Washington National Cathedral

Washington National Cathedral tickets: which one to buy

Washington National Cathedral stands on Mount Saint Alban, the highest point in Washington DC, in the northwest of the city, and it is an Episcopal cathedral that serves as a spiritual home for the nation, hosting state funerals and national services. General admission for sightseeing is charged on most days, with free entry for worship services. Guided tours are included, and special tours, such as the tower climb, the behind-the-scenes tour and the gargoyle tour, require booking and a separate fee.

The cathedral is about fifteen minutes by bus or taxi from the National Mall, and the nearest metro stations are a longer walk away. It is set in the Olmsted Woods and the Bishop's Garden, which are free and beautiful to walk through. The cathedral is less crowded than the Mall's monuments, and a visit takes a few hours with a tour. Buses from the Tenleytown and Woodley Park metro stations stop near the cathedral grounds.

Visiting Washington National Cathedral: what to see

The cathedral was begun in 1907, when the foundation stone was laid in the presence of President Theodore Roosevelt, and completed in 1990, when the final finial was placed in the presence of President George H. W. Bush. It was built in the fourteenth-century English Gothic style, using traditional stone construction without steel, and it is the second largest cathedral in the United States. The central tower rises about 91 metres, the highest point in Washington. The cathedral is decorated with more than two hundred stained glass windows, including the Space Window, which contains a piece of moon rock brought back by Apollo 11. Among its many gargoyles and grotesques is a carving of Darth Vader, the result of a children's design competition.

The cathedral holds the tombs of President Woodrow Wilson and Helen Keller. Martin Luther King Jr. preached his last Sunday sermon from its pulpit in 1968. An earthquake in 2011 damaged the cathedral, and repairs have continued for years. The Bishop's Garden, beside the cathedral, has medieval-style herb gardens, rose beds and a stone gazebo. The Pilgrim Observation Gallery, when open, offers views over the city from above the west towers. The cathedral's chapels include one dedicated to children and another to the memory of the armed forces. The Washington Ring of bells, a peal of ten, is rung regularly. The needlepoint kneelers in the pews were stitched by volunteers and show state seals and historical scenes.

Washington National Cathedral opening hours and the best time to go

The cathedral is open daily for visitors, with limited sightseeing on Sundays because of worship. Washington is hot and humid in summer and busy with tourists in spring, when the cherry blossoms bloom, and autumn is pleasant. The cathedral's Flower Mart in May is a traditional festival in the grounds. Christmas brings services and concerts, and the cathedral is used for national events that may close it at short notice. The gargoyle tours are best on sunny days with binoculars. Allow about two hours for the cathedral and gardens, and combine the visit with the neighbourhood of Cleveland Park. The National Zoo, part of the Smithsonian and free to enter, is about fifteen minutes' drive east.