Durham Cathedral
Durham Cathedral
4.5
Historic SitesChurches & Cathedrals
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Sunday
12:00 PM - 4:00 PM
About
Explore Durham Cathedral, part of Durham’s UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visit the resting places of iconic Northern saints St Cuthbert and the Venerable Bede as pilgrims have done for 1000 years, and discover the cathedral’s history as a place of faith, art and remembrance. Look up to see stained glass windows and pause by the County Durham miners and local regiment memorials. Step into the cathedral’s museum to see the treasures of St Cuthbert on display in the spaces previously part of Durham’s medieval Benedictine monastery. No admission charge. If you are able, please consider donating £5 tosupport the cathedral’s future
Suggested duration
1-2 hours
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  • Ellis B
    9 contributions
    Magic
    No words enough to describe this stunning magical place. Wonderful historically, unique atmosphere, very well kept and friendly staff around. Honest price. Plus, good spot of interest for all the Harry Potter fans!
    Visited November 2022
    Travelled with family
    Written 14 December 2022
  • Kay
    Greater London, United Kingdom55 contributions
    Love coming back
    We visited last time three years ago, so we were very keen to come back on our visit up North. Such a large and magnificent cathedral, you always discover something new. The stained glass windows are magnificent and the Christmas tree looked beautiful with its simple decoration. I spent some time reading about the history of the Durham Light Infantry. May 2023 bring peace and an end to all wars in the world!
    Visited December 2022
    Travelled with family
    Written 29 December 2022
  • Paul B
    Thirsk, United Kingdom910 contributions
    An Amazing Building
    This is a truly amazing building. We spent all day in here! Some of the extra time we took was possibly because my partner happens to be blind and there were many things that I had to read to her. We were there on Holocaust day and the special exhibit for that was very moving. I recommend getting the printed guide from the desk as that also has lots of useful information in it. My partner particularly liked the tactile model of the cathedral as this gave her more idea of the size of the building and allowed her to orientate herself with where different parts of the cathedral were. The staff in the cathedral were also very helpful and we had a very enjoyable visit.
    Visited January 2023
    Written 30 January 2023
  • Viva-Vampira
    Edinburgh, United Kingdom23 contributions
    One of the best cathedrals in England
    One of the most beautiful of the English cathedrals with delicate 12th century mutuals the Galilee chapel and stained glass in the nine alters. An engineering marvel with its rib vaulted ceilings and conversations of spaces including the effective use of the great kitchen as an exhibition space for the treasures of St Cuthbert. Cathedrals like York or St Giles should look at Durham as an example on how to function as a place of worship but also as a museum in a compelling fashion. The staff are all friendly and exceptional, in particular Zara and Simeon who went above and beyond and definitely deserve a pay rise for their work ethic!
    Visited February 2023
    Travelled solo
    Written 7 February 2023
  • LCG
    Preston, United Kingdom73 contributions
    Great tour by Frank
    Had a great tour from Frank today and it was a great price and learnt a lot of information! Great disability access too!! The tour lasted an hour and a half which was great value of money! I would definitely recommend!
    Visited February 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 13 February 2023
  • trevdeb612021
    Peterborough, United Kingdom7 contributions
    High on a hill
    Durham Cathedral, free to enter but volunteer donation of £5 per person suggested. Fabulous Cathedral in lovely grounds atop a hill. Staff fabulously welcoming, lovely Cafe in Undercroft along with a well stocked shop. Amazing building with bags of history and still used today for services. Highly recommended for a visit, allow at least half a day for the full experience.
    Visited February 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 22 February 2023
  • LauraDaveJames
    Solihull, United Kingdom4,145 contributions
    Very Impressive Building
    We had visited this cathedral several years ago, but since our last visit, they have added a rather intimidating queueing area to go past a desk. Here you are asked for a donation if you can afford it. In my view, churches should not pressurise people into donating, particularly in these difficult times. The building is very impressive and definitely worth visiting even though some of the pieces have been removed and placed in a museum area where an entrance fee is charged.
    Visited February 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 27 February 2023
  • seakingaviator
    58 contributions
    Cathedral tour
    Informative guide Marion took our tour group she was patient, easy to listen too and giving of her time to answer Questions or queries. Very knowledge and made the tour a pleasure to undertake, thank you. We did pay for and visit the museum but I wasn't as impressed with the layout or artefacts on display in the upstairs galler, quite haphazard and more a collection of carved stone cross pieces or coffin parts from all iver not necessarilyfrom the cathedral. The St cuthberts artefacts were fascinating but strangely housed in what was described as the 'kitchen,' it was more a vaulted store and the only element that gave it away as a kitchen was the metal oven door. Why not just label it as the 'artefacts chamber', it's not like there was any info regarding the kitchen it's use etc, you went down there to see the St cuthbert artefacts which was perfectly understandable and very interesting in its own right.
    Visited March 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 26 March 2023
  • kevin m
    Liverpool, United Kingdom23 contributions
    Historical Magnificence.
    A tour of the cathedral is a must for anyone visiting the city. Our tour guide Bob spoke passionately and informatively about the cathedrals history. I would recommend paying for the tour. I could have listened to him all day !
    Visited March 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 1 April 2023
  • Grim72
    Freuchie, United Kingdom411 contributions
    Stunning and awe inspiring
    A visit to Durham isn't a visit without a trip tot he cathedral - it is a stunning and majestic piece of architecture which makes you wonder how something so big, so detailed and so impressive could have been constructed so long ago. Walking through the cathedral is a feast for the eyes and leaves you speechless. I'm not a religious person as such so I visited more for the grandeur of the place than for any higher spiritual reason but I do have an interest in Northumbrian folklore and history - which the cathedral offers plenty reference to. Definitely worth a walk around - we didn't do a guided tour and just wandered around ourselves which was more than ok.
    Visited April 2023
    Written 5 April 2023
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4.5
7,083 reviews
Excellent
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Very good
1,281
Average
179
Poor
59
Terrible
54

