Guided climb of 211 steps inside the Norman crossing tower of St Albans Cathedral, passing the Lantern and bell chambers to the rooftop.
St Albans Cathedral is running tower tours through the end of the year, with the next one on Sunday 6 December. It's a climb of 211 winding steps inside the Norman crossing tower, which is the only great crossing tower from the 1000s still standing in England, and built with reused Roman brick. On the way up you pass the Lantern, a painted ceiling with medieval coats of arms, a Victorian gantry above the Presbytery, and the Bell Ringing Chamber and Belfry, which houses the cathedral's thirteen new bells and eight old ones. The roof then opens out over the city of St Albans and, weather permitting, towards London.
The climb takes about an hour and is steep and narrow, so it's not suitable for anyone with significant mobility difficulties, vertigo or claustrophobia. Children must be aged 11 or over, and under-18s have to be accompanied by an adult. Dogs aren't permitted. The cathedral itself is an historic abbey church at the heart of the city, hosting concerts, talks, exhibitions and major cultural events alongside its religious life.
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There are 20 confirmed dates between 25 October and 20 December 2026, so if the 6 December one doesn't work, you've got plenty of other options. The remaining dates are 16 December at 11am and 12.30pm, 19 December at 10am and 11.30pm, and 20 December at 1pm and 2.30pm. Tickets are £15 standard and £12 for ages 11-18, and the tours run from Sumpter Yard, AL1 1BY.
