Worcester Cathedral are running their annual Discover Something Different starting tomorrow with a range of tours, exhibitions, recitals and family activities.
Throughout the period there is an exhibition looking at how the cathedral was built and the many craftsmen who were involved. You can also catch our Geopark exhibition here.
On Wednesday 23rd August Geologists in the Geopark will be leading a tour highlighting the geology which can be seen and which you may just usually walk pat.
Tour by King John’s tomb
Discover Something Different at Worcester Cathedral 2017
Saturday 12 August – Monday 28 August
Be inspired and captivated this August by our tours, talks and exhibitions.
Please click on this link to access the full programme including dates and times of each event. Prices are listed below.
All tickets are available from Worcester Live Box office online or by phoning 01905 611427.
Remaining tickets on the day will be sold through the Cathedral Shop.
‘Hands on History’ children’s activities
Tue 15, Thur 17, Fri 18, Tue 22, Thur 24 and Fri 25 at 10.30-12.30 and 14.00-16.00
Try your hand at designing a stained glass window, illuminating a medieval manuscript, modelling a clay gargoyle and brass rubbing.
Free family events (donations appreciated)
Turn up for a Tour of the Cathedral
Monday to Saturday, 11am and 2.30pm
A guided tour of historic Worcester Cathedral, led by one of our experienced Cathedral Guides. The tour will last approximately an hour.
£5.00 pp, accompanied children are free
Meet in the Cloister outside the shop. On the following dates (and times) in August Turn up for a Tour will be replaced by an alternative tour (see below for details of the other tours) – Sat 12th 2.30pm / Mon 14th 2.30pm / Tue 15th 2.30pm / Sat 19th 2.30pm / Mon 21st 2.30pm / Tue 22nd 2.30pm / Wed 23rd 2.30pm / Thur 24th 11am / Sat 26th 2.30pm.
Cathedral Behind the Scenes Upper Reaches Tour
Tue 15, Thur 17, Sat 19, Tue 22, Thur 24 and Sat 26 at 13.30
See the Cathedral from a different perspective! Guided tour given by the Cathedral Archaeologist, or one of his knowledgable assistants, through some of the Cathedral roof spaces.
N.B. Due to the ancient nature of the building and spiral staircases there is no disabled access. Not suitable for under 16s.
Max 10 people per tour
£5.00pp
Meet outside the Cathedral shop
Cathedral Library tour
Sat 12, Mon 14, Tue 15, Wed 16, Thur 17, Fri 18, Sat 19, Mon 21, Tue 22, Wed 23 at 12.15
Guided tours of the Cathedral’s atmospheric medieaval library offering a chance to see the Worcester Anitphoner and other mediaeval manuscripts, historic documents and rare books from the Cathedral archives.
N.B. Due to the ancient nature of the building and spiral staircases there is no disabled access
Max 16 people per tour
£5.00pp
Meet in the Cloister outside the shop
King John Talk
Thur 24 at 15.30
King John’s Tomb in the Cathedral Quire is a stunning setting to hear about his life, disputes and the lead up to him sealing Magna Carta 800 years ago.
£6.00 PP
Meet in the Cloister outside the shop
Turn up for a Tour with a Twist – The people’s story
Mon 14, Mon 21 at 14.30
Learn in more detail about the people connected to and buried in the Cathedral. Hear about their fascinating lives, loves and losses.
£5.00pp
Meet outside the Cathedral shop
Cathedral Gardens Tour
Mon 14 at 13.30
A chance to meet the Cathedral Gardener who will point out to you the trees and plants of rare and special interest in the Cathedral and Deanery gardens and the different herbs in the Cloister Garth garden.
£5.00 pp
Meet in the Cloister outside the shop
Voces Academy Conducting Masterclasses
Wed 16 at 10.00-13.00, Thur 17 at 13.00-14.30, Fri 18 at 13.00-15.30 and 16.00-18.00
This free event is a great opportunity to hear beautiful music and observe conductors learning their skills, set in the centre of the Cathedral on The Crossing or in College Hall.
Observation only.
(Please see timetable for location)
Voces Academy closing performance
Thur 17 at 14.45
A programme of beautiful choral works including Brahms, Elgar, and Verdi will showcase the Voces masterclasses that have taken place throughout the week. Conductors will be joined by special guest Choir Evoke in this closing performance.
A free event, located on the Cathedral Crossing
The Men – their WWI stories
Thur 24 at 11.00
Hear the moving and poignant stories behind some of the men who fought in World War I, who are commemorated in the Cloister windows and who were connected to the Cathedral.
£5.00pp
Meet your guide outside the Cathedral shop in the Cloister
Climb the Cathedral Tower (Weather permitting)
Mon to sat 11.00-17.00 last admission 16.30 and Sundays 12.30-15.30 last admission at 15.00
Climb the 235 steps up the Cathedral Tower where on a clear day you can see spectacular views over the city centre, River Severn, county cricket ground, Pitchcroft, Fort Royal, Malvern and Abberley hills and the beautiful Worcestershire countryside beyond.
