1. Home
  2. Visit Us
  3. Things to see and do

Tours and Experiences

Take a tour of Durham Cathedral with an expert guide to discover our hidden stories or challenge yourself to climb the 325 steps to the top of the cathedral's central tower.

Tower climb visitors

Take a Cathedral Tour

With over 1000 years of history at Durham Cathedral, it would be impossible to discover it all on your own. Book a place on a 1 hour tour and explore the cathedral with one of our expert volunteer guides. 

Hear about how Durham Cathedral was founded by wandering monks, how it was rebuilt into a symbol of Norman power, and how it faced the ravages of history to survive to today. 

This cathedral is full of remarkable stories of the people and events that have shaped it over the last millennium. There is plenty of time for questions and each of our guides have their own favourite stories to share, so you can be sure that each tour is unique.

Please be aware that our tours go into areas of the cathedral that are not accessible to visitors who cannot climb stairs.

Book a cathedral tour

Adults

£7.50

Child (8-16 years old)

£3.50

Under 8s

Free

Family (2 Adults & 2 Children)

£21.50

Climb the Central Tower

The central tower you see today was extensively rebuilt after two lightning strikes in 1429 and 1459. Standing 218ft or 66m tall, there are 325 steps on a narrow winding spiral staircase that take you to the top to experience breath-taking views of the city below.

While you're climbing you can learn more about our project to restore the stonework at the very top of the tower. You can see and feel the contrast between the older stones spotted with 100 year old graffiti, and the fresher hand-chiselled stones made by our in-house stonemasons. 

Looking out from the tower, you have a bird's eye view over the cathedral, cloister and over the beautiful city of Durham. On a clear day you can see far north towards Sunderland and possibly spot the Angel of the North or Penshaw Monument on the horizon.

Some Durham University students are superstitious that climbing the tower before graduation might affect their exam results(?!), so the tower is usually fully-booked around graduations in early January and late June. We suggest booking tickets in advance.

Book a tower climb
Visitors climbing tower.

Adults

£7.50

Child (8-17 years old)

Free - Young climbers must be accompanied by someone over 18 years of age

Children under 8

Unfortunately those under 8 years old cannot climb the tower.

The tower reopened to visitors in 2019 after a major conservation project

Our team of stonemasons carefully repaired the central tower using tools and techniques that haven't changed in generations. Take a peek behind the scenes.

More about the central tower restoration project

Upcoming events and experiences

Cathedral Secret Spaces Tour

Various dates 1:00pm

Book tickets

Durham Cathedral Museum Highlights Tour

Book tickets

Gaia

Monday 10 July 2023 - Sunday 10 September 2023

This summer, experience the Earth as it’s seen from space as Luke Jerram’s giant illuminated globe, Gaia, comes to Durham Cathedral.

More info