Norwich Cathedral
Norwich Cathedral
4.5
7:30 AM - 6:00 PM
Monday
7:30 AM - 6:00 PM
Tuesday
7:30 AM - 6:00 PM
Wednesday
7:30 AM - 6:00 PM
Thursday
7:30 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday
7:30 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday
7:30 AM - 6:00 PM
Sunday
7:30 AM - 6:00 PM
About
“Norfolk’s favourite building”Founded in 1096 and built using Normandy stone shipped from Caen, Norwich Cathedral is set in the 44 acre Cathedral Close, a peaceful city centre sanctuary.The Cathedral itself is one of the finest complete Romanesque buildings in Europe, with the highest Norman tower and largest monastic cloisters in England. Inside, the Cathedral tells almost 1000 years of history, with our enthusiastic volunteers on hand to talk you through the incredible stories of its past.There is more to see at Norwich Cathedral than you think. Our award-winning 21st century Refectory restaurant is open seven days a week, as is the Hostry which features a rolling programme of exhibitions, many of them featuring local artists.You can also experience the tranquillity of our expansive Library, Herb Garden or Japanese Garden, as well as guided tours of the building throughout the week.Afterwards, feel free to explore the lanes of the Cathedral Close, a quaint village just minutes from the bustling city centre, and stop for a picnic on one of our many well kept greens. Norwich Cathedral is a living centre for worship, learning and hospitality, extending a warm welcome to all our visitors from Norfolk and beyond.Part of the Norwich 12 - An initiative of Norwich Heritage, Economic & Regeneration Trust.
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See what travelers are saying
- Julie WLondon, United Kingdom453 contributionsBeautiful and dog friendlyLovely cathedral, open to the public with a donation towards their restoration. Beautiful windows, lovely courtyard at the centre to walk round and a modern, spacious cafe located nextdoor in the grounds. Impressed with the Cathedral and the cafe also. There was a walking tour available and there were also members of staff to answer questions if you had any. Peacfeful and located near to the town centre too. Dog friendly.Visited March 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten April 2, 2023
- Paul TWaterlooville, United Kingdom455 contributionsOne of the most amazing Cathedral throughout the UK.We recently visited this magnificent cathedral, which certainly lived up to our expectations.We also went into the Cathedral cafe which was also amazing. The best thing about our visit was the atmosphere within the cathedral throughout our visit. The cathedral looked very well maintained throughout, and it was hard to imagine that the cathedral as stood for over 900 years in the heart of Norwich. I would highly recommend that anyone in the area certainly carries out a visit to the cathedral.Visited July 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten July 2, 2023
- Julie S4 contributionsExcellent experienceOn visiting Norwich today we were pleasantly surprised to find it is free to enter the Cathedral and even more so that you can have a free tour. Our guide was excellent, he really was very knowledgeable and had so many interesting facts about the city, the people that built the Cathedral and he weaved life in and out of the information he shared. Whether you’re a believer or not, it cannot be doubted this is a beautiful place, a building of delightful architecture and antiquities, a very special place. As we were guided around the Cathedral, what we saw was spectacular. We were very happy to make a donation and other Cathedrals and Minsters would learn a lot from Norwich. Free to enter makes it so accessible. Surely it is better that people can experience such places and pay what they can afford than be put off by expensive entrance fees. It made my day, in fact, it made my holiday. Thank you Norwich.Visited July 2023Written July 19, 2023
- BarryWalesAngie250 contributionsAmazing CathedralThe Cathedral is large and awe inspiring. The atmosphere is so calm and peaceful. The windows are beautiful and the light thrown from them across the cathedral stunning. There is plenty of space to have a quite moment for your thoughts. The font is beautiful and so different it being a caramel boil pot from a local chocolate factory. The staff are so helpful and kind. Its also dog friendly which is excellent. Its a must see.Visited July 2023Written July 31, 2023
- Patricia B20 contributionsWell worth a visit, not busy and we found it easy to park nearby.A beautiful cathedral. Full of historic detail. The staff at the entrance are so knowledgeable. A tour started at 11a.m but we were able to chat to the guide about other historical facts before. I have limited mobility and found all areas totally accessible. Lifts to the reception and shops, and cafeteria and toilets. All a modern addition. I have a mobility scooter, not a problem easy to navigate and enjoy the beautiful building.Visited August 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten August 7, 2023
- LauraDaveJamesSolihull, United Kingdom4,246 contributionsMagnificentWe received a very warm welcome from a volunteer at the entrance to the cathedral who gave us a good description of the overall layout. We were very pleased that there was no pressure to make a donation. The cathedral is without doubt both beautiful and awesome. It is worth climbing a very narrow stone spiral staircase to the Treasury area if only to look at the mediaeval ceiling paintings. Definitely a must do in Norwich.Visited August 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten September 3, 2023
