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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.

Useful information for visiting with disabilities

  • Parking for disabled visitors is available close by the cathedral on Palace Green. To request parking here please call Durham University on 0191 334 2222
  • The majority of the cathedral site is accessible for wheelchairs and pushchairs through ramps and lifts. This includes the main entrance, the museum, cafe and shop.
  • There are two disabled toilets.
  • Some parts of the cathedral have uneven floors and low lighting.
  • Some areas, including the tower, are only accessible by stairs.
  • Assistance dogs are welcome.
  • There is an induction loop inside the cathedral.
  • Please note, only dogs, including guide dogs, are permitted inside the cathedral. No other animals, including emotional support animals, are allowed within the building.

Contact us

If you need more help with planning your visit, please send us an email at visitor.desk@durhamcathedral.co.uk.

Accessibility guide for different cathedral spaces

Find detailed information about accessibility for visitors with physical disabilities, hearing and vision impairments and neurodiverse visitors in our handy guide. We have broken down the information into the different indoor and outdoor spaces that make up Durham Cathedral.

Read our accessibility guide

Hear more from people visiting Durham Cathedral with accessibility needs...

Kate Stanforth's guide to accessible days out in Durham

Disability and lifestyle blogger Kate Stanforth has written a blog article about her day trip to Durham to see how accessible the city's attractions really are. Her day out included a visit to the cathedral, museum and café.

Read Kate's blog
Kate Stanforth and dog outside Cathedral

Stephen Anderson, attending a service with his Guide Dog Ava shared his experience of a visit in November 2025:

‘I recently came to Choral Evensong on a visit from London. Me and my guide dog Ava are touring ‘the 42’ and want to be the first guide dog partnership ever to achieve this - we’re on track to do so in a few years! 

Thank you to Durham Cathedral for the very warm welcome we both received a few weeks ago. Entering as a stranger but greeted like a long-lost friend - this is the epitome of the Christian spirit. I was once told that many Anglican buildings are physically cold, but filled with warm people. Thank you again for your greeting.'

'Wheelie Fab Times' review of Durham's most popular attractions

David and Penny, who run the Instagram account Wheelie Fab Times, we're invited to Durham for an action-packed staycation. In this blog, they write about accessibility and their experiences exploring the county, including a visit to Durham Cathedral.

Read the blog