November & December 2024 – Before planning your visit, please check our ‘Visitor Notices’ for accessibility updates and one-off changes to opening times. Click here to view.
NEWCASTLE CATHEDRAL
A BEACON OF LIGHT
Visitor notices
Step-free access
Due to essential maintenance on our historic Lantern Tower, the main step-free West Entrance is temporarily closed. During this period, please follow the signs directing you to the East Entrance, where step-free access remains available. We have updated our website’s’ Access Information’ page to reflect this temporary change.
Partial closure on Saturday 16 November 2024
The central area of the Cathedral, the nave, will be closed to visitors from 12 midday due to a ticketed event arranged and run by an external organisation.
The Eastern Chapels will remain open and accessible via the East Entrance, as will Café 16 in the Cathedral Refectory. On event days, the Cathedral continues to be a place of worship, and the timings mean that none of our usual services are affected. The income generated from events like this is vital in keeping the Cathedral open for the entire community, welcoming a brand-new audience and supporting our charitable work.
Correction to the 2024 Crib Service date
Please note, despite incorrect information listed elsewhere, our Crib Service will take place on Christmas Eve, Tuesday 24 December. As this is an interactive service, it will not be live-streamed on our YouTube channel. We apologise for any confusion and look forward to welcoming you in person.
Lantern Tower Maintenance: Impact & Progress
Last updated September 2024
Essential maintenance of our Lantern Tower continues to safeguard this historic structure for generations to come. This work is a collaborative effort between Newcastle City Council and Newcastle Cathedral, supported by specialist advisors Heritage Stone Access and structural engineer Charles Blackett-Ord.
Because of this ongoing maintenance, tours of our Lantern Tower will not take place in 2024. However, you can explore the structure’s fascinating history in 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.
Christmas Opening Times 2024
Notice: Café 16 will be closed to the public on Friday 20 December, as it hosts a special event in partnership with the charity Changing Lives, offering hot meals to those in Newcastle facing difficult times.
Day | Opening times |
Wednesday 25 December | The Cathedral will close after the 10am Festal Eucharist |
Thursday 26 December | 8:30am-1pm |
Friday 27 December | 8:30am-1pm |
Saturday 28 December | 8:30am-4pm |
Sunday 29 December | Normal hours* |
Monday 30 December | Normal hours* |
Tuesday 31 December | Normal hours* |
Wednesday 1 January | 8:30am-4pm |
Thursday 2 January | Normal hours* resume |
* 8am-6pm (Mon-Fri), 8am-5pm (Sat & Sun)