Why visit Ripon Cathedral in North Yorkshire?
Ripon Cathedral — the Cathedral Church of St Peter and St Wilfrid — in Yorkshire boasts over 1,350 years of history, making it one of England’s most ancient places of worship. Founded by St Wilfrid in 672 AD as a monastery by monks of the Irish tradition, then refounded as a Benedictine monastery, the church became a Church of England cathedral in 1836 when the Diocese of Ripon was created — the first new diocese established since the Reformation. In 2014, Ripon Cathedral became one of three co-equal cathedrals of the Bishop of Leeds within the Diocese of Leeds, alongside Bradford and Wakefield.
The Anglo-Saxon crypt at Ripon Cathedral is the oldest built fabric of any English cathedral still in use today — a remarkable survivor dating from St Wilfrid’s original 672 AD basilica. Walking down into this seventh-century space, you’re entering one of the most significant examples of early Christian architecture in England. St Wilfrid brought stonemasons, plasterers, and glaziers from France and Italy to build his great basilica, making it one of the earliest stone buildings erected in the Kingdom of Northumbria. The crypt features notches in the walls that some speculate inspired the bookshelves Alice sees descending the rabbit hole.
Ripon Cathedral’s connection to Lewis Carroll adds literary intrigue. Charles Lutwidge Dodgson (Lewis Carroll) spent time here as a young man when his father served as Canon from 1852 to 1858. The medieval misericords at Ripon Cathedral — carved between 1489 and 1494 — depict a gryphon chasing a rabbit into a burrow, widely believed to have inspired Alice’s fall down the rabbit hole in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Other bizarre carvings showing shrunken figures, fantastical creatures, and surreal imagery may have influenced the Cheshire Cat, Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum, and other Wonderland characters. The same Ripon school of carvers also created misericords at Beverley Minster and Manchester Cathedral.
Ripon Cathedral’s architecture showcases multiple periods. The Early English gothic west front, added in 1220 with twin towers originally crowned with wooden spires and lead, is considered one of the best of its type. The east window, built between 1286-88 and 1330, was praised by architecture critic Pevsner as a “splendid” example of large Decorated Gothic windows constructed in Northern England. The crossing tower collapsed in an earthquake in 1450 and was rebuilt but never completed. Between 1501 and 1522, nave walls were raised higher and aisles added.
What to see at Ripon Cathedral
The Anglo-Saxon crypt — St Wilfrid’s original chapel — remains intact after 1,350 years. This small underground space was built like similar structures in Rome, allowing pilgrims to pay respects to the dead before ascending into the church, symbolising death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
The choir stalls at Ripon Cathedral house thirty-four intricate misericord carvings featuring mythical creatures, wild animals, and surreal imagery drawn from medieval bestiaries. The most famous depicts a gryphon clutching a rabbit narrowly escaping into burrows — the Lewis Carroll rabbit hole misericord that inspired Alice in Wonderland. Look for dragons fighting with locked jaws, lions battling mythical beasts, and peculiar shrunken figures.
The cathedral features magnificent stained glass windows, including the Geometric east window. The fine Harrison and Harrison organ sits on the screen with Gilbert Scott casework — a rebuild of the original 1878 Lewis instrument that underwent major refurbishment in 2013. A ring of 12 bells plus an additional “flat sixth” bell hangs in the south-west tower.
Weekly concerts at Ripon Cathedral include free Thursday lunchtime performances during term time, plus the Summer Organ Festival in June. Choral Evensong takes place Monday to Saturday at 5.30pm and Sundays at 3.30pm, sung five times weekly by the nationally-acclaimed cathedral choir.
Visiting Ripon Cathedral: practical information
Ripon Cathedral opening times and admission
Ripon Cathedral is open Monday to Saturday from 8.00am to 6.00pm and Sundays from 12.00pm to 5.00pm. The cathedral welcomes visitors daily throughout the year. Admission to Ripon Cathedral is free, though donations are greatly appreciated to maintain this practice. Guided tours at Ripon Cathedral are offered by knowledgeable volunteers who help visitors enjoy the cathedral’s long history and uncover hidden treasures. Guides and welcomers are on duty daily between 10.00am and 4.30pm. Alternatively, trail leaflets for self-guided tours are available.
