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The Cathedral is open every day of the year.

Entrance to the Cathedral Church and Cloister

We encourage visitors to make a donation and do not charge admission. Please donate as generously as you can as we care for this wonderful building and all that we do. 

We suggest a donation of £3 per person.

Entry to the Cathedral is via the Galilee Chapel, as the north door is currently closed for maintenance work.

Opening times for visitors

  • Monday - Saturday: until 6pm
  • Sunday: until 5.30pm
Durham Cathedral is a busy working church, particularly during Advent and Christmas, and some of these services and events may restrict access for visitors to explore the cathedral. Whenever possible we list times of limited access at the bottom of this page, but it is not always possible to do this in advance.
 

Open Treasure museum opening times

Winter opening hours - 1 December 2019 to 18 January 2020
  • Monday - Saturday: 11am - 4pm. Last admission is at 3pm.
  • Sunday: 12.30pm - 4pm. Last admission is at 3pm.
Closed for exhibition changeover Sunday 19 - Sunday 26 January.
 
There is a charge to visit this area. Occasionally we need to close it to change exhibitions. Find out more in Open Treasure.

Worship and private prayer

All are welcome to join us in worship and private prayer. 

Details of regular services and prayers are below.   

More information about worship can be seen at Worship and Music

 

 

Shop and restaurant opening times

The Cathedral Shop opening times

Monday - Saturday: 9am - 5.30pm
Sunday: 12 noon - 5pm

You can find our Cathedral Shop in the Undercroft off the Cloister.

The Undercroft Restaurant opening times

Open 10am - 4.30pm every day except Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year's Day and Good Friday.

Enjoy a tasty snack or meal in the beautiful medieval undercroft. Find out more in Undercroft Restaurant.

Regular services

Access to parts of the Cathedral may be restricted before and during these services:

Sundays

  • 8am - Holy Communion
  • 10am - Matins
  • 11.15am - Sung Eucharist
  • 3.30pm Evensong

Weekdays

8.30am - Morning Prayer 

12.30pm - Holy Communion

5.15pm - Evensong or Evening Prayer

Wednesdays and Church festivals

7.30am - Holy Communion

Regular Prayers

Daily 

11.15am and 3pm - Shrine Prayers for St Cuthbert, in the Feretory

Second Tuesday of every month

11.15am - Durham Deanery Mothers' Union Prayer Group Meeting, the Gregory Chapel 

Thursdays

12 noon - Prayers for Peace and Justice

Fridays during Lent

12 noon - Prayers at the Pietà

Occasional closures or limited access

Sometimes repair work, a special event or service means we have to limit access to all or parts of the Cathedral. Knowing that many people often travel from a distance to visit, we try to minimise these times.

As soon as we know about a closure or limited access we post information below. However we are a working church some services, such as funerals, are arranged at short notice.

To check what's happening on the day of your visit, please contact our visitor desk at visitor.desk@durhamcathedral.co.uk.

You can also check for any last minutes changes before your visit on our:

 

Funeral and Thanksgiving for the life of Ron Hogg - Tuesday 7 January 2020 at 11am

The Cathedral, including Open Treasure, the Cathedral Shop and Undercroft Restaurant will be closed to tourist visitors on the morning of Tuesday 7 January. Everything will open around 1pm, after the service.

Morning prayer will take place as usual at 8.30am.

6 January - 14 February: Central tower closed for maintenance

The central tower will be closed for maintenance. Apologies for any inconvenience caused.