- John RNashville, Tennessee3 contributionsAmazing!Superb trip to Norwich Cathedral. Was very hot and busy. Really enjoyed it. So quaint and relaxing to walk around and see what Norwich has got to give. Really recommended for anyone to go and enjoy and cheap too!Visited September 2023Traveled soloWritten September 7, 2023
- PBPGYorkshire, United Kingdom6,010 contributionsHuge buildingA huge building that dominates the skyline. Very well maintained with a spectacular interior. The roof is very high and is supported by some magnificent stone work. Just outside is an excellent cloister to walk around. Very helpful staff Margaret Bloom, a volunteer was particularly helpful. Free admittance, but donation boxes are presentVisited September 2023Traveled with friendsWritten September 9, 2023
- MrPercyLamCambridge, United Kingdom120 contributionsA Beautiful CathedralA grand cathedral at the capital of Norfolk. Amongst many good things in the interior, the delicate sculptures at the roof arch connections caught my eye the most. The inner courtyard with a labyrinth was beautiful. On the side of the cathedral where the car park entrance is located, I found the relics of the ancient cathedral interesting. Together with modern renovation and preservation, I found materials used in at least 4 different periods of time.Visited September 2023Traveled soloWritten September 17, 2023
- SteelMaggieRaleigh, North Carolina62 contributionsBeautiful Cathedral, architecture and such a special spaceWell worth the 12pound donation for our family to visit, I was blown away by the cathedral. We entered quietly as there was a service just ending and later were able to walk around at our own pace. It was transporting. The historical aspect of all the finishes just arrests you. I felt grateful to be able to experience a place, so sacred, artistic, historic.Visited September 2023Traveled with familyWritten September 23, 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
4,161 reviews
Excellent
3,087
Very good
924
Average
105
Poor
24
Terrible
21
APS
Baton Rouge, LA158 contributions
Mar 2024 • Couples
Hard to believe that the church has 900+ years of history. Stunning architecture, incredibly serene, and humbling to walk around. As an American, the church reminds you how young the USA is in comparison to history this deep. There are multiple burial plots/graves that alone make the USA seem like a newborn on the world stage. We should have spent more time here.
Written March 7, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MH1950
London, UK19 contributions
Mar 2024 • Friends
Beautiful Cathedral.
An excellent tour of the Cathedral by a lady with extensive knowledge, a soothing voice, a gentle manner and kindly sense of humour.
The greeters at the door very friendly and welcoming, and informative.
Free entry and tour, happy to donate at one of the donation points.
An excellent tour of the Cathedral by a lady with extensive knowledge, a soothing voice, a gentle manner and kindly sense of humour.
The greeters at the door very friendly and welcoming, and informative.
Free entry and tour, happy to donate at one of the donation points.
Written March 2, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Peter R
Dartford, UK1,239 contributions
Feb 2024 • Friends
It was lovely to find that entry to the cathedral was free and was then down to you to decide whether to make a donation. We arrived as a tour of the cathedral was starting which we joined. The guy who for an hour showed us many highlights of the cathedral which on your own you would miss, was very knowledgeable and had a great way of explaining about the cathedral which kept everyone interested. Once the tour had finished, we spent another hour of so looking around the cathedral at the cloisters, Edith Cavell’s grave and the treasures/relics. There is a small refectory onsite.
Written February 29, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
seniors-travelling
Oregon4 contributions
Feb 2024 • Solo
Norwich was surprisingly a highlight of my 10 days in Britain. If you can afford it, the Maid's Head hotel is very close to major attractions: a short stroll to the Cathedral and 800+ year old street of remarkable houses. A fairly compact historic district for those of us, like me, who can't do long walks. Generally people were friendly and helpful. It's not tarted up for tourists, the ancient town is vibrant and commercially viable. I extended my stay here to four nights. One caveat - although I was there on Ash Wednesday, many of the smaller churches were not open. The big ones are (and are free, as opposed to Ely).
Written February 22, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
David K
United Kingdom280 contributions
Feb 2024 • Solo
Free to get in, But donations accepted,
A stunning cathedral with lots to see.
I had a guided tour which I recommend, Its last approximately 1hr but the Gentleman was so knowledgeable it's well worth it,And it's free..He told us in the group to look out for the Graffiti markings left by some of the stonemasons and monks and he pointed out a few markings that I wouldn't have seen.
From the floor to the ceiling the artitecture is excellent. We stayed mainly on the ground floor but there's still much to see from chapels to the knaves , There is a toliet and a cafe on site.
A stunning cathedral with lots to see.
