The Cloisters

What it’s like

Wander the ancient cloister to spot carved Green Men, walk a jubilee labyrinth and pay only what you fancy on the way in.

The cloister itself is the thing to see here: a stone walkway ringing a garden, with a ceiling of carved roof bosses that include a set of Green Man faces worth pointing out and letting the kids hunt for. Down in the Garth, there's a labyrinth laid out for the Queen's Golden Jubilee that's more fun to walk than it sounds, especially if you let a small child lead the way and get it wrong a few times.

Admission is by donation, so you decide what it's worth on the day, which is either refreshingly honest or a bit awkward depending on how you feel about pricing yourself up in front of a volunteer. If you want more than a wander, guided Cathedral tours run with volunteer guides, and there's an Upper Level Tour that gets you into parts not normally open, though the specialist tours need booking ahead and run about £10 plus a booking fee on top.

It's open every day, from 8am on weekdays and Saturdays and a little later on Sundays, with last entry mid to late afternoon depending on the day. The Refectory Bakery and Café covers vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and dairy-free options if you need a sit down and something to eat afterwards, and there's a gift shop for the inevitable postcard or trinket on the way out.

Getting round is straightforward if you need it to be: level access runs through most of the Cathedral, free wheelchairs are available to borrow, and there's an accessible toilet in the Refectory. Parking is the one snag, with only a handful of Blue Badge spaces on a first-come basis, so anyone relying on that should factor in the possibility of a wait.

Facilities

Need to know

Parking

Limited Blue Badge parking on first-come, first-served basis for 2 hours

Food

The Refectory Bakery and Café with vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and non-dairy options

Wheelchairs

Level access throughout Cathedral

Dogs

Assistance dogs only allowed in Refectory Café

• Admission is donation-based, so bring whatever cash or card amount you're happy giving
• Specialist tours book up fast and carry a separate £10-plus fee, unlike the free wander round
• Blue Badge parking is only two hours and can run out, so have a backup plan for a longer visit
• The gift shop and café sit right by the Refectory if you want to end the visit there

Plan your visit

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