The Greatest Gift invites children and their grown-ups to journey through Chichester Cathedral this season, exploring the Christmas story and uncovering the special gifts within it.
Join us this Christmas for The Greatest Gift, a free family trail at Chichester Cathedral. Wilfrid the Seal is back for his second Christmas and is very excited about all the presents! But as he explores the Cathedral and the Christmas story, he begins to wonder: what is the true gift of Christmas?
Guided by Wilfrid, meet the characters, explore the Cathedral and learn about the gifts each one brings to the Christmas story. With things to find, questions to ponder and activities to enjoy together, children and their grown-ups can reflect on what these gifts teach us about Christmas today.
Plan your visit
The Greatest Gift is designed to be enjoyed at your own pace and makes a lovely morning or afternoon activity for families this Christmas. Explore the Cathedral together, follow the trail and discover the special gifts hidden within the Christmas story.
The Cathedral is open for visiting Monday - Saturday (9.00am - 5.00pm) and Sunday (12.30pm - 2.30pm). Between Christmas and New Year, the Cathedral is open for visiting from 9.00am to 4.00pm (reduced hours). Normal visiting hours resume from Thursday 1 January, with closing time returning to 5.00pm.
Entry to Chichester Cathedral is free. We kindly invite visitors to make a donation, with a suggested amount of £7.00 per person, on entry.
How to find us
Located in the heart of Chichester, Chichester Cathedral stands beside the Market Cross at the centre of the city's historic pedestrianised streets. Find us at West Street, Chichester, West Sussex, PO19 1PX, or use what3words:///movie.rotate.stack for precise navigation. Be sure to check upcoming closures ahead of your visit, to avoid any disappointment.
- By Car: Approach from the M27 (A27) and turn northwards at one of the bypass roundabouts following signs for the city centre. Visitors arriving by car should aim for one of the many public car parks around the City. View the current Chichester District Council parking map here.
- By Bus: Most Stagecoach services stop just outside the Cathedral, click here for routes and journeys. Stagecoach services are dog friendly, so you can bring your canine companions onboard.
- By Train: Leaving the Railway Station on foot, turn left into Southgate. Walk straight ahead into South Street and follow the road to the pedestrianised crossroads at the top. Turn left into West Street and you will see the Cathedral on your left, the entrance is signposted from here. It is about half a mile from the station to the Cathedral and will take an average of 10 minutes to walk. There are no inclines on the journey.