david newton · CC BY-SA 2.0 Why visit
Durham Cathedral is worth allowing time for because it combines architecture, worship spaces, monuments and the changing use of a long-lived religious site. The site is more useful than a quick photograph: its surviving features give clear evidence of how the place developed and how people used it. Key things to concentrate on are nave, choir and principal architectural details, memorials, chapels and historic fittings and historic urban setting. Its position in or near Durham also makes it a practical anchor for exploring the surrounding region without reducing the visit to a simple landmark stop.
What you will see
- nave, choir and principal architectural details.
- memorials, chapels and historic fittings.
- historic urban setting.
History
Durham Cathedral was begun in 1093 to house the shrine of St Cuthbert. Its massive Romanesque structure and experimental rib vaulting are central to its architectural significance.
Photographs
david newton · CC BY-SA 2.0 · full attribution on the image credits page.
Visitor tips
- 1
Allow enough time for the principal features rather than treating the stop only as a photograph.
- 2
Check the official visitor page shortly before travel for access, booking and any temporary restrictions.
About North East England
Durham, Northumberland castles, Hadrian’s Wall, Holy Island and open-air industrial history.
Open the United Kingdom guide
