St Peter's & St Paul's Church
St Peter's & St Paul's Church
St Peter's & St Paul's Church
4.5
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
The medieval church of St Peter and St Paul sits at the heart of the North Yorkshire market town of Pickering. The church is best known for its collection of 15th century wall paintings - regarded as one of the most complete sets of medieval wall paintings in England - and the fascinating story of their rediscovery in the 19th century. The church is home to a large and active congregation which continues to meet here on Sundays and Wednesdays for the worship of God. The church is open for private prayer and quiet viewing each day from 9am until 5pm in the summer, and until 4pm in the winter. We look forward to seeing our visitors once again and hope you have a lovely visit.
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listing
Full view
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
The area
Address
Reach out directly
Best nearby
We rank these restaurants and attractions by balancing reviews from our members with how close they are to this location.
Restaurants
59 within 3 miles
Attractions
24 within 6 miles
Contribute
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
We perform checks on reviews.
Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews
Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
Learn more about our review moderation.
4.5
285 reviews
Excellent
208
Very good
69
Average
6
Poor
0
Terrible
2
ste141
Exeter, UK173 contributions
Sep 2023 • Solo
I was able to leave my car in a nearby car park. It was already open, when I arrived. There was a leaflet about the church and I saw the wall paintings which were near the roof near the door.
Written 28 September 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.
Thank you for taking the time to leave a review of our lovely church and incredible wall paintings. The paintings are indeed high up on the walls along both sides of the nave, above the arches and below the clerestory windows. I’m pleased you found the leaflets and guide books, and I hope you found them helpful in explaining the history of the church and paintings.
Written 29 September 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
RockyIsland
Hayling Island, UK138 contributions
Sep 2023 • Couples
We often wander into a church if we see one open and we were totally blown away by the amazing wall paintings, to see so many and such colour was a real treat. If you’re in Pickering which is also a lovely market town, check that the church is open and make a visit, you won’t be disappointed.
Written 27 September 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.
Thank you for taking time to write your lovely review. The church is open 9-5 during British Summer Time then 9-4 in the winter months.
The paintings really are incredible and such a visual delight, and I’m so pleased you were able to see them.
Written 27 September 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Sue Wiggins
Rugby, UK288 contributions
Sep 2023 • Couples
Visited on a bright September day. This church sits at the top of Pickering High St and we approached via a stone staircase between the houses. The highlight of this church is the marvellous wall paintings, high above the Nave. There is extensive information about them so I won't expand here, suffice to say, they are pretty magnificent. There are also some alabaster effigies and stained glass. The church is light and airy. We thoroughly enjoyed our visit which is worth it for the wall paintings alone.
Written 24 September 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.
Thank you for your lovely review of our beautiful church. It sounds as if you managed a really good look around. Yes the paintings are magnificent and it’s always incredible to me that they’ve been completely covered twice, with huge adornments and plaques affixed where they were, and yet they have been uncovered, restored and here they still are.
Written 26 September 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Hillary S
Wigan, UK225 contributions
Aug 2023 • Solo
This is a very special parish church to visit.
In the picturesque town of Pickering, a gentle walk up the hill of the main street and a flight of steps between two buildings will bring you to the parish church of St Peter & St Paul.
It is light and airy inside with white washed walls but above the window arches medieval wall paintings have been uncovered. Their history has been marred by changing opinions over time, being painted over, uncovered and renovated during the arts and crafts influences.
In the picturesque town of Pickering, a gentle walk up the hill of the main street and a flight of steps between two buildings will bring you to the parish church of St Peter & St Paul.
It is light and airy inside with white washed walls but above the window arches medieval wall paintings have been uncovered. Their history has been marred by changing opinions over time, being painted over, uncovered and renovated during the arts and crafts influences.
Written 6 August 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.
Thank you for your lovely review of our beautiful church. The paintings are amazing, and there is such a lot to see, and newly see each time I look!
Written 26 September 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
sfmann106
Colchester, UK920 contributions
Jun 2023 • Couples
We visited here on a steam train day out from Whitby, having been tipped off about the extraordinary medieval wall paintings in this church. Arrived just in time, as they had a funeral on in the afternoon, so we just avoided that! There are very informative booklets in the church (to buy or just to borrow to walk around) which tell you the story of each painting. All so well preserved and with some harrowing tales to tell of Christian martyrs and scenes from the Bible. These are some of the best wall paintings we've seen in churches and certainly so as they cover a large part of both sides of the aisle. Well worth popping in here
Written 16 July 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.
Thank you for your lovely review. I’m so pleased you were able to view the paintings, which are very special. It’s a shame for you that your visit was curtailed slightly, but these things can’t be helped, but I hope you had sufficient time. There’s more information on our website, ‘pickeringchurch’ if you’d like to see more, and a 360° view of the pictures, so you can look again at your leisure.
Written 21 July 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Manfred B
138 contributions
May 2023 • Couples
We visited St. Peter and St. Paul Church in Pickering during our holiday in North Yorkshire.
