What's On

Durham Cathedral's central tower is open to the public again after a three year closure for a major conservation project. The reopening is sponsored by Baldwins Accountants. Climb the 325 steps of the central tower to enjoy fantastic views over the historic Durham City and the surrounding countryside. You'll also get a close look at the repair works on the tower's parapet, which involved our small team of expert in-house stonemasons carve and install new hand-carved stone to replace weathered Victorian sandstone.

Enjoy an evening of divine desserts at Durham Cathedral's Undercroft Restaurant. Feast upon a main course prepared with locally-sourced ingredients before indulging in unlimited helpings of delicious miniature puddings. The ultimate indulgence for those looking for a unique dining experience.

Join one of the UK’s most prolific broadcasters and author as he attempts to make sense of a world that increasingly makes no sense at all.

The Durham Photographic society have held their annual exhibition in the cathedral for over 25 years. The theme of this year's exhibition is 'the towering North East' and takes a broad view of the region. Enjoy over 60 images that illustrate aspects of the North East that make it such a special place.

This exhibition in Open Treasure, Durham Cathedral's award-winning museum experience, traces the history of Vikings in North East England. It tells the story of the devastating raids on Lindisfarne in 793 AD, and how the Community of St Cuthbert searched for a safe home for their saint after leaving Lindisfarne in 875 AD. We also examine how, over a period of over 200 years, the Vikings invaders and later settlers shaped the political and cultural landscape of Northumbria through raids, trade and conquest.

Education Centre

An exciting opportunity for people aged 11-16 to find out what happens behind the scenes at museums and cathedrals! 

Learn new skills! Create and run exhibitions! Work with local artists! Learn how to handle real and reproduction artefacts! Find out what a curator actually does!

Organ Recital by Ian Wicks, Headmaster of The Chorister School, Durham.

Ian read Chemical Engineering at Exeter University whilst also being the Organ Scholar at the Universtity Chapel and Choral Scholar in the Cathedral. He was Director of Music at Salisbury Cathedral School for seventeen years before becoming Headmaster at The Chorister School. He has written choral pieces for both child and adult choirs, with several of his works published by the RSCM.

Learn more about Viking loom weaving and make your own woven creation to take home.

This activity takes place between 10am and 12 noon near the visitor desk inside the cathedral.

*SOLD OUT*

Join us in the Cloister, a filming location for the first two Harry Potter films, to make your own broomstick, try flying around the cloister and discover hidden magical messages.

Organ Recital by Simon Hogan, Assistant Director of Music at Southwell Minster

Simon was born and educated in Bristol, becoming a member of the choristers of St Mary Redcliffe as a young boy. He was an Organ Scholar at Bristol and Salisbury Cathedrals, before obtaining a first in music at the Royal College of Music. Simon has featured on many commercial recordings, with his debut solo recording released in 2015.

Learn more about Viking loom weaving and make your own woven creation to take home.

This activity takes place between 10am and 12 noon near the visitor desk inside the cathedral.

Join us for an evening of photography inside Durham Cathedral.

Take a gentle stroll along the riverbanks to find out more about the bats of Durham. You may see pippistrelles, daubentons and noctules foraging for food. The walk starts at the north door of the cathedral, off Palace Green. Bring a torch and please wear sturdy footwear as there are steep slopes. All children must be accompanied at all times by an adult (not suitable for very young children).

A selling exhibition of prints of Durham Cathedral by local artist Norman Wade.

Organ Recital by David Halls, Director of Music at Salisbury Cathedral.

David has been playing the piano since the age of four, and graduated with an honours degree in Music from Worcester College in 1984, where he help an Organ Scholarship. He has been awarded numerous prizes including the Silver Medal from the Worshipful Company of Musicians. He has been Director of Music at Salisbury Cathedral since 2005, as well as touring internationally and recording four solo albums.

Develop your child’s love of the outdoors by exploring Durham Cathedral’s woodlands and riverbanks in this taster of  tailored sessions for little learners, led by Durham Cathedral’s Education team.

Celebrant: The Bishop of Beverley
Preacher: Kevin Smith, Priest Adminisrator of the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham

Veterans from the Durham Light Infantry hold an annual reunion service in the Cathedral, at which the regimental roll of honour is read and hymns and prayers are offered in commemoration of the fallen, and those who have died since the previous reunion. The service centres around the Durham Light Infantry Chapel, in which the regimental colours are preserved. 

The Battle of Britain, a pivotal conflict of the Second World War, saved England from invasion and prepared the way for the subsequent liberation of Europe and the defeat of the Nazis.  The bravery and sacrifice of so many men is commemorated at Evensong today.

Organ Recital by Daniel Cook, Master of the Choristers and Organist at Durham Cathedral

Develop your child’s love of the outdoors by exploring Durham Cathedral’s woodlands and riverbanks in these six tailored sessions for little learners, led by Durham Cathedral’s Education team.

Celebrate Heritage Open Days with free events at Durham Cathedral and explore spaces usually closed to members of the public.

A unique opportunity to see the rare medieval wall paintings which decorate the hallway of the Deanery in the Cathedral College. 

