Chichester Cathedral is a Church of England cathedral in the centre of Chichester, West Sussex, close to the city’s historic Market Cross. This guide covers opening hours, entry costs, transport or parking, accessibility, and practical visitor tips.
This guide was last updated in September 2026. The exhibition Glowing + Alive, exploring the story of the Cathedral’s John Piper Tapestry, remains on display until 15 November 2026.
Several areas closed temporarily for services and events throughout September 2026, including graduation ceremonies for the University of Chichester. Check the Cathedral’s upcoming closures page before visiting on a specific date.
Quick facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Opening hours | Mon–Sat 9.00am–5.00pm; Sun 12.30pm–2.30pm |
| Ticket price | Free entry; suggested donation £7 |
| Address | West Street, Chichester, West Sussex PO19 1PX |
| Nearest transport | Chichester train station, about 10 minutes on foot |
| Typical time needed | 45 minutes to 1 hour; longer with a Spire tour |
Chichester Cathedral opening hours
The Cathedral is open for general visiting Monday to Saturday from 9.00am to 5.00pm, and on Sundays from 12.30pm to 2.30pm. Services take place daily throughout the week.
Areas of the Cathedral occasionally close for weddings, funerals, and other services, including a full closure for University of Chichester graduations in mid-September. The Cathedral publishes a schedule of upcoming closures online.
Concert rehearsals and organ tuning also take place in the Nave on some weekdays, occasionally involving loud music during the day. Checking the closures page before an afternoon visit can help you avoid disruption.
Chichester Cathedral ticket prices
As with many English cathedrals, such as Bristol Cathedral and Lichfield Cathedral, admission is by donation. £7 per person is recommended to help keep the Cathedral free and open, since it receives no automatic government or Church of England funding. Groups of six or more are asked to pre-book, and a booking charge applies.
Opening hours and admission details were checked against the official Chichester Cathedral website, last updated in September 2026. Chichester is not part of any paid city-pass scheme.
As an independent charity, the Cathedral relies heavily on visitor donations rather than automatic government funding. Regular supporters can also join as a Friend of Chichester Cathedral.
How to get to Chichester Cathedral
Chichester train station is about 0.4 miles, or a 10-minute walk, from the Cathedral, with no inclines along the route. Bus routes 600, 700, and 46 all stop on West Street, close to the Cathedral entrance.
Coaches can drop off on West Street, close to the Cathedral, though larger events may redirect coach parking further out. Drivers arriving by car should follow signs from the A27 bypass towards the city centre.
Most Stagecoach bus services stop just outside the Cathedral, and dogs are welcome on board these buses. Visitors flying into the region typically use Southampton Airport, about 40 minutes away, or London Gatwick, roughly an hour’s drive.
Parking at Chichester Cathedral
There is no visitor parking on site, and the nearest public car park is at East Pallant, about 0.3 miles away. A limited number of free Blue Badge spaces are available on the approach via West Street.
Visitors can be dropped off close to the Cathedral entrance on West Street, near the Bell Tower, about 50 metres from the West Doors. Chichester District Council publishes a full parking map for visitors arriving by car.
How long to spend at Chichester Cathedral
A general visit to the Cathedral takes 45 minutes to an hour, including time in the Cloisters and Lady Chapel. The general guided tour, held most days at 11.30am and 2.30pm, adds about 45 minutes.
Visitors climbing the Spire on a guided Spire Visit should allow extra time, as these tours are separately ticketed and ascend through more than 950 years of history. The on-site Cloisters Kitchen & Garden café, open daily from 10am to 4pm, is a good place to pause partway through a visit.
Accessibility at Chichester Cathedral
Step-free, level access is available through the South West Door, with ramps available throughout the Cathedral and its precincts. Most areas, including the Nave, Lady Chapel, and Cloisters, are step-free, and removable ramps allow access to the Quire on request.
Two wheelchairs are available free of charge on a first-come, first-served basis. A hearing loop operates during services, and large-print and braille visitor leaflets are available at the Visitor Desk.
Accessible toilets are located in the North Transept, opposite the Treasury and Shop, with a further accessible toilet at the Cloisters Kitchen & Garden. Visitors with access questions are encouraged to contact the Cathedral team ahead of their visit.
