Other great medieval art you can see for free

In the crypt of Canterbury Cathedral a carved stone character grimaces as a man sits on his head, legs apart, holding a fish and a bowl. Nearby are a serpent-tailed creature wrestling a dog-like monstrosity, a gryphon eating a siren and a now-detached horned devil — reminders that medieval British art is full of wonder, mystery and humour, and so abundant it can be taken for granted.

The Bayeux Tapestry’s loan to London has stirred a rush for tickets, but Britain has its own Romanesque and gothic treasures. From the lonely, pictorial site of Glastonbury Tor to Conwy and Caernarfon with their dramatic towers, and from the double-square towers of Durham Cathedral perched above the River Wear to Salisbury’s spire, these sites show how styles evolved from semi-circular Romanesque arches to pointy gothic vaults, and onward to fan vaulting and the delicate sculpture of Lady Chapel at Ely.

Britain

canterbury cathedral, bayeux tapestry, glastonbury tor, conwy, caernarfon, durham cathedral, salisbury spire, lady chapel, romanesque arches, gothic vaults