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Best Historic Churches in Britain

While the term 'best' is debateable, we've sorted through over 1000 churches in our database, many of which we have personally visited, and awarded them Heritage Ratings. Those churches awarded the top award of are shown here. That's not to suggest for a moment that other churches aren't well worth visiting - they are - but these 100-odd churches rise above the others in terms of offering great historic interest.

England

Berkshire
Aldworth, St Mary's Church, Aldworth
Shottesbrooke, St John's Church, Shottesbrooke
Sonning, St Andrew's Church, Sonning
St George's Chapel, Windsor

Bristol
St Mary Redcliffe, Bristol, Bristol

Buckinghamshire
Chenies, St Michael's Church, Chenies
Clifton Reynes, St Mary's Church, Clifton Reyne
Hillesden, All Saints, Hillesden
Hughenden, St Michael and All Angels, Hughenden
Little Kimble, All Saints Church, Little Kimble
Middle Claydon, All Saints, Middle Claydon
Penn, Holy Trinity Church, Penn
Stewkley, St Michael's Church, Stewkley
Wing, All Saints, Wing

Cambridgeshire
Burwell, St Mary's Church, Burwell
Ely Cathedral, Ely
Ickleton, St Mary's Church, Ickleton
Isleham, St Andrew's Church, Isleham
King's College Chapel, Cambridge
Kingston, All Saints and St Andrew, Kingston
March, St Wendreda's Church, March
Peterborough Cathedral, Peterborough
St Bene't's (St Benedicts), Cambridge, Cambridge
Trumpington, St Mary & St Michael, Trumpington
Willingham, St Mary's Church, Willingham

Cornwall
Altarnun, St Nonna's Church, Altarnun
St Germans, St Germanus Church, St Germans
St Neot Church, St Neot

County Durham
Durham Cathedral, Durham
Escomb Saxon Church, Escomb

Cumbria
Bridekirk, St Bridget's Church, Bridekirk
Gosforth, St Mary's Church, Gosforth
St Bees Priory Church, St Bees

Derbyshire
Kedleston, All Saints Church, Kedleston

East Sussex
Northiam, St Mary, Northiam
St Thomas a Becket, Brightling, Brightling

Gloucestershire
Deerhurst Saxon church, Deerhurst
Tewkesbury Abbey, Tewkesbury

Greater London
Little Stanmore, St Lawrence Church, London
St Paul's Cathedral, London
Temple Church, London
Westminster Abbey, London

Hampshire
Romsey Abbey, Romsey
Winchester Cathedral, Winchester

Herefordshire
Brinsop, St George's Church, Brinsop
Castle Frome, St Michael's Church, Castle Frome
Eardisley, St Mary Magdalene Church, Eardisley
Kilpeck Church, Kilpeck
Madley Church, Madley
Rowlstone, St Peter's Church, Rowlstone
Shobdon, St John Church, Shobdon
St Margaret's Church, St Margarets

Kent
Barfreston, St Nicholas Church, Barfreston
Canterbury Cathedral, Canterbury
Canterbury, St Martin, Canterbury
Canterbury, St Mildred Church, Canterbury
Chilham, St Mary, Chilham
Ewhurst Green, St James the Great,
Fordwich, St Mary, Fordwich
Goudhurst, St Mary, Goudhurst
Ightham, St Peter, Ightham
Newenden, St Peter, Newenden
Pluckley, St Nicholas, Pluckley
Rolvenden, St Mary the Virgin, Rolvenden
Smarden, St Michael the Archangel, Smarden
St George's, Benenden, Benenden
St Giles, Bodiam, Bodiam
Tenterden, St Mildred, Tenterden

Lincolnshire
Barton upon Humber, St Peters Church, Barton upon Humber
Lincoln Cathedral, Lincoln

Norfolk
Norwich Cathedral, Norwich
Wiggenhall, St Mary's Church, Wiggenhall

Northamptonshire
Brixworth, All Saints Church, Brixworth
Wakerley, St John's Church, Wakerley

Northumberland
Bywell, St Andrew's Church, Bywell

Oxfordshire
Black Bourton, St Mary's, Black Bourton
Buckland, St Mary, Buckland
Childrey, St Mary's Church, Childrey
Dorchester, Abbey of St Peter & St Paul, Dorchester on Thames
Faringdon, All Saints Church, Faringdon
Stanford in the Vale, St Denys, Stanford in the Vale

Rutland
Exton Church, Exton
Stoke Dry, St Andrew's Church, Stoke Dry
Tickencote, St Peter's Church, Tickencote

Shropshire
Shrewsbury Abbey, Shrewsbury
Wroxeter, St Andrew's Church, Wroxeter

Somerset
Wells Cathedral, Wells

Suffolk
Blythburgh, Holy Trinity Church, Blythburgh

Warwickshire
Billesley, All Saints Church, Billesley
Wootton Wawen, St Peter's Church, Wootton Wawen

Wiltshire
Salisbury Cathedral, Salisbury

Worcestershire
Croome d'Abitot, St Mary's Church, Croome d'Abitot
Worcester Cathedral, Worcester

Yorkshire
Barton-le-Street, St Michael's Church, Barton-le-Street
Beverley Minster, Beverley
Beverley, St Mary's Church, Beverley
Harewood, All Saints, Harewood
Patrington, St Patrick's Church, Patrington
Stanwick. St John's Church, Stanwick
York Minster, York

Scotland

Dumfries and Galloway
Ruthwell Cross, Ruthwell

Fife
St Andrews Cathedral and St Rule's Tower, St Andrews

Highlands and Islands
St Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall

Lothian
Rosslyn Chapel, Roslin

Strathclyde
Cill Chaitriona, Balnahard
Kildalton Cross, Kildalton

Wales

Clwyd
St Asaph Cathedral, St Asaph

Dyfed
St David's Cathedral, St Davids

Glamorgan
Llandaff Cathedral, Llandaff