Which English Gothic cathedral boasts the largest cloister in England?

Salisbury Cathedral boasts the largest cloister in England.

The cloister was added to Salisbury Cathedral in the thirteenth century, after the main cathedral had begun in 1220. Its covered walks surround a square open court and connect important parts of the cathedral complex, including the chapter house. Medieval canons could use such spaces for processions, reading, contemplation, and sheltered movement between buildings.

Salisbury’s cloister measures roughly 190 feet, or 58 meters, square. Its scale reflects the wealth and ambition of the newly established cathedral at Salisbury, built in the Early English Gothic style. The cathedral itself is also famous for its exceptionally tall spire, completed around 1320.

The cloister should not be confused with Salisbury’s Cathedral Close, the surrounding historic precinct. The Close is celebrated as Britain’s largest cathedral close, while the cloister is the largest in England. York Minster and Canterbury Cathedral have celebrated medieval cloisters or related precincts, but they do not hold this particular distinction.