Tours at 10am, 12 noon and 2pm.

Celebrate Heritage Open Days with free events at Durham Cathedral and explore spaces usually closed to members of the public.

Explore the cathedral's cut flower garden and enjoy activities for all ages in our monastic herb garden.

Celebrate Heritage Open Days with free events at Durham Cathedral and explore spaces usually closed to members of the public. Explore the Chapter House, a stunning hidden space within Durham Cathedral.

Educate the Kids presents The Singing Children of Africa for their 2019 'Wonderful' tour. Don't miss this exciting evening filled with energetic and uplifting performances. These Kenyan children come from the most difficult of circumstances and are touring to raise funds for the charity that supports them through their education. Their performance will have you on your feet!

Celebrate Heritage Open Days with free events at Durham Cathedral and explore spaces usually closed to members of the public.

See a cathedral stonemason at work and learn about their craft with demonstrations throughout the day.

Durham Cathedral's museum, Open Treasure, is closed for a short period for an exhibition changeover. It will reopen on Monday 7 October.

Michael, Gabriel and Raphael are the three named biblical angels, depicted as the beloved messengers of God.  A basilica near Rome was dedicated in the fifth century in honour of Michael on 30 September, beginning with celebrations on the eve of that day, and 29 September is now kept in honour of Michael and all Angels throughout the western Church.  

Does your child love to sing? Girls and boys in years 2-6 are invited to a free afternoon of music-making with the Durham Cathedral Choristers, craft activities and a taste of life at The Chorister School, an excellent school at the heart of Durham's UNESCO World Heritage Site.

This ever-popular orchestra returns to the glorious surroundings of Durham Cathedral for the first concert of its 2019-20 season, with an exciting programme of music.

An exhibition in Open Treasure, Durham Cathedral's award-winning museum, showcasing the exquisite and extraordinary maps, charts and atlases in the Durham Cathedral Library collections, including early maps of Durham.

For millennia humans have strived to understand our place in the world.  We have recorded the places we have lived, worked and travelled in with drawings and maps. Explore some extraordinary examples of these from the Cathedral’s own collections, discover the people involved, and find out about the work that made it possible.

Herbert Hensley Henson, Dean 1912-18 and Bishop 1920-39, has long been regarded as a controversial public figure – a self-described 'heretick', a campaigner against women's suffrage and ordination, a Bishop at times at odds with his own diocese. This archive-focused workshop offers an opportunity to view original materials from Durham Cathedral's Henson Papers, including unpublished journals and letters.

Prior’s Hall
Part of the Durham Book Festival
Cuthbert, an Anglo-Saxon warrior turned saint, was dragged out of solitude on Inner Farne to become the most powerful church leader in the land. The stories and legends associated with Cuthbert are familiar in the North East. Novelist Katharine Tiernan, author of Cuthbert of Farne, offers new and intriguing insights into the man behind the legend. She reveals her research into the turbulent times in which Cuthbert lived, and the role of historical fiction in illuminating our understanding of his life.

A fundraising event hosted by Jacksons Law Firm to raise funds and awareness for its charity of the year, Dragonfly Cancer Trust.

A service of reflection to mark the 200th anniversary of HM Prison Durham.

Prior's Hall
Part of the Durham Book Festival
Discover the political and ecclesiastical controversies of the nineteenth century through the eyes of Queen Victoria’s six Archbishops of Canterbury. Personal scandal and tragedy abound, with death, bed-sharing, and political bust-ups. Michael Chandler, author of Queen Victoria’s Archbishops of Canterbury, takes us on a whistle-stop tour of these intriguing men and their extraordinary families.

A chance to experience a walking tour of Durham Cathedral's historic woodlands and riverbanks guided by an expert walk leader.

An opportunity to visit Durham Cathedral’s beautiful 17^th-century Refectory Library – not usually open to visitors – to view some of the historic volumes in our collections that have caused controversy over the centuries. The books on display will help demonstrate the reasons why books were added to the Roman Catholic Church’s ‘Index of Forbidden Books’, and show some of the steps printers took to ensure their works could still reach an appreciative audience.

Two sessions take place, at 2pm-3pm and 3.30pm-4.30pm.

Prisons Week is a time to reflect on how we - as individuals, as a church and as a community are serving those affected by imprisonment. An opportunity to meet practitioners and academics concerned with the prison system – and in particular to discuss the background to crime. It is open to anyone with a concern for, or an interest in, the judicial system.

The Sixteen's 2019 Choral Pilgrimage brings together music past and present, highlighting their choral journey over the last 40 years. Their close relationship with Sir James MacMillan continues with a new commission O virgo prudentissima, contrasted with music by Fayrfax performed on their very first recording, alongside music by Wylkynson and Sheppard. These fine examples of English polyphony are juxtaposed with stunning music by Tavener and Eric Whitacre in this concert as part of their 40th anniversary celebrations.

An outdoor guided walk with local geologist Brian Young covering aspects of the geology of the Durham Cathedral site, including the riverbanks. Discover the variety, sources and uses of stone within the Cathedral and its associated buildings.

