Typical timings
Our typical visiting times for groups of young people are
10am – 2.15pm
Visiting hours
Cathedral visiting hours are generally Monday to Saturday
9.30am – 4.30pm
On Sundays the church is open for worship and prayer; general visiting hours are
12 noon - 3pm
Bigger groups
If you are bringing 60 or more young people and are visiting another site in Durham on the same day, please ask about our split day rates on our enquiry form.
Each of our topics has three possible guided sessions:
Explore
An interactive tour of Durham Cathedral, tailored to your chosen topic. This session is included when you book one or more guided sessions.
Discover
A hands-on workshop to study your chosen topic. This session is included when you book two or more guided sessions.
Challenge
A hands-on workshop that involves either creativity, or collaboration, or both! This session is included when you book three guided sessions.
Topics best suited to Key Stage 1 and under (under 7 years old)
Meet Saint Cuthbert
Explore St Cuthbert’s final resting place with a guided tour, spotting his influence on Durham Cathedral.
Included in days with 1 or more guided sessions.
Discover the story of St Cuthbert by acting it out with costumes and props in our Learning Centre.
Included in days with 2 or more guided sessions.
Challenge your group to create “stained glass” windows to take home to remember your visit.
Included in days with 3 guided sessions.
Key Curriculum areas: RE, History, Art & Design
Durham Cathedral as a Place of Worship
Explore Durham Cathedral as a place of worship on a guided tour, spotting the key features of a church.
Included in days with 1 or more guided sessions.
Discover expressions of Christian belief by handling artefacts, texts and vestments.
Included in days with 2 or more guided sessions.
Challenge yourself to create a clay shell and remember Durham Cathedral’s importance as a site of pilgrimage.
Included in days with 3 guided sessions.
Key Curriculum areas include: RE, History, Art & Design
Topics best suited to Key Stage 2 (7 – 11 years old)
St Cuthbert’s Life and Legacy
Explore St Cuthbert’s final resting place and investigate his lasting legacy at Durham Cathedral on a guided tour.
Included in days with 1 or more guided sessions.
Discover stories about Cuthbert through teambuilding activities (outdoor option) OR group drama.
Included in days with 2 or more guided sessions.
Challenge yourself to create a keyring, inspired by St Cuthbert's cross, after seeing Cuthbert’s treasures in the Great Kitchen.
Included in days with 3 guided sessions.
Key curriculum areas: RE, Art & Design, History, English, RSE
Why do people come to Durham Cathedral?
Explore our local heritage through stories of the Northern Saints on a guided tour of the Church.
Included in days with 1 or more guided sessions.
Discover Durham Cathedral as a site of pilgrimage, by joining characters across time in a role-playing game.
Included in days with 2 or more guided sessions.
Challenge your group to create an artwork to symbolise the wide range of visitors to Durham Cathedral today.
Included in days with 3 guided sessions.
Key curriculum areas: RE, History, RSE, Art & Design
How to build a Cathedral
Explore key features and purposes of Durham Cathedral using four-figure grid references on this guided tour.
Included in days with 1 or more guided sessions.
Discover more about the fabric of the cathedral with a carousel of hands-on activities.
Included in days with 2 or more guided sessions.
Challenge your inner stonemason to carve a mini cathedral out of soap to take home with you.
Included in days with 3 guided sessions.
Key curriculum areas: RE, History, Geography, Art & Design.
Music at Durham Cathedral
Explore Durham Cathedral on a guided tour looking at music and the role of the organ in worship.
Included in days with 1 or more guided sessions.
Discover the importance of singing as part of the worship, wear a cassock and process into the Church.
Included in days with 2 or more guided sessions.
Challenge your group to create a musical performance, inspired by the patterns and sounds of our bells.
Included in days with 3 guided sessions.
Key curriculum areas: Music, RE, History, Design & Technology
Chosen your topic? Here are the next steps:
Step 3: Confirmation
Once a date has been agreed and you have confirmed you wish to go ahead with the visit, we send you a confirmation form.
Step 4: Safeguarding
With your confirmation form, you receive a link to our safeguarding pledge. You need to complete this before your visit.
Step 5: Arrival and payment
On the day, check in at the Visitor Desk. If you have booked one of our guides, they will greet you. If you have chosen to pay in cash, please pay at the Visitor Desk on arrival.
After your visit, we send you an invoice, unless you have already paid at the Visitor Desk.
