Visitor notices

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October/November 2025 – Changes to Opening Times and Access

The Nave is the central space of the Cathedral, where the congregation and attendees usually gather for services and events.

Café 16 is operated by Northumberland charity the Oswin Project and is based in the Cathedral Refectory.

Every Saturday from 4 October
Please note that, from now on, the Cathedral will close at 4pm on Saturday afternoons. This earlier closing time will give our vergers the opportunity to prepare the Cathedral for the week ahead and is expected to remain in place for the foreseeable future.

It may take some time for this update to be reflected on external websites – please always refer to the Cathedral’s own website and social media channels for the most accurate and up-to-date information.

Wednesday 22 October
Café 16, located in the Cathedral Refectory, will be closed all day due to essential, pre-scheduled electrical testing. It will reopen at the usual time of 10am on Thursday 23 October.

Saturday 1 November
Café 16, located in the Cathedral Refectory, will close early at 2pm for a private booking.

Step-free access

We are currently awaiting essential maintenance to our historic Lantern Tower, which will be carried out in collaboration with Newcastle City Council. During this time, the main step-free West Entrance is temporarily closed.

Please follow the signs to the East Entrance, where step-free access remains available. Our website’s Access Information page has been updated to reflect this temporary change.

Advent & Christmas 2025

During Advent, Café 16 – operated by the Northumberland charity The Oswin Project – will close early on selected dates to accommodate private Christmas meal bookings.

• Saturday 13 December: closing early at 1pm
• Friday 19 December: closed all day
• Saturday 20 December: closing early at 1pm

Thank you, on behalf of the Oswin Project, for your understanding.

Day	Cathedral opening times
Christmas Eve – Wednesday 24 December 2025	Open as usual (Café 16 closed)
Christmas Day – Thursday 25 December 2025	8am-approx. 11:30am (Cathedral closes after the 10am service) (Café 16 closed)
Friday 26 December 2025	8am-12 midday (Café 16 closed)
Saturday 27 December 2025	8am-12 midday (Café 16 closed)
Sunday 28 December 2025	8am-approx. 11:30am (Cathedral closes after the 10am service) (Café 16 closed)
Monday 29 December 2025	8am-2pm (Café 16 closed)
Tuesday 30 December – Friday 2 January 2026	8am-12 midday (Café 16 closed)
Saturday 3 January 2026	8am-4pm, i.e. times return to normal (Café 16 re-opens)

Lantern Tower maintenance: Impact & progress

Last updated May 2025

Essential work is still required to safeguard our historic Lantern Tower for future generations. This project is a collaborative effort between Newcastle City Council and Newcastle Cathedral, supported by specialist advisors Heritage Stone Access and structural engineer Charles Blackett-Ord.

We are currently awaiting the start of this maintenance. As a result, tours of the Lantern Tower remain postponed.

In the meantime, you can still discover the rich history of this iconic structure by watching the short film below, presented by local guide Alex Iles.

Cathedral clock and bell ringing

In addition to the step-free access changes mentioned above, please note that the clock on the Cathedral Tower may not display the correct time until we can access its internal mechanism. Furthermore, our regular bell-ringing activities are temporarily suspended during the ongoing repairs. We apologise for any inconvenience and appreciate your understanding as this work continues to preserve the Cathedral’s heritage.