. In the minstrels' gallery, high up on the left of the nave, stands a group of carved figures singing and playing musical instruments, including bagpipes. Guided tours of the interior (up to four a day Monday through Saturday), roof, chapel, garden, and precinct are available, as are audio tours. Outside in Cathedral Close, don't miss Mol's Coffee House at No. 1 (now a gift shop), whose half-timber facade bearing the coat of arms of Elizabeth I is redolent of bygone times, and the 400-year-old door to No. 10, the bishop of Crediton's house, is ornately carved with angels' and lions' heads.

Although built between 1880 and 1910, this cathedral evokes a medieval church, with an exterior in Early English Gothic style. The interior is filled with relics from the 16th-century parish church that stood on this site, part of which has been incorporated into a side chapel. Tours of the cathedral are usually available on Thursdays at 11 am (£5; no booking required), and free lunchtime organ recitals take place on most Fridays between March and October. An open, cobbled area called High Cross lies in front of the west porch, and the city's main shopping streets fan out from here.

Built by Bristol merchants who wanted a place in which to pray for the safe (and profitable) voyages of their ships, the rib-vaulted, 14th-century church was called "the fairest in England" by Queen Elizabeth I. High up on the nave wall hang the arms and armor of Sir William Penn, father of the founder of Pennsylvania. The church is a five-minute walk from Temple Meads train station toward the docks.

The great west towers of the Cathedral Church of St. Andrew, the oldest surviving English Gothic church, can be seen for miles. Dating from the 12th century, Wells Cathedral (as it's more commonly known) derives its beauty from the perfect harmony of all of its parts, the glowing colors of its original stained-glass windows, and its peaceful setting among stately trees and majestic lawns. To appreciate the elaborate west-front facade, approach the building from the cathedral green, accessible from Market Place through a great medieval gate called "penniless porch" (named after the beggars who once waited here to collect alms from worshippers). The cathedral's west front is twice as wide as it is high, and some 300 statues of kings and saints adorn it.

Inside, vast inverted arches—known as scissor arches—were added in 1338 to stop the central tower from sinking to one side. In the left transept, look out for the cathedral's rare and beautiful medieval clock, the second-oldest working clock in the world, consisting of the seated figure of a man called Jack Blandifer, who strikes a bell on the quarter hour while mounted knights circle in a joust. Near the clock is the entrance to the Chapter House—a small wooden door opening onto a great sweep of stairs worn down on one side by the tread of pilgrims over the centuries.

Free guided tours lasting approximately one hour begin at the back of the cathedral; the website also has details of less frequent tours exploring the cathedral's stained glass, stone carvings, and embroidery (all free), as well as a "High Parts" tours taking in the galleries and roof spaces, "Outside" tours exploring the exterior and Vicar's Close, and chained library tours, all of which need advance booking and cost extra. A cloister restaurant serves snacks and teas.