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)
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.
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.
Monday 15 April 2024
The crossing, north transept and central Nave will we closed as we prepare for the University of Lincoln graduations. you can still explore parts of the nave and all of the rest of the Cathedral.
Tuesday 16 to Thursday 18 April 2024
Graduations for students from the University of Lincoln are taking place in the Nave.
Visitors should enter by the visitor centre and can explore the East end of the Cathedral, Chapter House, Cloisters and visitor centre.
Friday 19 April 2024
The crossing, north transept and central Nave will we closed as we remove staging and seats. You can still explore parts of the nave and all of the rest of the Cathedral.
Saturday 20 April 2024
A rehearsal for Lincoln Choral Society’s performance of Saul will be taking place in the nave during the afternoon. Visitors can still explore the space, but please be aware there will be music being performed.
Sunday 21 April
There are additional special services taking place in the cathedral day and access to the cathedral for those not attending services will be restricted throughout the day. The Exhibition Gallery and Discovery Centre will also be closed, but the shop and café remain open.
Tuesday 23 April
The nave will be closed to visitors while we take delivery of the Table for the Nation Visitors can enjoy the East end of the Cathedral, St Hugh’s Choir, the cloisters, Chapter House and Visitor Centre. Entry is via the visitor centre.
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.
Wednesday 15 November 2023
Wednesday 13 December 2023
Wednesday 17 January 2024
Wednesday 21 February 2024
Thursday 28 March 2024
Monday 8 April 2024
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.