Southwark Cathedral, London

Locals call it "Suth-uck," but you can just call it London’s oldest Gothic church-and one of its best-kept secrets. Parts of Southwark Cathedral hail from the 12th century, though you wouldn’t know it from the modest tourist traffic. Inside, you'll stumble across all kinds of treasures, like a late-13th-century wooden knight who’s been lying down on the job for about 700 years.

Southwark started life as a priory, became a palace church for Henry VIII, and was eventually bought by a plucky group of merchants in 1611. With a bit of a Victorian glow-up during the 1800s, it officially got its cathedral badge in 1905 (better late than never). The building took quite a beating during the London Blitz-about 1,600 bombs were dropped on the site-and you can still spot the scars on its outer walls if you look closely.

Now, if you’re in a browsing mood, look up at the colorful 15th-century roof bosses-basically medieval doodles carved in wood-and don’t miss the tomb of poet John Gower. The latter was pals with Geoffrey Chaucer ("father of English literature", best known for The Canterbury Tales) and once served as poet laureate to Richard II. Fancy...

There’s also the Harvard Chapel, marking the baptism spot of John Harvard-yes, that very Harvard-the local lad who went off and founded a university in the U.S. you might have heard of.

Back in Shakespeare’s day, Southwark wasn’t just the place to pray-it was the place to play. Theaters like The Globe, The Rose, and The Swan turned the area into London’s entertainment hotspot. William himself bunked nearby for a while, close enough to hear the cathedral bells, and he used to worship here, too.

Was he a regular churchgoer? Hard to say. Shakespeare’s religious leanings are about as clear as a London fog. But his friends certainly showed up here. Even Shakespeare’s younger brother, Edmund-an actor like his big bro-was buried here in 1607.

Today, the cathedral tips its hat to the Bard with a stunning memorial: a reclining Shakespeare statue, casually lounging beneath a stained glass window sparkling with scenes from his plays. It’s literary London at its finest.

Before you leave, wander through the churchyard, now a lovely herb garden, and follow the charming Millennium Courtyard right down to the river. It’s history, drama, and a breath of fresh air-all tucked just out of sight from the tourist crowds.