I had a guided tour which I recommend, Its last approximately 1hr but the Gentleman was so knowledgeable it's well worth it,And it's free..He told us in the group to look out for the Graffiti markings left by some of the stonemasons and monks and he pointed out a few markings that I wouldn't have seen.
From the floor to the ceiling the artitecture is excellent. We stayed mainly on the ground floor but there's still much to see from chapels to the knaves , There is a toliet and a cafe on site.
Written February 12, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LondonHappyhols
Hornchurch, UK129 contributions
Jan 2024 • Couples
We visited on a blustery, cold January day but the church was warm and inviting. So many interesting items to look at and explore. I think it may have been a Benedictine monastery at some point? We really loved the cloister area. Bought some nice bits in the gift shop. Really lovely, friendly staff. We left £20 in the donation box as we thought it was well it for the few interesting hours we spent in The Cathedral.
Written February 8, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
141jeng
Evesham, UK558 contributions
Jan 2024 • Family
Whilst visiting family we stopped at the Cathedral for some culture! It was a lovely visit. Peaceful, with beautiful architecture.
Written January 21, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
richard t
2 contributions
Jan 2024 • Solo
What a wonderfully inspiring and welcoming place the cathedral is. By chance I was sitting close to a guide who invited me to join a small group on a short tour. Despite the freezing cold my visit was made all the more worthwhile learning about the amazing heritage and awe inspiring architecture.
Written January 17, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
grumpygardener2018
Wakefield, UK27 contributions
Jan 2024 • Couples
Free admission and an excellent free tour. We did, however, make a suitable donation. Very worthwhile and interesting visit.
Written January 15, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mel M
1 contribution
Jan 2024 • Solo
Free entry and tour - Jools was an exceptional guide. The building and recovered pre-Reformation art/treasures is breathtaking. Edith Cavell’s tomb a thought provoking bonus
And the cat is definitely in charge
And the cat is definitely in charge
Written January 12, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Planning to visit this weekend - where is the nearest car park? Thanks
Written October 4, 2022
We also travelled by train as it's easier to get around on foot. There seemed to be lots of carparks signposted around the area.
Written October 5, 2022
How much time would you recommend on average to look round the cathedral without one of the tours? We can't make the tour times unfortunately.
Written July 5, 2021
its up to you.if you want to a cafe next door with toilets and a gift shop too.the history i would say 2 or 3 hours or even longer...i live 10 mins away go up nearly every day...theres alot of wall plaques about past people...there
Written October 5, 2022
Am visiting Norfolk in the summer (August) do you have to pre book the Cathedral or can you just turn up on the day?
Written March 20, 2021
Helen Vinsen
Norwich, United Kingdom
Hi there
You do not need to book, but it is good to be flexible with your timings as we have the Dippy On Tour Exhibition in the summer, so there may well be more visitors than usual. Our website is the best place to check on opening times as in the last year they have been flexible to tie in with the Government instructions. We look forward to welcoming you in the Summer.
Kind regards Helen
Written April 20, 2021
How accessible is the cathedral for wheelchairs?
Written September 23, 2020
Very. The main access is via building called the Hostry - to the right of the main Cathedral. There is step free access all around the building as well as ramps.
Written September 24, 2020
They do allow people to light candles at set times during the week plus they have various special remembrance services where you can also light a candle. Best to message the Cathedral in advance who can best advise,
Written September 18, 2020
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Written June 30, 2020
James S
Norwich, United Kingdom
Hi Jill. The Cathedral's normal opening hours are 7.30am - 6.00pm, though other services such as the Hostry Visitor Centre and Refectory Cafe open and close at different times. You'll find full details within the Visit section on our website. Hope that helps :-) James
Written July 4, 2018
James S
Norwich, United Kingdom
Hi Sophie,
The Cathedral is free to enter. Donations are very welcome, but it is left to you as to whether you choose to give anything.
Hope we are able to welcome you to the Cathedral soon!
James
Written January 30, 2017
carolannjohnson007
Frinton-On-Sea, United Kingdom
hi is there disabled parking nearby
Written April 28, 2016
James S
Norwich, United Kingdom
Hi and thanks for your message.
Limited parking is available in the Cathedral Close for vehicles bearing an official Blue Badge. Disabled parking permits will be issued by the gatekeepers for a duration of two hours on a first-come, first-served basis.
A space is provided at the South Door for a minibus carrying disabled passengers. Minibuses must book this space in advance through the Cathedral Estates Manager (01603 218300).
Hope this helps.
James
Written May 3, 2016
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Frequently Asked Questions about Norwich Cathedral
- Hotels near Norwich Cathedral:
- (0.20 km) Maids Head Hotel
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- (0.16 km) Wig & Pen
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- (0.18 km) Tatlers
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