Durham Cathedral remains one of the most iconic landmarks in the North East, as it welcomes thousands of visitors every year.
Many consider a trip to the historic site a 'must-do' when visiting Durham.
The cathedral currently holds a 4.7 out of 5 rating on TripAdvisor, from more than 7,000 reviews.
Visitors have praised everything from its vast interior to its links with the Harry Potter films.
It was previously named the "most captivating" cathedral in Europe, ranking above Notre Dame in Paris.
The cathedral, which dates back to 1093, is one of the finest examples of Norman architecture in Europe and houses the tombs of St Cuthbert and the Venerable Bede.
As well as being a place of worship, it is one of the North East’s leading tourist attractions, with free entry and optional paid extras including tower climbs and guided tours.
If you are planning on visiting soon, here's everything you need to know.
What time does it open?
(Image: Durham Cathedral.)
The cathedral is open from 8am until 6pm every Monday to Saturday, but normal visiting hours which include access to all areas of the cathedral site are 9.30am until 4pm.
On Sunday, the cathedral opens from 8am and closes at 5pm, normal visiting hours run from 12.30pm until 3pm.
Do you have to pay to visit?
Entrance to the cathedral is free.
Visitors are encouraged to donate £5 if they are able to.
What time does the museum open?
The museum is open from 12pm until 4pm.
What time does the shop open?
The shop is open from 11am until 4pm.
Is there a café and when does it open?
The Undercroft Cafe is a unique space within the cathedral.
It offers freshly prepared food and a range of hot and cold drinks, plus kids meals.
It opens from 9.30am until 4pm Monday to Friday, and from 10.30am until 4pm on a Sunday.
It houses the tomb of the Venerable Bede
The Galilee Chapel at the west end of the cathedral is the resting place of Bede, the 7th-century monk from Jarrow who wrote the first history of the English people and is one of only two English people ever declared a Doctor of the Church.
Bede rarely left his monastery at Jarrow during his lifetime, but his remains were brought to Durham in 1022, placed initially with St Cuthbert's relics, and moved to their permanent home in the Galilee Chapel around 1370.
There is a story that a monk tasked with composing a Latin inscription for the gravestone was struggling to find the right words, and left blanks overnight, only to find in the morning that an unseen hand had filled them in.
Spotted in film
Durham Cathedral has been featured in films such as Harry Potter, Avengers: Endgame, Elizabeth, and The BFG.
Avengers filming
(Image: NORTHERN ECHO)
Marvel fans heading back to cinemas for the newly released Avengers: Endgame Encore may be surprised to learn part of the blockbuster was filmed in County Durham.
The extended-cut re-release, which arrived in cinemas on September 25 and includes additional footage alongside a preview of the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday, has sparked renewed interest in the 2019 superhero epic.
The cathedral's Galilee Chapel and parts of the main building were transformed into the Asgardian Palace, home to Thor and his people.
International visitors wowed by landmark
A viral American man who loves exploring the UK has hailed Durham Cathedral as "breathtaking".
Kalani Smith, better known as TikTok’s Kalani Ghost Hunter, told his millions of followers he was "blown away" after visiting the iconic landmark during a trip to the North East.