Name: Chester Cathedral
Rating: 5.0

Chester Cathedral

Chester Cathedral, Saint Werburgh Street, Chester, UK

1-90 Years

Paid

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Description

Chester Cathedral is a historic and welcoming landmark in the heart of Chester, offering over 1,000 years of history in one remarkable place. It is an active place of worship, an ancient abbey, and a major cultural and heritage attraction in the North West of England. The Cathedral welcomes visitors of all faiths and none to explore, attend events, or enjoy quiet reflection.

Visitors can discover rich medieval and modern history, extensive heritage collections, and impressive Gothic architecture throughout the Cathedral. Key features and activities include exploring historic interiors, learning about heritage conservation skills, viewing the Gallery of Saints stained glass windows, experiencing music and organ performances, and joining guided experiences such as the Cathedral Discovery Tour, Tower Tour, Stained Glass Tour, Gothic Architecture Tour, and Medieval Quire Stalls Tour.

General entry is free for most of the year, with a small entrance fee during summer and Christmas. Guided tour prices include £3.00 for the Cathedral Discovery Tour, £14.00 for adults and £10.00 for under-18s for the Tower Tour, and £3.00 for the Stained Glass Tour. Venue hire is available for birthdays, concerts, exhibitions, and private events, with pricing depending on space and setup.

Overall, Chester Cathedral offers a rich and memorable visitor experience combining faith, heritage, and culture. It allows visitors to explore stunning architecture, fascinating stories, and a living community space. This attraction is a must-visit for history lovers, cultural explorers, and anyone discovering Chester.

Features

Paid
Host birthday parties: Yes

Features

Tower tour: On this hour long tour, you’ll climb the Cathedral’s 216 steps to the top of the Tower, via various viewing galleries to admire breath-taking views of the Cathedral’s interior. Along the way, you will catch inspiring views of the Cathedral from an elevated position (perfect photo opportunities!), discover lots about the history of our building and see a view of almost the full length of the Cathedral.
Cathedral discovery tour: At first sight, Chester Cathedral can be a very strange place; a massive building which seems to go on forever, with so many nooks and crannies, rooms off passages, dates, odd names for things and a very confusing layout. So how can a visitor make sense of it all? Well, the answer is to take a guided tour; our knowledgeable guides will make sense of the building, tell you about its history and help you to discover the wealth of riches that make this thousand-year-old building so special.
Stained glass tour: Chester Cathedral has an impressive collection of internationally significant stained glass, ranging from medieval fragments to the 21st century ‘Creation Window’. On this engaging tour you will learn about the makers, designers, and restorers of these magnificent works of art and hear some of the fascinating stories connected to them.
Gothic Architecture tour: Join our experienced tour guides for a fascinating journey tracking the development of the Gothic architecture of Chester Cathedral. You will learn to identify this architectural style, see it on show in the Cathedral, and have the opportunity to ask questions as you walk around the building.
Medieval Quire Stalls tour: Tucked away in the heart of Chester Cathedral, the fourteenth century Quire Stalls are among the finest in the country and admired by all. But why were they built in the first place, and why is there an elephant which looks like a horse carved into them? Join this special tour to learn about the amazing stories behind Chester Cathedral’s famous best loved feature.

Facilities

Parking: Parking available.
Wi-Fi: We have free public Wi-Fi. There is no password required.
Food & Drinks: Café 1092 is set in our thirteenth century monks’ dining hall and is a Chester feature not to be missed. Whether on a cathedral visit, a shopping trip in Chester, or a business meeting, our stunning café is the perfect stop for coffee or lunch.

What to see

Our History: Chester Cathedral is one of the most significant heritage centres in the north west of England. Our history spans almost one thousand years and holds the stories of millions of people including medieval pilgrims, weary worshippers, Civil War armies, Anglo-Saxon saints, Victorian visitors and everyone in between! Read on to find out a little bit of our amazing history.
Heritage Skills: Leading heritage skills training and investment in the north west. Chester Cathedral Works Department is responsible for the conservation and maintenance of our Cathedral’s Grade I listed buildings. The team bring together a wealth of experience in skills including buildings conservation, stonemasonry, and woodwork to care for Chester’s most iconic building.
Our Collections: Chester Cathedral is the custodian of over a thousand years of living heritage. Our collections are split into three categories – objects, library, and archive – which collectively tell the story of our magnificent medieval church and its people.
Music and Organs: Music-making has a long history at Chester Cathedral. The present Grand Organ is situated in three locations in Chester Cathedral: the central case is installed to the north of the crossing; the pedal division behind it on the north wall of the North Transept; and the choir organ in the South Quire Aisle.
Gallery of Saints: A record of our unique windows. We are pleased to have released a record of our stained glass windows in the Cloisters: the first time in 100 years that these unique windows have been recorded. Chester Cathedral’s Cloisters, glazed in the 1920s at the Very Reverend Frank Bennett’s suggestion, Dean of Chester (1920-1937).

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Price

Price: Paid

Price Details

The Cathedral Discovery Tour: £3.00
Tower Tour: Adult £14.00 / Under 18s £10.00
Stained Glass Tour: £3.00

Pricing URL: https://chestercathedral.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows

Birthday Parties

Offer Birthday Parties: Yes

Birthday Party Details

Venue Hire

The Nave: The Nave is the central and principal part of a Christian church, it features adjacent aisles (North Nave Aisle, South Nave Aisle) which separate it from the main body with stone pillars.

Dinner Rounds 504
Dinner Banqueting long 258
Theatre 850
Cabaret 336
Exhibition tables 49

South Transept: From the 1530s up until the end of 1881 the South Transept was previously used as the separate Parish church of St Oswald.  For large concerts in the Nave the South Transept can also be used for additional seating to increase your capacity.

Dinner Rounds 252
Dinner Banqueting long 328
Theatre 352
Cabaret 96
Exhibition tables 36

The Refectory: Built in the thirteenth century by Simon de Whitchurch, the Refectory was constructed to be a dining hall for the monks of St Werburgh’s Abbey. Today, alongside serving as our Cafe 1092 in the daytime, it could be a fantastic backdrop for your event in the evening.

Dinner Rounds 120
Dinner Banqueting long 120

Cloister Room: Our thirteenth-century Cloister Room can be used in a variety of formations, such as with theatre style seating, or round tables, making it an ideal space for use as a green room, meeting space or seminars.

Dinner Rounds 40
Dinner Banqueting long 40
Theatre 50
Cabaret 21

Chapter House: Dating from the thirteenth-century, the Chapter House’s rich architecture creates a beautiful space which can house up to 108. Finished in the Gothic style, and with Jacobean oak flooring, the Chapter House has an elegance that creates a perfect atmosphere for many events.

Dinner Rounds 96
Dinner Banqueting long 108
Theatre 100
Cabaret 64
Exhibition tables 21

Open daily from 9.30am - 6pm
Visitor last entry 5.30pm

Address: Chester Cathedral, Saint Werburgh Street, Chester, UK

Post Code: CH1 2HU

Council: Cheshire West and Ch

County: Cheshire

By Car: Delamere Street Car Park. New Chester Market Car Park. There is also a park and ride system in place in Chester.
By Bus: Chester's bus exchange serves as a hub to connect all nearby areas and the park and ride system. The exchange is located just a short walk from Chester Cathedral.
By Train: Chester Station features a taxi rank and several nearby bus stops to make the final part of your journey easier.