Get more value for money by booking both the woodlands and riverbanks walk and geology tour of the cathedral together.

Durham Cathedral ranks in the top 100 geological sites in the UK. Join us for a 45 minute talk followed by tea/coffee and questions and then a geology tour of the Cathedral.

A special day of services in honour of God’s saints including Holy Communion at 7.30am, and a Sung Eucharist in the Quire at 17.15pm.

Join the World’s Number 1 Musical Theatre group, Collabro, for an unforgettable live concert at the stunning Durham Cathedral.

BSL Tour of Open Treasure led by a Gallery Attendent and interpreted by Anne Rudkin.

On All Souls’ Day, we commemorate all those whom we have loved and lost, at a celebration of the Eucharist. All are welcome to attend and give thanks for the life of a family member or friend.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Festival of Remembrance in Durham Cathedral. The focus will be the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings, the decisive action that helped liberate France, Belgium and Holland from Nazi rule and bring WW2 in Europe to an end.

The Cathedral Community is joined by military representatives and dignitaries to remember those who have given their lives for their country and the serving soldiers who put their lives at risk today. The service will be followed by wreath-laying and a formal parade.
 

An opportunity to visit Durham Cathedral’s beautiful 17th-century Refectory Library – not usually open to visitors – to view some of the historic volumes in our collections that have caused controversy over the centuries. The books on display will help demonstrate the reasons why books were added to the Roman Catholic Church’s ‘Index of Forbidden Books’, and show some of the steps printers took to ensure their works could still reach an appreciative audience.

An opportunity to purchase local produce and artisan goods in the unique setting of the Cathedral Cloister. Visit the stalls in the Cloister and the marquee on Palace Green to find unique Christmas gifts. Entry to the cloister market is free with a donation of £3 per person encouraged.

An opportunity to purchase local produce and artisan goods in the unique setting of the Cathedral Cloister. Visit the stalls in the Cloister and the marquee on Palace Green to find unique Christmas gifts. Entry to the cloister market is free with a donation of £3 per person encouraged.

An opportunity for visitors to the Durham City Christmas Festival to sing carols in the splendor of Durham Cathedral.

An opportunity for visitors to the Durham City Christmas Festival to sing carols in the splendor of Durham Cathedral.

A special family service depicting the story of St Nicholas, who always makes an appearance. The service follows a lantern procession to the Cathedral, led by the Chester-le-Street Salvation Army Band, starting at 3.30pm in Durham Market Place.

All are welcome to attend a service of lessons and carols for Advent in preparation for the celebration of the birth of Jesus at Christmas. Music is sung by Durham Cathedral Choir. As these are very popular services, members of the congregation are advised to arrive in good time.

An opportunity to purchase local produce and artisan goods in the unique setting of the Cathedral Cloister. Visit the stalls in the Cloister and the marquee on Palace Green to find unique Christmas gifts. Entry to the cloister market is free with a donation of £3 per person encouraged.

An opportunity for visitors to the Durham City Christmas Festival to sing carols in the splendor of Durham Cathedral.

A special service of carols for Durham University Intercollegiate Christian Union.

Following the success of our 2018 Christmas Concert, the Friends are pleased to announce that the North East Rock Choir, Consett Salvation Army Band and Durham Cathedral Young Singers will be returning to perform for us again. Join them for their highly anticipated annual Christmas Concert.

Visitor access to the nave of the cathedral will be limited during this service.

A special advent procession for St Chad's College, Durham University.

A special advent procession for St John's College, Durham University.

Get crafty and make your own Christmas wreath for your door or dinner table with the help of a local artist. Enjoy sessions at 1pm and 6pm.

Visitor access to the nave of the cathedral will be limited during this service.

A special carol service for Durham School.

Join Durham Cathedral Choir and the Reg Vardy Band for a spectacular evening of festive classics.

Education Centre

Come and hear the Christmas story told by a friendly fox, and then make and take a Christmas decoration that you can take home as a reminder of your visit. Suitable for pre-school children.

A special carol service for the Freemasons.

Visitor access to the nave of the cathedral will be limited during this service.

Visitor access to the nave of the cathedral will be limited during this service.

All are welcome to our traditional festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, which always starts in darkness with a solo chorister singing the first verse of Once in Royal David's City. These services are a highlight of the Advent and Christmas season, during which lessons are read and the Cathedral Choir sings beautiful music to herald the birth of Christ. 

All are welcome to our traditional festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, which always starts in darkness with a solo chorister singing the first verse of Once in Royal David's City. These services are a highlight of the Advent and Christmas season, during which lessons are read and the Cathedral Choir sings beautiful music to herald the birth of Christ. On Sunday 24 December the Durham Miner's Association Band will play before the service.

All are welcome to celebrate the birth of Christ.

Join with the churches of Durham and gather for a serivce of reflection on the past, of thanksgiving for the blessings of God in the present and of hope for the year to come. You are invited to gather in Durham Market Place at 6pm with lanterns and process to the cathedral for 6.30pm.