Visitor notices

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Cathedral closing early to visitors – Saturday 21 February

The Cathedral will be closed to visitors from approximately 12 midday for a community event. Café 16 will remain open as usual until 4pm and is accessible via the East Entrance.

Café 16 closed to the public – Tuesday 24 February

Café 16 in the Cathedral Refectory will be closed to the public for training purposes. The café’s operating charity, the Oswin Project, empowers people with criminal records by providing the skills, support and opportunities they need to create positive futures.

School & group visits

In early 2026, we look forward to welcoming our new Learning Officer and reviewing the range of workshops and guided visits we offer.

Please note: If you would like a guided tour ​in the meantime, or plan to visit as a self-led group, please email office@newcastlecathedral.org.uk with your proposed date and time.

All visiting schools must submit a risk assessment and their safeguarding policy prior to their visit. We look forward to welcoming you soon!

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.

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.