Conflict and the Cathedral Tour

A special interest tour with our knowledgeable guides exploring a thousand years of remembrance, resilience, and reverence.

Step inside history and ascend through the layers of time on a unique, reflective journey through one of England’s most architecturally and historically significant cathedrals. This special 90-minute guided tour reveals how our Cathedral - founded in 1079 following the Norman Conquest - has stood as both witness and memorial to centuries of conflict, sacrifice, and endurance.

Commissioned by William the Conqueror, the Cathedral is one of fifteen built across England as part of a sweeping Norman legacy-monuments to both conquest and continuity. From its very foundation, the building was shaped by conflict: born in the aftermath of the Battle of Hastings and constructed as a symbol of Norman dominance, yet built on Saxon soil and infused with layers of English identity over the centuries.

Through this guided experience, you will encounter:

• A powerful journey through wartime memory: Learn how the Cathedral’s stones and spaces tell the stories of the Hundred Years War, the Wars of the Roses, the English Civil War, and global conflicts from the colonial period through to the First and Second World Wars. We also acknowledge present-day suffering with reference to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
• Rare access to historic spaces: Climb the 125 steps into the rarely seen bell ringing chamber and the loft above the Nave, where the structure itself reveals centuries of architectural adaptation and resilience.
• One of the most comprehensive war memorial collections in the country: From grand tributes in the Nave to the quiet dignity of the memorials in the Crypt, we reflect on the lives lost, the communities affected, and the enduring power of memory.

Important Information

• Due to the nature of the route, this tour is not wheelchair accessible and may not be suitable for those with limited mobility.
• Participants must be comfortable climbing 125 steps (with breaks) to access certain parts of the tour.
• The tour lasts approximately 90 minutes, including ascent and descent.
• Suitable for ages 12+. (Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.)

Book your place now - limited to just 12 participants per session.