Heritage Open Day

We're excited to be taking part in Heritage Open Day on 12th September, when Chichester Cathedral and the Bishop's Palace will open their doors in partnership for a free celebration of history, heritage and collections.

 

Event details

Tickets
Free
Date
Saturday 12 September 2026, 10:00
Venue
Chichester Cathedral

Visitors will have the chance to explore behind-the-scenes spaces that are not usually open to the public, see historic objects up close, and meet the people who help care for these remarkable places. 

Bishop's Palace (10am-2pm)
Step inside areas of the historic Bishop's Palace that are rarely open to the public.

  • The Great Kitchen
    One of the oldest parts of the Palace, where some of the earliest surviving walls and architectural features can still be seen.
  • The Bishop's Chapel
    This medieval chapel, still in use today, features a 14th-century east window decorated with the coats of arms of former Bishops of Chichester.
  • The Sherborne Room
    Named after Bishop Robert Sherborne, who built this wing of the Palace, this room retains its original medieval ceiling with intricate decorative detail.

Cathedral:

  • Song School (11am-2pm)
     Formerly the Chapter House, the Song School is now a space for the Cathedral Choir to sing and rehearse. 
     (Please note that access to the Song School is via a medieval stone spiral staircase with 40 steep steps.)