h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Durham cathedral http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/A534683
The entry on Durham http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/A534683 says the cathedral was named as the world's most beautiful building...


Durham cathedral is *huge*. There is only one place in Durham you can't see it from, and that's the Market place, because its just down the hill from the cathedral and other buildings are in the way. You can see it from miles away on practically all the major routes into Durham, (i think especially if you're coming in from the A19 but not being a driver I may be totally wrong on that).

Durham cathedral is normally quite quiet, quite prayerful. It has amazing columns are as thick around the base as they are tall, and a high, high tower.

My favourite part is the Galilee chapel, which is at the West end of the cathedral. Its very light and has lots of small columns. But the chapel of the nine alters at the East end of the cathedral is lovely too.

ON the southern side are the cloisters (look out in the Harry Potter film when it comes out where Harry has an owl or something on his wrist, and is standing on a grassy space surronded by stonework - that was filmed in the cloisters. I think the owl can also be seen flying round the tower) which are very peaceful, too...

Durham's skyline would be nondescript in the extreme without the cathedral.