Durham Cathedral
Durham Cathedral, formally the Cathedral Church of Christ, Blessed Mary the Virgin and St Cuthbert of Durham, is the seat of the Bishop of Durham and the finest surviving example of Norman Romanesque architecture in England. Built between 1093 and 1133, it crowns a dramatic rocky peninsula above a loop of the River Wear, forming with the adjacent castle a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The cathedral is celebrated for its massive incised columns and its rib-vaulted ceiling, an architectural innovation that anticipated the Gothic style and influenced church building across Europe. It houses the shrine of St Cuthbert, the great Anglo-Saxon saint whose relics drew medieval pilgrims to Durham, and the tomb of the Venerable Bede, the father of English history.
A grade I listed building and a working place of daily worship, Durham Cathedral remains a powerful symbol of faith and Norman ambition. Its commanding setting, monastic remains and sense of solidity have made it one of the most admired cathedrals in the world, and a favourite of writers, artists and filmmakers.
- Annual visitors
- ≈ 700,000
- Location
- 54.7736, -1.5761
- Local time
- 23:33 (Europe/London)
🕘 Visiting hours
| Mon–Sat | 10:00–16:00 |
| Sun | 12:30–15:00 |
Sunday opens after morning worship; approximate
✨ Saints & blessed venerated here
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Cuthbert Saint
Patron saint whose shrine behind the high altar is the cathedral's spiritual heart
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Bede the Venerable Saint
Father of English history; his tomb is in the Galilee Chapel
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Oswald of Northumbria Saint
King and martyr whose head is enshrined with St Cuthbert's relics
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Aidan of Lindisfarne Saint
Founder of Lindisfarne, closely linked to Cuthbert and venerated here
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Mary the Virgin Saint
Co-dedicatee; Blessed Mary the Virgin in the cathedral's full title
Care & donations
The Chapter of Durham
Free entry; donations welcomed; charges for tower climb and special exhibits
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