Visiting us

For over nine centuries, this Cathedral has stood at the centre of life in Chichester, welcoming thousands of visitors and pilgrims to discover our rich sacred heritage.

Admission is by donation (recommended £7.00 per visitor), payable on the entry. Groups of over six are encouraged to book in advance.

Please note that visiting hours will be reduced over the Christmas and New Year period, please see Upcoming Closures for more information.

We look forward to welcoming you very soon.

Plan your visit

Useful information

All are welcome

Daily worship

Shop on site

Café on site

Dogs are welcome

Cathedral tours

Explore an array of guided tours at Chichester Cathedral, carefully curated and led by our knowledgeable Guides. Their expertise animates the Cathedral's history, providing a thorough exploration of its worship, architecture, art, and cultural significance.

Group Tours

Plan a pilgrimage

For 950 years, this Cathedral has stood as a spiritual and architectural treasure, drawing pilgrims from near and far. Today, we continue to welcome all who seek a deeper connection with God through this ancient practice.

Find out more

Cloisters Kitchen & Garden

Nestled within the 600-year old Cloisters at Chichester Cathedral, Cloisters Kitchen & Garden serves bountiful local produce from the county. Open daily 10.00am - 4.00pm.

Find out more

Further information

Admission

Admission to Chichester Cathedral is by donation. The recommended donation is £7.00 per person. As an independent charity we rely on your support, as we receive no automatic funding from the Government or Church of England. Your donation will keep this Cathedral free for everyone, and open for generations to come.

Groups of any size are invited to explore the Cathedral. Groups of 6 or over are asked to pre-book so that we can make sure the Cathedral is available for your visit, whether that be self-guided or with one of our expert Guides. Please note that there is a booking charge for groups. Find out more>>

Accessibility

We aim to help all visitors make the most of their experience – if you have any questions or need particular assistance please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

General Access

Step-free, level access into the Cathedral is available through the South West Door, which is marked 40 on the Cathedral Plan.

Within the Cathedral and the Cathedral precincts there are ramps for easy level access.

Step-free access is available to most areas of the cathedral including the Nave, Lady Chapel and the Cloisters. A small number of areas may have limited access due to steps. However, removal ramps are available to visitors to access the Quire. Please speak to a member of the team on the welcome desk, a volunteer or a member of the Verger team who will be on-hand to offer assistance.

The Cathedral has two wheelchairs which may be used, free of charge, on a first-come first-served basis.

There is step-free access to the Cathedral Café, Cloisters Kitchen & Garden.

The General Guided Tour (11.30am/2.30pm, most days) is approx. 45 minutes and involves the ground floor only. There are points throughout the tour where seating is available.

There is seating available throughout the cathedral for those who need to rest during their visit.

Hearing

A hearing loop system is available in the Cathedral during services.

Print

A large print (18pt) version of our Visitor Leaflet is available at our Visitor Desk.

A braille edition of our Visitor Leaflet is available at our Visitor Desk.

Toilets

Toilet facilities are available in the North Transept opposite the Treasury & Shop.

There is an accessible toilet in the Cathedral. There is also an accessible toilet in the Cloisters Kitchen & Garden (a RADAR key can be obtained for this toilet from the café team).

Full details of Changing Places facilities across Chichester can be found here.

Travel & Parking

There is no visitor parking available on site. The nearest available car park is East Pallant (0.3 miles).

There are a limited number of Accessible parking spaces situated on the approach to the Cathedral via West Street. These spaces can be used free of charge provided the vehicle is displaying a blue badge.

For further information on Accessible parking in Chichester please click here.

By Train

Chichester Train Station is 0.4 miles from the Cathedral.

By Bus

There are multiple routes which stop along West Street for easy access via bus to the Cathedral including the 600, 700 and 46.

Dogs

Dogs are welcome to explore the Cathedral, and its grounds, during key visiting hours (Monday – Saturday, 9.00am - 5.00pm and Sunday, 12.30 - 2.30pm).

Dogs are permitted in the Garden of the newly opened Cloisters Kitchen & Garden.

To ensure that the Cathedral remains a safe and enjoyable space for all visitors, the following rules will apply to visitors with dogs:

Dogs must be on a leash at all times
Owners must clean up after their dogs
Dogs must be well-behaved and not disturb other visitors

Guide, Therapy and Assistance Dogs are welcome in the Cathedral for services and events.

If you are planning a visit to the Cathedral and have any questions regarding access please contact us, 01243 782595 or info@chichestercathedral.org.uk

For further information regarding general travel advice you may wish to visit the DisabledTravelAdvice website.

