The largest medieval church in the British Isles, and the second largest in Northern Europe, York Minster dominates the skyline of its city with its mighty bulk. I'd rank it below many smaller churches in terms of beauty, but the sheer size and power of this archiepiscopal seat have to be seen to be understood.

The mighty transept which dominates this picture is one of the pair built during the reign of Archbishop Walter de Gray in the 13th Century; the massive central tower behind it is much later. To give you an idea of the scale of the building, the width of the church at the transepts is greater than that of HMS Victory, Nelson's flagship at Trafalgar; whilst the central tower alone weighs more than 4 Boeing 747's (according to the guides).