Visitors cannot look around Ripon Cathedral during services — you’re welcome to attend services in the nave but touring is suspended whilst worship takes place. Check the cathedral website for service times and special services calendar.
Getting to Ripon Cathedral in North Yorkshire
Ripon Cathedral is located at Minster Road, Ripon, North Yorkshire HG4 1QT in the heart of Ripon city centre. Ripon sits just 6 miles from the A1(M) Junction 50.
Reaching Ripon Cathedral by car is straightforward via the A1(M). Parking is available 150 yards away at St Mary Gate and Cathedral Car Park (Sainsburys). On-site disabled parking is limited — ring the Chapter House on 01765 602072 to book in advance. Cyclists visiting Ripon Cathedral can use bike racks located north of the cathedral or behind noticeboards on the west front.
Getting to Ripon Cathedral by public transport involves bus route 36, which runs every 20 minutes from Harrogate or Leeds to Ripon.
Ripon Cathedral accessibility and facilities
Most of Ripon Cathedral is wheelchair accessible, though the Library and Anglo-Saxon crypt cannot be accessed by wheelchair users. A 3D virtual tour of the crypt and library is available via the cathedral website for those unable to access these areas physically. Assistance dogs are very welcome at Ripon Cathedral. Pushchairs are permitted throughout the cathedral.
Ripon Cathedral facilities are somewhat limited — there is no café on site, though central Ripon offers numerous cafés, pubs, and restaurants within easy walking distance. The cathedral gift shop stocks books, gifts, and souvenirs. Toilets are available. Baby-changing facilities are provided.
Interactive trail sheets are available year-round encouraging children to explore inside and outside Ripon Cathedral. Free workshops run throughout school holidays where children can unleash creativity and interact with surroundings.
Tips for visiting Ripon Cathedral
- Allow at least an hour to properly explore — there’s more to see than expected for a cathedral this size.
- Don’t miss the Anglo-Saxon crypt — the oldest cathedral structure in England still in use.
- Look for the Lewis Carroll misericords in the choir stalls, particularly the gryphon chasing the rabbit.
- Attend Choral Evensong (Monday to Saturday 5.30pm, Sunday 3.30pm) to experience the nationally-acclaimed choir.
- Visit during school holidays for free children’s workshops.
- Combine with other Ripon attractions — the market square, Ripon Workhouse Museum, and Fountains Abbey (nearby).
- Respect that this is a working cathedral — services take priority over tourism.
- Download trail sheets before visiting if travelling with children.
- Consider joining a guided tour — volunteers are passionate and knowledgeable about the 1,350-year history.
Nearby attractions to Ripon Cathedral
Ripon market square surrounds the cathedral with its distinctive obelisk and historic market (Thursdays and Saturdays). The Hornblower sounds his horn at 9.00pm nightly from the market square obelisk — a tradition dating back over 1,000 years. Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden (UNESCO World Heritage Site) sits approximately 4 miles west. Newby Hall and Gardens offers Georgian house tours and 25 acres of award-winning gardens. Ripon Workhouse Museum provides Victorian social history. Lightwater Valley theme park is nearby. Harrogate (11 miles south) features the Turkish Baths, Valley Gardens, and Betty’s Café Tea Rooms.
More North Yorkshire travel
Other North Yorkshire travel stories on Planet Whitley include:
- What first time visitors need to know about visiting Whitby Abbey.
- A practical guide to visiting the Captain Cook Memorial Museum in Whitby.
- How to visit Hardraw Force, England’s tallest waterfall.
- What to see at the RHS Garden Harlow Carr in Harrogate.
- Guide to the World of James Herriot in Thirsk.
