Opening hours
The Cathedral is open daily from Morning Prayer until the end of Evensong or Evening Prayer. Please check the weekly service schedule for times and details of services.
Charges apply between 10am and 4pm Monday to Saturday, and 11.30am (or when the morning service finishes) and 2.30pm on Sunday.
From Monday to Saturday, admission includes a complimentary floor tour and access to the Exhibition Gallery and Discovery Centre.
No tours are available on Sundays. For the best experience, we recommend visiting between 10am and 4pm Monday to Saturday.
Please note Lincoln Cathedral is primarily a place of worship and on some days it may open for reduced hours to visitors. Please check before travelling.
Visitor centre, shop and cafe opening times
Mon to Sat 9am-5pm
Sunday 10am-4pm
Admission charges
Adults: Monday to Saturday £12.00*
Sunday £10*
Children: Free of charge (0 – 16 years)**
UK Students: Free of charge (with a valid, photographic ID with a validity date)
For pre-booked groups of 10 or more adults: Please contact visitors@lincolncathedral.com or 01522 561600
Access for services and for prayer and to light candles will always be free of charge.
* Gift Aid your admission to receive an annual pass, and visit the Cathedral free for 12 months. Please ask a member of the welcome team for more details.
** Free child admissions apply to families only, up to 4 children per adult. For schools, education and community groups, please contact sally.bleasdale@lincolncathedral.com or 01522 565560.
All students enjoy free admission. Please show your student ID at the welcome desk on arrival.
If you are a companion or carer for a visitor with a disability, please let our team know and they will provide complimentary admission.
Advanced booking is not required, simply arrive on the day and make your way to the welcome desk where one of our friendly staff will greet you.
A chapel is also available during opening hours should you wish for a quiet place to pray, reflect or light a candle. There is no charge to access the Morning Chapel for private prayer.
Restricted access
From time to time, it is necessary for us to restrict access to certain areas of the Cathedral; this can be due to a number of reasons including services, event or maintenance.
Details of any current restrictions can be found below.
Ongoing – Wren Library
Due to essential maintenance work the Wren Library is closed until further notice.
Thank you for your patience as we work to re-open the library as soon as possible.
Ongoing – Treasury
The Treasury is temporarily closed for maintenance.
Friday 28 June
There will be no access to the Chapter House until 2.30pm
Saturday 29 June
The Ordination of Priests is taking place in the nave between 10am and 12noon. During this time visitors can enjoy the east end of the Cathedral, the cloisters and Chapter House, and the visitor centre. Entry is via the visitor centre.
Please note that from 3.30pm to 4pm an organ recital is taking place in the nave. There is no fee to listen, but the usual Cathedral admission applies.
Sunday 30 June
The Ordination of Deacons is taking place in the nave between 10am and 12.30pm. During this time visitors can enjoy the east end of the Cathedral, the cloisters and Chapter House, and the visitor centre. Entry is via the visitor centre.
Friday 5 July
Lincoln Minster School end of term service is taking place in the nave from 1pm. During this time visitors can enjoy the east end of the Cathedral, the cloisters and Chapter House, and the visitor centre. Entry is via the visitor centre.
Saturday 6 July
There will be a lunchtime recital by Lincoln Cathedral Consort in the Chapter House between 1.10pm and 2pm. All welcome, Cathedral admission applies.
Wednesday 10 July
There will be a lunchtime recital by the Bitter Blossoms in the Chapter House between 1.10pm and 2pm. All welcome, Cathedral admission applies.
Friday 19 to Sunday 21 July
Jazz festival weekend in Cathedral. There will be various concerts taking place in and around the Cathedral. See https://lincolncathedral.com/events/lincoln-jazz-festival-2024/ for more details.
Monday 22 July
There will be some disruption in the nave and north transept as we prepare for the graduations taking place later in the week.
Wednesday 24 and Thursday 25 July
Bishop Grosseteste University graduations will be taking place in the Nave. During this time visitors can enjoy the east end of the Cathedral, the cloisters, and the visitor centre. Entry is via the visitor centre.
Friday 26 July
There will be some disruption in the nave and north transept as we remove staging.
Saturday 27 July
There will be no access to St Hugh’s Choir between 11am and 12.30pm, and between 2pm and 3.30pm while two weddings take place.
Saturday 10 August
The Blessing of a wedding will take place in St Hugh’s Choir between 2pm and 3pm. Some restrictions will be in place.
Organ tuning
Our Father Willis organ is one of the finest organs in the world. It us used every day for our services as well as special events. To ensure it always sounds its best it is tuned regularly; usually on a Wednesday in the middle of the month.
If you visit us on organ tuning day, expect to hear long, continuous notes played as each note is checked and tuned. It’s not the most beautiful sound you’ll hear from the organ, but it is necessary. If this is something which you might struggle with, or which you think might spoil your visit, please call ahead on 01522 561600 to check whether it is an organ tuning day, or speak to our team on the welcome desk when you arrive.
Organ tuning dates
The list below contains the current planned dates for organ tuning, but please note these may be subject to change, so do please check before visiting.
Tuesday 14 May 2024
Thursday 13 June 2024
Getting here
Located in the city centre as part of the Lincoln Cathedral Quarter, Lincoln Cathedral stands proudly above the city of Lincoln and can be seen for miles around.
East Midlands Railway run trains to Lincoln. You can find their dedicated journey page here which contains full travel details and useful information
You can also plan journeys to Lincoln from across the UK and Europe via train or coach using Trainline
Lincoln Cathedral parking is facilitated via car parks located across the city, with several close to the Cathedral. Click here to visit the City Council website to find out more about parking in the city.
The Walk & Ride ‘Steep Hill Shuttle’ bus is the easy way to get around Lincoln and the quickest way up the hill, with 13 stops across the city.
Near our neighbour Lincoln Castle, the Cathedral Quarter is home to an abundance of independent retailers, a tempting selection of places to eat and drink in and luxurious, independent hotels and guest houses.