Norwich Cathedral
ENTRY
Free
SETTING
Indoors
WHERE
Norwich
What it’s like
Free guided tours round a working cathedral, with an upper level tour and hands-on Home Education Days for the curious.
Volunteer guides run free tours most of the day, Monday to Saturday, starting near the Font in the Nave. There's no need to book, you just turn up and join whichever slot suits, on the hour from 10am to 3pm. It's a proper way to see the building without paying for the privilege, and the fact it's free is the whole point when you're weighing up a day out.
If you fancy more than the standard route, the Upper Level Tour gets you into parts of the building not normally open, for £10 plus a booking fee, usually on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 10:30am. That one you do need to book ahead. Home Education Days are aimed at 7 to 13 year olds, hands-on and run 10am to 1pm for £4.50 a child, though an adult has to stay with them.
Groups of eight or more can't just join the free tours, they have to pre-arrange, which is worth knowing if you're bringing a bigger crowd of cousins or a home-ed group along. The Refectory Bakery and Café does tea, cake and lunch with vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options, open from 8am most days and a bit later on Sundays.
Access is decent but not total. There's level access through the South Door, the Hostry or the North West Door with a platform lift, plus free loan wheelchairs, but the Presbytery ramp is steeper than you'd like and a few areas, including the Treasury and the two chapels, aren't wheelchair accessible. If you need anything specific it's best to ring Reception ahead rather than find out on the day.
Facilities
Need to know
- Best for
- School-age kids on the free tours; Home Education Days suit 7 to 13
- Parking
- Limited Blue Badge parking available
- Food
- Refectory Bakery and Café offering tea, cake, light snacks and lunch with vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options
- Wheelchairs
- Free loan wheelchairs available
- Dogs
- Assistance dogs only in Refectory Café
- Free tours start near the Font in the Nave, no ticket needed for individuals
- Bring the group in eight or fewer or you'll need to pre-arrange
- Upper Level Tour needs booking ahead and costs extra, unlike the standard tour
- Ring Reception ahead if you need specific accessibility help, some areas like the Treasury aren't wheelchair accessible
Plan your visit
How much does it cost to visit?
General entry and the standard guided tours are free. Specialist tours like the Upper Level Tour cost extra, that one's £10 plus a booking fee.
Do we need to book the free tours?
No booking needed for the regular tours, just turn up near the Font in the Nave. Groups of eight or more do need to pre-arrange though.
What are the free tour times?
They run Monday to Saturday at 10am, 11am, 12 noon, 1pm, 2pm and 3pm.
Is there a tour for older kids interested in something more unusual?
The Upper Level Tour takes you into areas not normally open to the public, usually Wednesdays and Saturdays at 10:30am for £10 plus a booking fee.
What are Home Education Days?
Hands-on sessions for ages 7 to 13, £4.50 per child, running 10am to 1pm. An adult needs to stay with the child throughout.
Is the cathedral wheelchair or buggy accessible?
There's level access via the South Door, the Hostry and the North West Door with a platform lift, plus free loan wheelchairs. A few spots, including the Treasury and two chapels, aren't accessible, and the Presbytery ramp is steeper than ideal.
Is there parking?
Blue Badge parking is limited, and minibus disabled parking needs booking in advance.
Can we get food there?
The Refectory Bakery and Café does tea, cake and light lunches, with vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options. It's open 8am to 6pm most days, and 8:30am to 4pm on Sundays.
Can we bring the dog?
Dogs are welcome in the Cloister and the Cathedral itself, but only assistance dogs are allowed in the café.
Can school groups visit?
There are several options: guided visits from £4 to £6 per pupil depending on length, self-guided at £5 per student, or in-school visits at £3.50 per pupil. Booking goes through the schools admin email.
Are there toilets on site?
There's a wheelchair-accessible toilet on the lower Refectory level, though access may need a key code in places.
Can we watch a service if we can't get there in person?
The Sunday morning and afternoon services and Tuesday Evensong are usually live-streamed on the Cathedral's YouTube channel.
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