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Durham Cathedral
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Durham Cathedral

See all things to do
See all things to do
Durham Cathedral
4.5
6,984
#2 of 88 things to do in Durham
Historic Sites • Churches & Cathedrals
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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
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About
Durham Cathedral welcomes non-flash visitor photography. We have been a place of worship, welcome and hospitality for almost one thousand years. We rely on donations, and we suggest you give £3 per person to support the Cathedral's future. Located at the heart of the Durham UNESCO World Heritage Site, Durham Cathedral is one of the finest examples of Romanesque architecture in Europe. Built in 1093, the Cathedral is famous as the Shrine of St Cuthbert and the resting place of the Venerable Bede. Durham Cathedral also boasts the most intact surviving set of medieval monastic buildings in the UK. These spectacular spaces house Open Treasure, a world-class visitor experience which reveals the remarkable story of Durham Cathedral and its incredible collections through temporary and permanent exhibits for visitors of all ages. Charges apply to group tours, public tours and Open Treasure.
Suggested duration
1-2 hours
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The area
Address
Best nearby
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237 within 5 kms
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Attractions
94 within 10 kms
Durham Museum
112
0.2 kmHistory Museums • Churches & Cathedrals
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1
0.2 kmArchitectural Buildings
Palace Green
244
0.2 kmPoints of Interest & Landmarks
Durham Riverside Walk
630
0.3 kmScenic Walking Areas
Palace Green Library
123
0.2 kmLibraries
Durham Castle
1,326
0.4 kmHistoric Sites • Architectural Buildings
Lindisfarne Gospels
135
0.3 kmSpeciality Museums
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129
0.3 kmVisitor Centres
Museum of Archaeology
45
0.3 kmSpeciality Museums • History Museums
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0.3 kmBridges
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
6,985 reviews
Excellent
5,435
Very good
1,265
Average
175
Poor
57
Terrible
53
Paul B
Thirsk, UK885 contributions
An Amazing Building
Jan 2023
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.
Written 30 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
reneeandbabyming
Lincs161 contributions
Cathedral Tour
Dec 2022 • Family
A wonderful Cathedral guided tour. Very informative and historically significant.

A big thank you to Margret Potter for her excellent insights and knowledge.
Written 31 December 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Kay
Greater London, UK49 contributions
Love coming back
Dec 2022 • Family
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!
Written 29 December 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Travelstyle
London, UK3 contributions
Lovely visit
Sep 2022 • Family
Took the kids and they loved it, very impressive and a great way to see this historic town such an incredible place
Written 24 December 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Ferenc M
United Kingdom992 contributions
an absolute must see..worth a trip
Dec 2022
This is an absolute must see. Worth coming to Durham just for this and the place. cant say any more, just amazing
Written 19 December 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Ellis B
9 contributions
Magic
Nov 2022 • Family
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!
Written 15 December 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Joules
Alora, Spain4 contributions
Quaint city
Aug 2022
They don't allow dogs in so my husband had to go in separately but it was well worth it. Lots of history.
Written 11 December 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
debatt2014
Harlow, UK70 contributions
well worth a visit
Dec 2022
Fantastic place to visit. Plenty of knowledgeable staff on hand to answer any questions. There is also a museum but it is an extra charge. There is a cafe but we didn't use it on this visit.
Written 7 December 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Tom B
Chesterfield, UK526 contributions
Amazing Cathedral beautiful building
Dec 2022 • Couples
We had a great afternoon at Durham Cathedral. If you like amazing architecture and construction, religion, history and a cafe it's for you.
Just the windows alone are worth it from ancient to modern.
Built in 40 years in the 1100's with hand tools and manual labour it's stupendous.
Entry let's be clear is free, but it's fair enough to say they do like a donation of the recommended £5 , fair I would say and well worth it and this historic building consumes a huge budget to conserve, you can see craftsmen and women engaged in this as you walk round. The route inside funnels you past a donation desk but you do not have to pay and there are other donation points inside where you can just drop what you want in a box or make a card donation.
The Cathedral is a wonder the volunteers are very knowledgeable and happy to pass on the history of the building.
The carving in stone and wood is a wonder.
The Undercroft cafe is very good and recommended.
Written 2 December 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Jayden D
3 contributions
beautiful architecture
Oct 2022
A beautiful cathedral on the inside and out, stunning architecture and a great place to visit as a harry potter fan!
Written 1 December 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Durham Cathedral

Frequently Asked Questions about Durham Cathedral
Durham Cathedral is open:
  • Sun - Sun 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM
  • Mon - Sat 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Buy tickets in advance on Tripadvisor. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel at least 24 hours before the start date of your tour for a full refund.
We recommend booking Durham Cathedral tours ahead of time to secure your spot. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. See all 12 Durham Cathedral tours on Tripadvisor