£4.00pp, / £2.00 per school age child/ £8 family ticket (2 adults + up to 4 children)
N.B. Due to the ancient nature of the building and spiral staircases there is no disabled access
Small children must be able to climb independently and be supervised by an adult (the tower is very narrow and steep).
Should the tower not be open due to the weather, Worcester live tickets can be used on an alternative day when the tower is open.Tickets will also be available at the Cathedral shop in the Cloister and from the ticket / donation point near the north door on the day.
Top of the Tower Battle of Worcester tour
Thur 17 at 10.30
Stand where Charles II watched the progress of the Battle of Worcester on 3rd September 1651 and let our guide take you back in time to hear about this decisive battle of the English Civil War.
£5.00pp
N.B. Due to the ancient nature of the building and spiral staircases there is no disabled access
Meet outside the Cathedral shop
Bell Tower tour and ringing demonstration
Mon 21 at 12.30
A tour of the teaching centre, ringing room and Belfry. See the bells being rung and meet some of the Bellringers.
25 people per tour
£10.00pp
Meet at the Tower entrance.
Not suitable for children under 10
N.B. Due to the ancient nature of the building and spiral staircases there is no disabled access
The Cathedral’s Monastic Heritage Tour
Tue 14 and Sat 26 at 14.30
Hear about the Benedictine monk’s life from 500-1000 years ago and see the surviving and ruined Monastic buildings on the tour outside and in the Cathedral.
£5.00pp
Meet outside the Cathedral shop
‘Fossils in the stones’ Tour
Wed 23 at 14.30
The cathedral was built with many different rocks but did you know that many of these stones have wonderful fossils within them. During this gentle stroll around the Cathedral you will see fossilised corals, snails and sea lilies in rocks that are up to 350 million years old. You may find that a small torch and magnifying glass will make your tour a little more enlightening.
£5.00pp
Meet your guide outside the Cathedral shop in the Cloister
The Cathedral’s magnificent Architecture Tour
Tue 22 and Sat 19 at 14.30
Worcester Cathedral has been described as possibly the most interesting of all England’s Cathedrals from an architectural point of view and has examples of wonderful stone work and architecture from Saxon through to Tudor times.
Join our guide to hear about the Cathedral’s Norman, Transitional Norman, Early english, Decorated and Perpendicular Architecture
£5.00pp
Meet outside the Cathedral shop
Cathedral Stained Glass tour
Sat 12 at 14.30
Worcester’s magnificent Stained Glass tour includes the inspiring Great West Window depicting the creation (currently being conserved), the East Window showing the life of Christ, and among others the Edward Elgar and Charles Hastings windows.
£5.00pp
Meet outside the Cathedral shop
Talk by Steve Clare, specialist in the restoration and conservaton of stained glass
Thur 24 at 19.00
A talk on the restoration and conservation of stained glass by specialist Steve Clare of Holywell Glass.
The talk will take place in the Nave of the Cathedral, in sight of the Great West Window and the glass conservation work. The event includes a glass of wine or a soft drink prior to the talk beginning.
£8pp
Glasswork demonstrations
Tue 15, Wed 16, Thur 17, Tue 22, Wed 23 and Thur 24
Meet some of the skilled glass conservators from Holywell Glass whilst they work on restoring glass from the Great West Window. They will be demonstrating their craft at work benches at ground floor level in the Cathedal Nave.
Free event – no tickets required
‘Building the Cathedral’ Exhibition
11 to 30 August
A fascinating exhibition looking at how the Cathedral was constructed from the middle ages onwards and at the various types of medieval craftsmen.
Free exhibition
‘Fossils in the Geopark’ Exhibition
11 to 30 August
The Abberley and Malvern Hills Geopark has an abundance of fossil bearing rocks that form the local landscape. This exhibition tells the story of fossil corals, trilobites ammonites and dinosaurs from as long ago as 400 million years right through to the last Ice Age and which can be seen in the fabric of the Cathedral.
Free exhibition
‘Winterbourne Revisited’ Exhibition by Worcester Artist Sara Hayward (RCA)
5 August to 31 August
An exhibition of eight large scale vibrant abstract paintings inspired by the house and gardens of Winterbourne Edgbaston.
Whilst enjoying refreshments in the Cathedral Chapter House (off the Cloister), see this free exhibition
Safari Trail
Daily
The Safari Trail leads younger children around the Cathedral looking for the many animals that can be found in the stained glass windows, floor tiles or carved on tombs. Children are welcome to borrow a special safari backpack to go on safari with binoculars and a torch to make their journey extra special.
A free family trail
Ask a Cathedral Welcomer (wearing a green sash and located by the main north porch entrance) for the loan of a Safari backpack
Drop in Mindfulness Colouring
Daily Monday to saturday 10.00-16.30 Sundays 12.30-15.30
4 beautiful designs to colour designed by Local artist Sara Hayward in the serene and calming environment of the Lady Chapel. Colouring sheets, pencils and clipboards available in the Lady Chapel.
