Time Out has named Wells Cathedral in Somerset the most beautiful building in the UK, placing it at the top of a list of the country's 16 most beautiful places to visit.
The cathedral stands in the centre of Wells, one of England's smallest cities, around 20 miles from Bristol and Bath. It has been there for more than 800 years.
A Gothic masterpiece with a hidden history
Work on the building began around 1175, and it is considered the first English cathedral to have been built entirely in the Gothic style. Most of the construction continued throughout the 1200s until a serious problem emerged.
After a central tower was built in the early 14th century, cracks started to appear because of the huge weight being placed on the structure below. Something had to be done to stop the tower from becoming unstable.
The famous scissor arches
Master mason William Joy came up with the answer in the form of the cathedral's famous scissor arches. The huge stone arches were built between 1338 and 1348 to help support the tower.
They cross over one another to create an unusual shape that looks surprisingly modern, considering it was designed nearly 700 years ago.
Medieval treasures inside and out
Inside the cathedral, one of the most well-known features is the Jesse Window, which dates back to around 1340 and contains some of the finest surviving medieval stained glass in Europe.
There is also the astronomical clock, dating from around 1390. Every quarter of an hour, small figures of knights move around above the clock as if they are taking part in a jousting tournament.
The outside is just as interesting. The huge West Front was once covered with around 400 medieval statues, and around 300 remain today, making it one of the largest collections of medieval sculpture in the country.
Visiting the cathedral and Wells
Visitors can also walk over to Vicars' Close, which sits next to the cathedral. The street was built in the 14th century for the Vicars Choral and is believed to be the oldest continuously inhabited residential street in Europe.
Adult admission to the cathedral currently costs £15.50. Children aged five to 17 pay £5, while under-fives can enter for free.
Wells itself is also worth exploring, with a traditional High Street featuring independent shops, cafés and restaurants, as well as a market held every Wednesday and Saturday.
