Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King

The Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King is Liverpool's Roman Catholic cathedral, set on Mount Pleasant at the top of Brownlow Hill in England. Designed by Sir Frederick Gibberd and consecrated in 1967, it replaced an unbuilt Edwin Lutyens scheme whose crypt still lies beneath the site. Locals have long called it Paddy's Wigwam, a nickname for its circular, tent-like form. The building is a concrete round with a tall central lantern ringed in coloured glass, designed by John Piper and Patrick Reyntiens, which fills the interior with deep blue, red and gold light. The altar sits at the centre, with seating gathered around it so that the congregation faces inward, and the cathedral has a bold bronze sculpture and a large baldachin above the altar. Visitors can walk freely around the interior, see the side chapels and sculptures by artists such as Elisabeth Frink, and view the modern entrance doors. The Lutyens Crypt, with its brick vaulting and a small exhibition, can be visited at times and is worth including when open. A visit typically lasts forty-five minutes to one hour. Entry is free, though a donation is welcome. Mid-morning light through the lantern glass gives the best colours; the cathedral is busiest around services and midday, and parts may close to visitors during Mass. Photography is generally permitted without flash. A short walk along Hope Street links the building to the Anglican cathedral, and many visitors see both in a single outing. The Georgian terraces of Canning Street and Falkner Street are close, as are the University of Liverpool buildings. Visitors arriving by train can walk from Lime Street in about ten minutes, and cafes are available in the building and near the front steps. The wide forecourt offers good views of the lantern.