Inside Chichester Cathedral
The Cathedral’s origins trace back to a monastery founded by St Wilfrid at Selsey in 681. The see moved to Chichester after the Norman Conquest, with construction starting in 1075 under Bishop Stigand using stone shipped from Quarr on the Isle of Wight.
Bishop Ralph Luffa completed and consecrated the Cathedral in 1108. Fires in 1114 and 1187 destroyed the wooden roof and east end, leading Bishop Seffrid II to rebuild it with stone vaulting and re-consecrate the building in 1199.
Richard of Wych, bishop of Chichester from 1245 to 1253, was canonised in 1262 and remains the Cathedral’s most important saint. His shrine drew large crowds until it was destroyed during the Reformation in 1538, though an altar was restored to its original site in 1930.
Around 1400, the Cathedral’s spire, cloisters, and detached Bell Tower were built. Chichester is unique in England for having the only surviving detached medieval bell tower beside a cathedral.
In 1861, cracks in the masonry caused the tower and spire to collapse. Sir George Gilbert Scott oversaw a five-year rebuilding programme, and the Cathedral reopened for worship in 1866.
The 20th century brought major works of modern art into the Cathedral, including a tapestry by John Piper, a window by Marc Chagall, and a painting by Graham Sutherland. All remain on permanent display today.
The South Transept houses two large 1530s history paintings by Lambert Barnard, among the most significant surviving examples of Tudor ecclesiastical art in England. They depict the Cathedral’s move from Selsey alongside a portrait of Henry VIII confirming the bishopric’s rights.
Practical visitor tips
| Tip | Detail |
|---|---|
| Timing | Visit on a weekday morning to avoid the busiest periods around Sunday services and events. |
| Crowds | Choral Evensong and Sunday services draw the largest congregations of the week. |
| Layout | Enter through the South West Door for step-free, level access into the Nave. |
| Entry process | There is no ticket booth; admission is by donation, payable on entry. |
| On-site logistics | Book the Spire Visit and General Guided Tour in advance if you want a specific time slot. |
Frequently asked questions about Chichester Cathedral
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is Chichester Cathedral free to visit? | Entry is by donation, with £7 per person recommended. |
| Do you need to book tickets in advance for Chichester Cathedral? | Not for general visits, though groups of six or more should pre-book. |
| Is Chichester Cathedral open on Sundays? | Yes, but only from 12.30pm to 2.30pm for general visiting. |
| Are dogs allowed at Chichester Cathedral? | Yes, on leads, during the Cathedral’s normal visiting hours. |
| Is Chichester Cathedral suitable for children? | Yes, with tailored activities for families and young people. |
Things to do near Chichester Cathedral
- Bishop’s Palace Gardens: a public park beside the Cathedral, dating back to 1147–1148.
- Pallant House Gallery: a modern and contemporary art museum, a short walk away.
- Chichester Market Cross: a 16th-century covered market cross at the city’s central crossroads.
- The Novium Museum: a museum built over Roman remains, a few minutes’ walk away.
- Chichester City Walls: a walkable circuit of Roman and medieval walls around the historic centre.
Alternative attractions
- Portsmouth Cathedral: a compact cathedral in Portsmouth’s Old Town, about a 25-minute drive away.
- Arundel Cathedral: a Roman Catholic cathedral in Arundel, roughly a 20-minute drive away.
- Guildford Cathedral: a 20th-century brick cathedral in Surrey, around a 1-hour drive away.
- Winchester Cathedral: one of England’s longest medieval cathedrals, about a 50-minute drive away.
- Canterbury Cathedral: the mother church of the Church of England, roughly a 2-hour drive away.
More Sussex travel
Other Sussex travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- Guide to parking at Battle Abbey.
- Visitor guide to Drusillas Park in East Sussex.
- The crucial information you need before visiting Pevensey Castle in Sussex.
- Fishbourne Roman Palace in West Sussex: Plan your trip.
- South Downs travel guides: Explore Beachy Head, the Seven Sisters, Seaford Head and Devil’s Dyke.