When we entered this Church we were fascinated to see the 15th. Century Wall Paintings, one of the most complete sets of medieval wall paintings in England, on either side of the Aisle.
What made our visit more memorable was the fact that the friendly Vicar switched on the lights in the Church so that we could admire the medieval wall paintings in a more favourable light.
A Must See Tourist Attraction and should Not Be Missed!
When we entered this Church we were fascinated to see the 15th. Century Wall Paintings, one of the most complete sets of medieval wall paintings in England, on either side of the Aisle.
What made our visit more memorable was the fact that the friendly Vicar switched on the lights in the Church so that we could admire the medieval wall paintings in a more favourable light.
A Must See Tourist Attraction and should Not Be Missed!
Written 25 June 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.
Thank you for taking the time to review your visit. I’m delighted that you enjoyed viewing the paintings, which are well worth seeing. It’s difficult to get the lighting balance just right at the moment with the sunshine streaming in through the clerestory windows, so it was very fortunate that the Vicar was able to alter the balance for you.
Written 27 June 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
ChrisPduck2
United Kingdom527 contributions
May 2023
Absolutely amazing! The mediaeval wall paintings are beyond belief! Apparently they were covered in lime-wash during the Puritan age which was removed during Victorian restorations but quickly covered again with thick yellow paint by a boring vicar who thought the paintings would distract the congregation! In more recent times the paint was removed. Unfortunately a lot of the paintings were destroyed in the process but faithfully re-painted and restored to the original.
Aside from the paintings, the church is very interesting, Norman in origin, with a ground-floor belfry and various other medieval features plus a Norman font and many Georgian memorials.
The church as a whole is very, very clean and well cared for and there's a children's corner to keep the little ones diverted when they become restless - very thoughtful.
Definitely worth going out of your way to visit and don't forget to see the graveyard which is a delightful mixture of modern memorial stones set into the enclosing wall and older graves in an Edgar Allen-Poe horror-story setting of overgrown wild-flowers and crumbling stone.
Aside from the paintings, the church is very interesting, Norman in origin, with a ground-floor belfry and various other medieval features plus a Norman font and many Georgian memorials.
The church as a whole is very, very clean and well cared for and there's a children's corner to keep the little ones diverted when they become restless - very thoughtful.
Definitely worth going out of your way to visit and don't forget to see the graveyard which is a delightful mixture of modern memorial stones set into the enclosing wall and older graves in an Edgar Allen-Poe horror-story setting of overgrown wild-flowers and crumbling stone.
Written 18 May 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.
What a really lovely review! Thank you so much for taking the time to write this, it’s really lovely to read that you have had such a good look around - I hope you found the little monk hidden in one of the stained glass windows - if not, I see a return visit has to be arranged in the future!
Written 6 June 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Joasi23
South Yorkshire, UK1,387 contributions
Mar 2023 • Couples
We were welcomed so warmly into this beautiful little church. We tentatively peeped in without knowing a christening was about to take place , so turned to walk out. The clergy and congregation were keen to share their obvious pride of the interior and encouraged us to have a look round. As we left a lady who attends the services from near Thornton-le-dale was kind enough to tell us all about not only the history but also how the community come together and use the building . It was heart warning that a thriving parish use the church so positively and are happy to share it with visitors. Thank you
Written 27 March 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.
What a lovely review! Thank you so much. I’m delighted that you were able to come and look around - it’s certainly a very special place and so wonderful that such a lot of history survives.
Written 31 March 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
keith b
Manchester, UK31 contributions
Mar 2023
I am not a religious person but you don't have to be to appreciate the stunning building and its contents.A lovely experience.
Written 6 March 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.
Thank you for your lovely review, Keith. I’m delighted you enjoyed your visit to the church, the paintings are really stunning.
Written 25 March 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
r0nwallace
Greater London, UK23 contributions
Sep 2022
We were advised to go to the church by a local person who mentioned the medieval drawings on the walls which were interesting to see
Written 11 October 2022
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.
Thank you for your lovely review. I’m really pleased you came to have a look at the paintings - they certainly are really interesting. I’m still finding new things each time I really look.
Written 1 December 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
No questions have been asked about this experience
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listingSt Peter's & St Paul's Church, Pickering
Frequently Asked Questions about St Peter's & St Paul's Church
- St Peter's & St Paul's Church is open:
- Sun - Sun 08:00 - 17:00
- Mon - Sat 09:00 - 17:00
- Hotels near St Peter's & St Paul's Church:
- (0.03 mi) Host & Stay | The Old School House
- (0.03 mi) Host & Stay | The Old School House
- (0.03 mi) The Black Swan
- (0.05 mi) Bramwood Guest House
- (0.08 mi) 17 Burgate Bed & Breakfast
- Restaurants near St Peter's & St Paul's Church:
- (0.03 mi) Willowgate Bistro
- (0.03 mi) Nosh
- (0.03 mi) Figaro's Restaurant
- (0.03 mi) The Black Swan Inn
- (0.09 mi) Namaste Bengal