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Canterbury
Entrance fee (compulsory): £3.50
History: The principal cathedral in England. Built between 1097 and 1498
Unique selling points: The spot where Thomas Becket was slain, the Tomb of the Black Prince
Annual income generated from charges: £1.1m
Drawbacks: Hordes of French and Italian school children
Consumers' Association value-for-money rating: **
Lincoln
Entrance fee (compulsory): £3.50
History: Founded in early 11th century
Unique selling points: Architecture, views of the town and countryside
Income: £250,000
Drawbacks: Chaotic architecture of west end
Value for money: *****
Durham
Entrance fee (voluntary): £3 plus compulsory £2 for tombs, tower and shrines
History: Built in the 12th century; defining example of Norman architecture
Unique selling point: Tomb of Venerable Bede
Income: Cathedral declined to give details
Drawbacks: Visits from Harry Potter fans after its role in forthcoming film
Value for money: **
Ely
Entrance (compulsory): £4
History: Built 1081-1189
Unique selling points: Octagonal central tower, 24-hour lunar clock believed to be second oldest in the world
Income: £200,000
Drawbacks: Bleak Fenland surroundings
Value for money: ****
Hereford
Entrance fee (voluntary): £2, compulsory £4 for library
History: Originally erected circa 825, now a showpiece of different Gothic styles
Unique selling points: Chained medieval library with the Mappa Mundi
Income: £80,000
Drawbacks: Ugly 20th- century additions
Value for money: ***
Salisbury
Entrance (voluntary): £3.50
History: England's most elegant Gothic cathedral with tallest spire, founded in 1220
Unique selling points: 404ft spire, one of four original copies of Magna Carta
Income: £750,000
Drawbacks: Sweatshirts cost £26.50
Value for money: ***
St Paul's London
Entrance (compulsory): £5
History: Sir Christopher Wren's masterpiece completed in 1710
Unique selling points: One of three versions of Holman Hunt's 'The Light of the World', Nelson's tomb, the Whispering Gallery
Income: £2.8m
Drawbacks: Huge crowds and long queues
Value for money: ***
Winchester
Entrance fee (voluntary): £3.50
History: The longest cathedral in England, built late 11th century
Unique selling points: St Swithun's tomb, Jane Austen's memorial, graves of Saxon monarchs including King Canute
Income: £350,000
Drawbacks: officials pounce on you with "welcome" leaflets
Value for money: ****
York Minster
Entrance fee: free, but £3 compulsory charge to visit tower
History: building begun in 1220 with aim of rivalling Canterbury. Largest Gothic cathedral in northern Europe
Unique selling points: Contains 60 per cent of Britain's surviving medieval stained glass; stupendous ceiling
Income from charges: not available
Drawbacks: So many tourists you can't hear the services
Value for money:*****
Value-for-money ratings taken from the 'Which? Guide to Tourist Attractions'
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