Sherborne Abbey
As much as the golden hamstone (a type of limestone) exterior, majestic tower, and fine flying buttresses impress, the glory of Sherborne Abbey is the delicate 15th-century fan vaulting that extends the length of the soaring nave and choir. Some features from the original 8th-century cathedral, like a Saxon doorway in the northwest corner, still remain. If you're lucky, you might hear "Great Tom," one of the heaviest bells in the world, pealing out from the bell tower. Free guided tours lasting about an hour are offered from April through November on Tuesday and Thursday (10:30 am) and Wednesday and Friday (2 pm); tours are also offered Saturday (10:30 am) and Sunday (11:15 am) from early July through early September. From December through March, tours need to be made by prior arrangement.
