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Chichester Cathedral Audio Guide: Norman Stone to Chagall Glass
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About the Tour
About the Tour
Discover nearly 1,000 years of English history on this immersive Chichester Cathedral tour. From Norman arches and Gothic vaults to spectacular modern art, this self-guided audio experience reveals how every stone, window and sculpture tells a story.
Created by art historian Janet, founder of Painting Stories, this tour combines architecture, history and visual storytelling to help you look more closely at one of England’s most remarkable cathedrals. Along the way, you’ll uncover how invasions, kings, saints, war and pilgrimage shaped the building over ten centuries.
You don’t need any previous knowledge of art, architecture or religion to enjoy this tour. Whether you are completely new to medieval buildings or already love cathedrals and history, you’ll learn how to recognise key architectural styles and details that appear across churches and historic buildings throughout Europe.
As you walk through soaring arches, chapels and side aisles, you’ll learn how to decode the building around you - from the meaning of carved stone figures to why medieval cathedrals were designed to inspire awe and wonder. You’ll also discover how Chichester Cathedral became an unexpected home for world-famous modern art, creating a remarkable conversation between the medieval and the contemporary.
Whether you are visiting for history, architecture, spirituality or simply curiosity, this tour will help you see the cathedral with new eyes.
On this Chichester Cathedral tour, you’ll discover:
- How to recognise the differences between Romanesque and Gothic architecture
- The origins of the Cathedral and its move from Selsey to Chichester after the Norman Conquest
- Extraordinary twelfth-century stone carvings
- The story of St Richard and medieval pilgrimage to Chichester
- Paintings and tapestries spanning 1,000 years, from medieval to modern
- The spectacular Marc Chagall stained glass window
- How Henry VIII and the English Civil War transformed the Cathedral
- The famous Arundel Tomb and one of England’s most moving medieval sculptures
By the end of the tour, you’ll not only understand Chichester Cathedral more deeply, but also feel more confident looking at other medieval churches, abbeys and cathedrals in the future.
Music: Venus Bringer of Peace, The Planets, Gustav Holst, 1914-17 (Gustav Holst's ashes are interred in the north transept of Chichester Cathedral).
Tour Producer
Tour Producer
Janet Clark
Janet Clark is an art historian trained at the Courtauld Institute of Art in London and the creator of Painting Stories, a series of audio tours and podcasts that bring art, architecture, and history to life through storytelling.
Janet has worked in museums and heritage, specialising in interpretation and education for visitors of all ages. Her tours are designed to help both first-time visitors and experienced museum-goers look at art, architecture, and historic places with greater confidence and enjoyment.
Through carefully curated tours of museums, galleries, and historic sites, Janet explores the fascinating human stories behind famous paintings, buildings, and historical events — from Renaissance masterpieces and Gothic cathedrals to Impressionism and modern art.
Her approach combines art history, cultural history, and accessible storytelling, making complex ideas engaging and approachable for a wide audience.
Painting Stories began as a podcast and has grown into a wider project dedicated to making art and history feel meaningful, personal, and memorable. More tours, articles, and resources can be found at wearepaintingstories.com.
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Preview Location
Preview Location
Location 4
The Choir
Look up towards the organ and take in the large stone arch that that surrounds it. Stay looking upwards for a moment and notice the arch opposite the organ, and the two adjacent ones. What do you notice ...
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Major Landmarks
Major Landmarks
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Chichester Cathedral
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Chichester Cross
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Pallant House Gallery
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The Novium Museum
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Chichester Canal
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Chichester Cathedral
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Fishbourne Roman Palace
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Chichester Harbour
Getting There
Getting There
Route Overview
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Total distance0m
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Distance back to start location0m
Directions to Starting Point
The tour starts outside Chichester Cathedral, beside the modern statue of St Richard. From West Street in Chichester, take the path leading to the Cathedral’s West Door. You will walk past the Bell Tower on your left before arriving at the bronze statue of St Richard nearby. This is the starting point for the tour.
You will enter the Cathedral for location 2 of the tour. Entrance is free of charge, although the Cathedral suggests a donation.
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Tips
Tips
Places to stop along the way
There are plenty of wonderful places to explore before or after your visit to Chichester Cathedral. A stroll through the peaceful Bishop's Palace Gardens beside the Cathedral, is highly recommended - this tranquil green space has views of the cathedral spire and historic city walls.
The Cathedral Cloisters Café is excellent place to pause, but there are many superb cafes, restaurants and pubs in around Chichester city centre which is a few minutes walk away.
Chichester itself is a beautiful historic city to wander through, with Roman walls, Georgian streets, independent shops and cafés. Nearby, you may also enjoy visiting the excellent The Novium Museum, which explores the city’s Roman and medieval history, and Pallant House Gallery, one of Britain’s leading galleries for modern British art.
If you have more time in the area, other fascinating nearby destinations include Fishbourne Roman Palace, famous for its extraordinary Roman mosaics, Chichester Harbour, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and Petworth House, with its remarkable art collection, landscaped parkland and connections to J.M.W. Turner.
Best time of day
The Cathedral is open for visiting:
Monday - Saturday 09:00 - 17:00
Sunday 12:30 - 14:30
There are services daily.
As this is an active place of worship, it is best to check that it is open before your visit, as services, concerts, special events or private functions may occasionally restrict access to parts of the building or affect opening hours.
Allow around 1.5 to 2 hours to enjoy the tour comfortably, including time to pause, sit, and look closely at the artworks and architecture. The tour is suitable in all weather conditions, as most of it takes place inside the cathedral, although you may wish to bring an umbrella for the short outdoor sections around the cloisters and cathedral exterior.
Precautions
Mobile signal and internet access can occasionally be patchy in parts of Chichester city centre and around the Cathedral, so I recommend downloading the tour in the VoiceMap app before you arrive.
Most of this tour takes place inside Chichester Cathedral, but there are some outdoor sections around the cathedral exterior and cloisters, so comfortable shoes and a waterproof jacket or umbrella are recommended in wet weather.
The Cathedral is generally level and easy to navigate, although there are a small number of steps and some uneven historic flooring in places. Seating is available throughout the building if you would like to pause during the tour.
As this is an active place of worship, visitors are asked to be respectful during services and quiet reflection. Photography policies and access to certain areas may occasionally change during events or ceremonies, so it is worth checking ahead before your visit.
There are toilets in the north transept, opposite the Cathedral shop.
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