Southwark Cathedral

The mother church of the Anglican Diocese of Southwark.
Southwark Cathedral is a parish church which became a cathedral early in the 20th century. St Swithin of weather fame founded a convent on the site which later became a monastery. Henry VIII's closure of the priory led to the main building becoming the parish church. William Shakespeare is believed to have been present when John Harvard, founder of the American university, was baptised here in 1607. This is the year that William's own brother Edmond was buried between the choir stalls. Nearby is the Shakespeare memorial.
The Millennium Project development to the north of the cathedral includes a refectory and a shop with specially commissioned Southwark products. The cloister style courtyard is on the site of the original cloister in use when Southwark Cathedral was a riverside priory. The old and new buildings are separated by an ancient alleyway which has reopened as a glazed street called Lancelot's Link.
On Sundays the main choral eucharist is at 11am.
Open: Cathedral daily 8am-6pm; Refectory Mon-Fri 8.30am-6pm; Sat & Sun 10am-6pm
Admission FREE
Beat the queues & save money with the London Pass
valid at Southwark Cathedral
Want a handy printed guide to what's on in the area each month?
Pick up a free copy of in SE1 at Southwark Cathedral.
News & features about Southwark Cathedral
- Funeral of Canon Eric James at Southwark Cathedral (19 May 2012)
- Diamond Jubilee stained glass window installed at Southwark Cathedral (19 May 2012)
- Gilly Myers to be Southwark Cathedral Precentor (6 May 2012)
- Prince of Wales opens Royal Devotion exhibition at Lambeth Palace Library (3 May 2012)
- St George's Day 2012 in Southwark (25 Apr 2012)
- Archbishop of Canterbury joins St Alphege millennium celebrations (19 Apr 2012)
- Southwark Council leader Peter John to run London Marathon (15 Apr 2012)
- Palm Sunday procession at Borough Market (1 Apr 2012)
- Woodcarver measures Dickensian wooden dog for replica (25 Mar 2012)
- Archbishop of Canterbury visits Southwark to consecrate two bishops (21 Mar 2012)
- Dramatic 'coat hanger crucifixion' sculpture installed at Southwark Cathedral (23 Feb 2012)
- Glaziers Hall team wins Better Bankside pancake race (21 Feb 2012)
- Southwark celebrates 200th anniversary of Charles Dickens' birth (8 Feb 2012)
- Maggi Hambling to create Dickens sculpture for Tabard Street (6 Feb 2012)
- Charles Dickens and Southwark: Lottery cash for bicentenary projects (6 Feb 2012)
- Southwark Archdeacon Michael Ipgrave named as new Bishop of Woolwich (3 Feb 2012)
- Asda Old Kent Road donates £500 to winter night shelter charity (31 Jan 2012)
- Very Revd Andrew Nunn installed as Dean of Southwark (22 Jan 2012)
- Thames focus for 'Twelfth Night' events (8 Jan 2012)
- Peta Bridle's Borough in Pictures exhibition (30 Dec 2011)
- Bishop of Southwark criticises coalition's housing benefit cuts (25 Dec 2011)
- Canon Bruce Saunders to be sub-dean of Southwark Cathedral (12 Dec 2011)
- Sylvia Morris retires after 18 years as head of Cathedral School (11 Dec 2011)
- Bishop and MP sleep out in Southwark Cathedral churchyard for homelessness charity (9 Dec 2011)
- Southwark Cathedral and Borough Market Christmas trees lit up (8 Dec 2011)
Forum discussions about Southwark Cathedral
- Are we electing a new Mayor?
- Maltby Street Revisited
- Borough Market
- NHS staff electoral challenge to Simon Hughes
- Verbal abuse in Southwark Cathedral
- Carols at Southwark Cathedral
- Help the homeless in winter
- Siren at 11am on 11/11
- Wedding venue
- St.Saviour's Church 1880s
- Birds of SE1
- Ideas for places to visit in SE1 for a team building treasure hunt
- Southwark Cathedral clock
- Secret Gardens
- Why not display excavated remains in Southwark Cathedral?
- Waterloo election hustings
- Location, location
- Large room needed for new W.I. meeting
- The Bells the Bells
- Controversial post
Restaurants, pubs & bars close to Southwark Cathedral
- The Mudlark (28 yards)
- Cafe Brood (38 yards)
- Altamarea (38 yards)
- Southwark Cathedral Refectory (42 yards)
- La Cave (46 yards)
- The Guildable Manor (46 yards)
- Fish! (58 yards)
- London Bridge Tandoori (64 yards)
- The Barrow Boy and Banker (66 yards)
- Pizza Express (66 yards)
- Banana Store (70 yards)
- London Bridge Kebab (74 yards)
- fish!kitchen (76 yards)
- Hobbs (80 yards)
- The Globe Tavern (82 yards)
- Bedales (96 yards)

