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Visits for schools and youth groups

Durham Cathedral, its historic buildings, its collections and its riverbanks are all fantastic learning resources in the heart of the city.

We offer a variety of workshops to meet your curriculum needs as well as options for self-guided visits.

We ask all school, academy and college groups to book ahead of their visit using the enquiry links below.

Availability

We are now taking bookings for self-guided visits in January 2025 onwards and guided visits from February 2025 onwards.

Guided visits are available Tuesday to Friday.

Self guided visits are available within cathedral opening hours by arrangement. All group visits need to book ahead of their visit using the enquiry links below.

Timings

Guided half day visits typically run 10:00am - 12:30pm (including 30mins lunch time) or 12:30pm - 2:30pm.

Guided full day visits typically run from 10:00am - 2:00pm (including 30mins lunch time)

There's information below about the workshops we offer for different age groups.

Self Guided visits can be arranged to a schedule that suits your needs. Contact us using the enquiry buttons below.

Pricing

A guided half day is £5.00 per pupil 

A guided full day is £8.00 per pupil

Self-guided visits are  £3.50 per pupil

All accompanying adults are free of charge

See FAQs for more information on how to pay.

Our calendar fills up fast! We are now taking bookings for self-guided and guided visits from January 2025 onwards.

Key information and FAQs

If you've never planned a group visit to Durham Cathedral before or just want to remind yourself of some key information, this page is here to help.

We recommend you share this with all visiting staff and helpers.

FAQs and key information for school and youth groups

Self-guided visits

Self-guided visits can be a great way to share your knowledge of the cathedral in the location that will bring it to life. We are happy to support self-guided visits with information packs and resources to help you make the most of your time at Durham Cathedral.

We ask that you take extra care to familiarise your staff with our key information to help your visit run as smoothly as possible.

To book a self-guided visit or to start a conversation about how our resources can support your teaching, complete an enquiry form using the button below. Make sure you include any learning aims or requests in the additional information box.

Enquire here

Short visits and visits for specialist providers

If you’re planning a drop-in visit or a short visit (less than an hour), you’ll still need to book, but let us know more about your intentions and needs when you enquire. You might be eligible for a reduced rate. If you work for a specialist provider, we can work with you to find dates and times of day where the atmosphere in the cathedral is most suited to your pupils' needs and help make sure they have access to facilities that they might need to make their visit most comfortable.

Enquire here
A visitor looks at items in the cathedral's shop

"Our children (and staff) thoroughly enjoyed the informative tour of the riverbanks and cathedral. The children were engaged throughout and they were able to learn things which we can use at a later date in the classroom."

Key Stage 1 Guided Visits

Typically, we offer an indoor tour of the cathedral and its features followed by your choice of 45 minute workshop(s).

A half day consists of a tour and one workshop, and a full day provides a tour and three workshops.


Available workshops:

  • The Story of St Cuthbert - Use our costumes and props to take part in a theatrical retelling of the life of St Cuthbert.
  • Understanding Pilgrimage - Learn about identity and belonging through a craft based activity.
  • Riverbanks Tour - Take a walk and explore the human and physical geography of the riverbanks and hills of the Durham peninsula.
  • Art, Architecture and Design - Engage with shapes, patterns and structures from the architecture of the cathedral, build puzzles and create your own geometric patterns using printing techniques.
  • Expressions of Belief - Learn about the symbols and features of Durham Cathedral and explore how Christians express their belief.
Enquire here

"Very impressed with the guides and their knowledge set. Bonus was having the classroom and the toilets close by, it’s these little things that just make the day more manageable."

Key Stage 2 Guided Visits

Typically, we offer an indoor tour of the cathedral and its features followed by your choice of 45 minute workshop(s).

A half day consists of a tour and one workshop, and a full day provides a tour and three workshops.


Available workshops:

  • St Cuthbert: Tales and Tails - Retell stories from the life of Saint Cuthbert through drama. Learn how Cuthbert was impacted by his faith, and how this affected those around him.
  • Treasures of St Cuthbert - Hunt for facts amongst our collection of objects from Roman graves to Viking hogbacks and Anglo-Saxon gold.
  • Understanding Pilgrimage - Learn about Pilgrimage and why people visit Durham cathedral today through hands-on activities.
  • Riverbanks Tour - Take a walk and explore the interaction between the human and physical geography of the riverbanks and hills of the Durham peninsula. Consider how land use has changed over time and issues of sustainability in the modern world.
  • Expressions of Belief - Learn about key beliefs held by Christians and how they are expressed through the features and practices of Durham cathedral.
  • Cuthbert’s Challenges- Explore more about St Cuthbert’s history in an outdoor setting by conquering practical team building challenges. These fun and memorable tasks are linked to events that happened to Cuthbert in his life (and after his death!) to help teach about his significance for the local area and how his faith impacted his life. This session is weather dependent.
Enquire here

"The staff conducted the tour in a way which was age appropriate for the Sixth Form students. A fantastic, organised trip, that was pitched perfectly for the pupils."

Key Stage 3+ Guided Visits

Most of our workshops are a half day in length and include a tour of the cathedral.

Teacher-led museum access and climbing the central tower are optional extras available to KS3+ as part of a full day visit. Terms and conditions apply.

Available workshops:

  • Treasures of St Cuthbert – Explore Durham Cathedral Museum to find out more about life in different periods in Durham’s past. Take part in a quiz in the Great Kitchen amongst the treasures of St Cuthbert.
  • Christianity in Durham Cathedral - Explore Durham Cathedral to learn about beliefs and practices in Christianity. Discuss key topics within religion such as gender equality, war, life after death and the role of prayer.
  • Burnt banners and missing statues- Learn about key contentions in Christian belief during the Elizabethan period and their impact on the revolt of the Northern Earls through interaction with primary materials.
  • Norman England and Durham Cathedral: Historic environments- Designed to support the AQA GCSE History British depth study, explore the cathedral with a special focus on Norman history and architecture. This session combines well with a tour of the riverbanks to explore the defensive site or a visit to Durham Cathedral Museum to see the treasures of St Cuthbert; you can also enquire about a joint visit with Durham Castle.
Enquire here

"We have visited for the past two years, and the children absolutely love the visit! The staff and visit process were excellent."

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Spring blossom surrounding the exterior of the cathedral

Parking for coaches

Coach parking isn't available in the cathedral grounds, but follow this link for Durham County Council's coach parking information page.
Cathedral view from the South.

Accessibility

Everyone is welcome at Durham Cathedral. Find tips for visiting the cathedral with disabilities, and information about the accessibility of different spaces around the cathedral.
Family outside of Durham Cathedral

Safeguarding

The welfare of everyone, including children, young people, vulnerable adults, is a priority at Durham Cathedral and safeguarding is at the heart of everything we do