Visitor notices

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Café 16 opening early from 6 April

From Bank Holiday Monday, 6 April, Café 16 in the Cathedral Refectory will trial earlier opening hours, welcoming customers from 9am. The café is run by Northumberland charity The Oswin Project – please visit their website for the latest updates.

Access to our exhibition, ‘Women Behind Bars: Life in Newcastle Prison, 1828–1925’

Please note that on Sunday mornings, our Sung Eucharist service takes place in the Nave – the central space of the Cathedral – from 10am until approximately 11:15am.

As the exhibition space is located close to the Nave, there may be some activity in the area during this time. You may wish to plan your visit for another time of day to enjoy the exhibition and fully engage with the content.

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.