Uncharted London: Westminster Cathedral Brings a bit of Byzantine to London #unchartedlondon

Just around the corner from Victoria Station in London, you'll find the absolutely stunning Westminster Cathedral. Not to be confused with the more famous Westminster Abbey, that's just down the road. The relatively modern Westminster Cathedral is the largest Catholic cathedral in the UK and was completed in 1903. If you've been to any Catholic churches or cathedrals before, you'll notice that the architecture is distinctly different. The architect John Francis Bentley decided on a Neo-Byzantine style with its domes, colourful columns and rich mosaics. The interior remains unfinished and work continues today to complement the decoration. Chapels along both sides each have their own distinct artistic character. The Chapel of Saint Andrew follows the tradition of Byzantine art and the mosaics show six cities associated with Saint Andrew, including Constantinople where he was the first bishop. You can see the Hagia Sophia in the centre which was one of the inspirations for Westminster Cathedral. Opposite in Saint George's Chapel, you can find the enshrined body of Saint John Southwell, a priest who was hung, drawn and quartered at the infamous execution grounds Tyburn near Hyde Park. Saint John finally rests underneath arches representing the 40 martyrs of England and Wales who were executed for their religion during the reformation between 1535 and 1679. You'll find a video about London's gruesome hanging tree in my reels. As you can see it's an incredible building so make sure you leave time for a tour. It's completely free to enter and really worth a visit. Unfortunately the tower was closed while I was in London but it provides a stunning view of Westminster.