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Durham Cathedral Museum

Set within the spaces of the medieval monastery of Durham, explore fascinating stories and ancient relics in Durham Cathedral Museum. Get up close to St Cuthbert's cross and coffin, and the original Sanctuary Ring.

Monday - Saturday

10am - 4pm (Last entry 3:30pm)

Museum Entry - Book here

Sunday

12pm - 4pm (Last entry 3.30pm)

Museum Entry - Book here

Ticket Prices

Adult

£7.50

Under 18's

Free

Annual Pass

£15

Durham Cathedral Museum is spread out over three rooms, each with unique displays from the cathedral’s historic collections.

A Treasure and a Legacy: Conservation at Durham Cathedral

From Monday 8 March to Sunday 28 June, deep dive into the architecture and how people have cared for the building over the centuries.

See drawings of the cathedral captured over the years, from architectural drawings of where the Father Smith Organ once stood, prints of the cathedral to woodcuts of stonemasons and drawings of workmen in the Triforium. Centuries-old documents are on display, listing repair costs and the names of workmen involved. 

Find out more and book tickets here

Monks Dormitory

Dating back to 1404, the medieval Monks Dormitory still has the original oak roof. Today, the dormitory holds our collection of early Christian stonework, including an impressive collection of Anglo-Scandinavian hogback grave markers, created as symbols of strength to protect the graves of those on the way to Valhalla. These are shown alongside other stone monuments, telling the story of the development of Christianity in the region.

Great Kitchen

Built in the 1370s, this room served as the cathedral kitchen until the 1940s. The treasures of St Cuthbert are on display here housed under the impressive stone octagonal ceiling. Many relics were uncovered during the opening of St Cuthberts shrine in 1827. The Great Kitchen displays his decorated, hand carved coffin made in 698, the Pectoral cross and silk textiles gifted to his body in 938 by King Athelstan. Alongside the treasures, you will find the original Sanctuary Ring and the dragon slaying sword, the Conyers Falchion.

The Treasures of St Cuthbert

Many of the most famous items in our collections are on display in the Great Kitchen within the museum. Find out more about the interesting treasures which were found when St Cuthbert's tomb was opened in 1827

Learn more about St Cuthberts treasures

Quiet Hours

On selected days, the Museum turns off its louder displays and increases light levels within the Great Kitchen, so those with sensory needs, particularly those on the autism spectrum, can benefit from this more relaxed atmosphere. Find Museum Quiet Hours here.

Accessibility within Durham Cathedral Museum

The Great Kitchen The Monks Dormitory

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Marian Art in Durham Cathedral

Join Professor Jane Heath from the Department of Theology and Religion at Durham University on this specially curated tour of the Marian Art in Durham Cathedral.

The tour will focus on depictions of Mary around the Cathedral and examine the relationship between scripture, theology and art including the Annunciation, the Pieta and our best surviving medieval wall paintings.

This unique tour makes an ideal experience for those wanting to delve deeper into history and see parts of Durham Cathedral that are rarely open to the public. Step into the cathedral’s prison cell and get up close with rare books in the 350 year old Refectory Library.