Upcoming closures

On occasion, general visiting to the Cathedral may be disrupted as a result of special services and events, or for conservation work. We encourage you to plan your visit and avoid disappointment. Further details and upcoming dates can be found below.

On the following dates and times, areas of the Cathedral will be closed for visiting and Guided Tours may not be taking place (NB - all are welcome to attend public acts of worship, and our schedule of regular worship continues unchanged):

Date	Time	Area	Event
Tuesday 25th November	12.00- 1.00pm	Eastern End of Cathedral	Funeral
Thursday 27th November	All day	Cathedral	Graduation ceremonies
Wednesday 10th December	2.00- 4.00pm	Cathedral	Private Carol Service
Friday 12th December	11.00am- 12.30pm	Cathedral	Private Carol Service
	2.30- 4.00pm	Cathedral	Private Carol Service

Guided Tours will not take place on the following dates/times:

Thursday 20th November, 11.30am
Tuesday 25th November, 11.30am
Thursday 27th November, 11.30am, 2.30pm
Friday 28th November, 2.30pm
Thursday 4th December, 11.30am, 2.30pm
Wednesday 10th December, 11.30am, 2.30pm
Friday 12th December, 11.30am 2.30pm
Saturday 20th December, 2.30pm
Wednesday 24th December, 11.30am, 2.30pm
Thursday 25th December, 11.30am, 2.30pm
Friday 26th December, 11.30am, 2.30pm

Setup and rehearsals for concerts in the nave (some of which may feature loud music) will be taking place on the following dates:

Saturday 15th November
Saturday 22nd November
Friday 28th November
Friday 5th December
Saturday 6th December
Monday 8th December
Thursday 11th December
Saturday 13th December
Tuesday 16th December

Cathedral Shop

Whether you’re looking for a special memento of your visit to Chichester Cathedral or that perfect gift for a loved one - the Cathedral Shop will have something to catch your interest.

Run entirely by our volunteers, The Shop offers an ever-changing range of Chichester Cathedral souvenirs, unique items created by local craftsmen, Fair trade gifts, vibrant traditional toys and sacred music.

Opening Hours*

Monday, Wednesday - Saturday, 10.00am - 4.00pm
Tuesday, 10.00am - 1.00pm & 2.00pm - 4.00pm

Click here to find out more about the Cathedral Shop

*these opening hours are subject to change, check our upcoming closures.

Cathedral plan

Explore our interactive map, designed to help you navigate and make the most of your visit.

Click here to explore the Cathedral

How to find us

A prominent landmark of the area, the Cathedral is in the heart of Chichester close to the Market Cross, the centrepoint of the City's main pedestrianised shopping streets. The Cathedral's postcode is PO19 1PX.

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.

National Rail Enquiries & Trainline.

By Coach:

Coaches should approach from the west side of the City and head for West Street where there is a drop off point for coaches, just outside the Cathedral.

Photography guidance

Photography for personal use

We welcome respectful non-flash photography taken for personal use inside the Cathedral. We ask visitors to be mindful of others when taking photographs. Photography is not permitted during services and special events.

Photography for media purposes

Media photographers are welcome to take photographs at Chichester Cathedral. Please contact communications@chichestercathedral.org.uk to arrange your visit.

We ask you to please respect these rules when taking photographs:

Photography for personal use on small cameras or mobile phones is very welcomed.
Please respect the privacy of other visitors, especially during quiet periods of reflection or worship.
No photographs or recordings of the Cathedral Choir can be taken at any time, including rehearsals.
Selfie sticks, tripods and monopods are not allowed, but individuals with disabilities that affect their ability to hold a camera are able to use tripods or monopods.
Please seek prior permission to fly drones around the Cathedral Quarter - the spire is a nesting site for breeding peregrines, a protected species, so any unmanned aircraft or drone use runs the risk of alarming or stressing the birds. You may wish to contact Goodwood for more information on their Flight Restricted Zone.

Bishop's Palace Gardens

Nestling between the south-western edge of the Cathedral and the City Walls lie the beautiful Bishop’s Palace Gardens, a public park maintained by the city.

A peaceful lush oasis almost hidden away in the centre of Chichester, the gardens date back to 1147-1148. The garden boasts water features, comfortable seating and a pergola walk, alongside a wildlife friendly garden, making this the perfect place to unwind.

For more information or to contact Chichester District Council who maintain the Gardens, please click here>>

Need help? Contact the Cathedral team