Hereford Cathedral
- About the place
- Visitors information
History
Built on a place of worship used since Saxon times, Hereford Cathedral contains some of the finest examples of architecture from Norman times to the present day including the 13th century shrine of St Thomas of Hereford, the recently restored 14th century Lady Chapel.
Recent additions to the cathedral include:
The painted and gilded shrine to St Ethelbert, martyred AD 794
The Thomas Traherne stained glass windows, dedicated to Hereford’s 17th century poet and cleric.
Attractions
The award winning New library Building houses the famous medieval map of the world; The Mappa Mundi, and the cathedral’s unique Chained Library, where the stories of these national treasures are told.
The Cathedral Shop stocks an extensive range of souvenirs, cards and gifts from around the world and the Cloister Café serves a wide selection of traditional refreshments, light lunches, drinks, sandwiches and mouth-watering homemade cakes and teatime treats.
Other activities include:
Cathedral Tours: Mon – Sat: Easter – October, 11am & 2pm
Secret Gardens Tours: Sat & Weds: June – August, 3pm
Tower Tours: Easter – Sept: Thurs & Sat: 10.30am – 3pm
(extended opening during school holidays)
Lunchtime organ concerts: Tue: May – Sept, 1.15pm
Jazz in the cathedral garden: Fridays in August 1.15pm
Plus a range of other recitals, concerts, events and exhibitions. You can even see the working stonemasons yard where skilled craftsmen still use traditional methods to restore this ancient and beautiful cathedral.