Pamela J
Manchester, UK35 contributions
Dec 2023 • Family
Visiting Durham Cathedral in the snow in December has to be one of the most festive experiences you can have. The exterior is jaw-droppingly impressive, but once you are inside you can't fail to be moved by the beauty and majesty of the place. I want to thank the very kind usher who was outside the main door about 1pm on Saturday 2nd December 2023. My phone was on 2% battery, I was worried about my daughter, who was rather late meeting me, and he lent me his mobile. A true gentleman. Don't know his name: long hair, tall, blue eyes.
Written 4 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Dawn G
Leeds, UK141 contributions
Dec 2023 • Friends
Unfortunately we didn't have long enough to fully explore due to the weather but I will definitely go back again soon. Some amazing stain glass windows here. Love how old it is and the sanctuary door knocker is a delight.
Harry Potter fans will love the quad area.
Written 1 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Jon S
Newcastle upon Tyne, UK7 contributions
Jul 2023 • Family
Very good recommend lovely decor very reasonable for what we where looking for will be returning thankyou
Written 26 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Sue Davis
Westcliff-on-Sea, UK34 contributions
Nov 2023 • Friends
What can I say but WOW - such an impressive building. So much heritage, so much History. Absolutely wonderful, so educational. A must see for everyone.
Written 25 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Anharid Amy
Bristol, UK306 contributions
Oct 2023 • Couples
Lovely architecture both inside and outside

It was nice to take a walk around here and take in the history.

Lots to see and a cafe and shop at the end where you can rest and purchase souvenirs.
Written 25 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Aledward
County Durham, UK6 contributions
Nov 2023 • Couples
Just returned from the excellent Durham Cathedral Secret Spaces Tour.
Our guide Neil was friendly , enthusiastic and had a great knowledge of the Cathedral and its history.
We ended the tour with a lovely afternoon tea inside the rooms of this amazing Cathedral. This tour is real value for money and would certainly recommend to others. Many thanks.
Written 23 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Mike
Glossop, UK568 contributions
Nov 2023 • Solo
The cathedral itself is a must-see when in the area, but I would also highly recommend the tower tour and the museum tours which are a very modest £7.50 each. I was lucky as I arrived at the perfect time to do both at 1pm and 2pm respectively.

The museum is only open for tours and the 14th century monks dormitory where it is housed is worth seeing in its own right, but there’s also an amazing collection of Celtic crosses and relics of St Cuthbert including some rare surviving Saxon lace and some early books.

The cathedral is closed to visitors during services so plan your visit beforehand.
Written 19 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Geoff S
1 contribution
Nov 2023 • Family
Nice little attraction, my daughter loved it, but the ridiculous queuing took the shine of it for me tbh. Also due to the shear amount of people, little ones were struggling to see alot the attractions due to the amount of people, and being able to see over the top of them.

Some lovely art pieces, and all very bright fir young children, and keeps them wondering what's around the next corner!

Now the negative which caused me to only leave a 3 star review...

I wouldn't recommend buying food from that first food van directly after the Cathedral, black van with yellow writing on, "road chef" or sumit they called themselves, £6.50 for a hotdog with no hotdog bun or onions, literally a normal bun, with a hotdog sausage cut in 2, not even remotely filling the bun.
Then told they had no ketchup left either at 8pm...
Selling hotdogs with no hotdog buns, no onions, and no ketchup
If my daughter hadn't already tucked in to hers, I wouldn't have paid them and slung it back at them. Disgusting charging what they did, for the level of what was served up. 13 quid for not even a pounds worth of food...
And I'm not talking about the other food vans either, as their food was cheaper alot more value for money, and looked a hell of alot nicer...
Wish we had waited but this was the first van we came to, right after the Cathedral and as my daughter was starving, and we weren't sure if there were more food vans, we got food there and really wished we had waited...
Robbed out of 13 quid for utter sub-standard food!
I normally don't winge about stuff like this, so it shows how ripped off I feel!
Written 18 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Sam
14 contributions
Nov 2023 • Solo
I visited Durham Cathedral today and I am absolutely blown away by the sheer spectacle that I witnessed. The overall experience is a must. Although entry to the cathedral is free (a recommended donation is appreciated) I would highly recommend buying a ticket to enter the museum, I spent a good hour and half exploring the relics and chatting with the super friendly staff inside. It is truly an amazing experience I can’t wait to visit again
Written 13 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Brinscall.Lancs.Reviewer
Chorley, UK1 contribution
Oct 2023 • Family
It's a stunning building. Lots of comments complaining about 'having' to donate in order to enter. Donations are advised, but they won't stop you going in if you do not donate, and when we donated, they were very grateful. I would say it is the best cathedral we've visited in England and thoroughly deserves its UNESCO World Heritage Site Status. The interior is also amazing and would thoroughly recommend going up the tower (adults do have to pay for this, but it is worth it).
Written 29 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Durham Cathedral

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