Worcester Cathedral Reviews Summary

Category: Cathedral

Address: 8 College Yard, Worcester, WR1 2LA, United Kingdom

Phone: +441905732900

Rating: 4.8
based on 390 reviews.

Accessibility

Pros:

  • "Wheelchair accessible, lively atmosphere, beautiful chapter house."
  • "Everything is easily accessible within the Cathedral if you are disabled."
  • "Accessible with ramps in strategic spots."
  • "The wheelchair was able to access most of the Cathedral."
  • "Good access for disabled with two lifts to access the Lady Chapel etc."
  • "Access is very good with ramps etc for wheelchairs pushchair etc."
  • "Wheelchairs can access the main floor of the cathedral but not the crypt."

Cons:

  • "On this visit certain sections weren't open due to repairs, which did spoil the visit a little."
  • "Wheelchair access is a bit patchy needed to go back outside and in through another doorway to access some areas."
  • "I am disabled and couldn’t access King John’s Tomb perhaps I’ll research before another visit."
  • "The building is fully accessible, but you need to ask for staff assistance to find the access."
  • "There is wheelchair access throughout the church a buildings with the exception of the cellar."
  • "Access is a bit difficult if you don't know where to find the doors."
  • "An awesome cathedral that was briefly visited. Partly due to Covid restrictions, as well as finding a suitable parking place. Was most surprised there's that there weren't any disabled spaces near the venue."

Staff and Volunteers

Pros:

  • "The Cathedral has welcoming staff/volunteers."
  • "Stunning architecture and friendly, welcoming, knowledgeable staff."
  • "The guides and staff were helpful and informative."
  • "A mature gentleman called Michael took us round and had a fabulous balance of knowledge, dates and a really good sense of humour."
  • "Welcoming staff."
  • "The staff were very helpful."
  • "The staff brilliant and knowledgeable."

Cons:

  • "We got turned away from main entrance of cathedral at 4' o'clock, despite last entry being 4:30."
  • "After enduring a lengthy Pilgrimage to Worcester I was very disappointed by the attitude and tone of the Vergers."
  • "Another volunteer told us off! As a priest visiting from another diocese I found it all so very disappointing... what a welcome!"
  • "I was very happy with our visit unfortunately not so much with the staff in the gift shop! Who we felt were rude."
  • "Beautiful cathedral with surroundings however the lady on the door 5/8/2021 called me rude in front of several visitors."
  • "A fostering group had booked 5-6pm for us to take their looked after children to see the Christmas trees... I was told very firmly and with no compassion that no public could enter after 5pm!!"
  • "As if there aren't enough signs around the cathedral asking for donations but the staff also have the cheek to ask too!"

Architecture and History

Pros:

  • "The Cathedral Church of Christ and the Blessed Mary the Virgin, more simply Worcester Cathedral, displays every style of English architecture from Norman to Perpendicular Gothic."
  • "Historical, peaceful, beautiful architecture and statues."
  • "One of England's greatest Cathedrals. It has two royal burials, a wealth of history and some of the finest architecture in the country."
  • "A beautiful Cathedral in the heart of Worcester. Amazing architecture and history."
  • "Impressive, welcoming cathedral with fascinating history. King John and Arthur, Henry 8th's elder brother are buried here."
  • "A wonderful cathedral full of incredible history and amazing craftsmanship from over many centuries."
  • "It is a beautiful building with a very long and interesting history."

Cons:

  • "Why do poor men who died fighting against fascism get one plaque between them, while a rich man who lived till he was in his 80s, and who represented colonialism with all its horrors gets a special one of his own?"
  • "The venue is surrounded by roads and is congested most of the time. Also, there are car parks everywhere rather than clean, clear open space."
  • "However, as cathedrals go there is little to explore, limited outside spaces and I was somewhat underwhelmed."
  • "Very close to the busy traffic roundabout so not always a place for quiet contemplation."
  • "The cathedral is very pleasant to look at. Although I feel the inside is vastly spoiled by a tsunami of school children decorations."
  • "An incredible shame a road was built so close to it and a car park is attached to it."
  • "Lots of scaffolding on outside in different places as work in progress."

Facilities

Pros:

  • "The cafe has spaced out tables ideal for wheelchairs and mobility aids."
  • "There is a small cafe which serves good food and a gift shop."
  • "The general facilities were good with the toilets immaculate."
  • "It's a place where you can eat and it has decent toilet facilities."
  • "Lovely cafe in Cloisters area and toilets available too."
  • "A stunning place of worship free admission donation boxes available guides throughout the cathedral were very helpful and knowledgeable a lovely tea rooms offering a good range of snacks delivering some lovely food."
  • "There is a shop and cafe in the cloisters."

Cons:

  • "Toilets were really dirty though."
  • "The cafe was closed but the toilets were open and were clean and easy to access."
  • "Cafe - slow service, limited offering."
  • "You need to buy a photography permit though to take any internal shots (approx £5 last time I visited)."
  • "My only issue was the lack of information boards to explain things around the cathedral and/or interactive birds etc."
  • "Only marked down because they wanted £5 each to go up the tower. Not worth it, £5 for a family maybe."
  • "My only criticism would be that the entry is not very welcoming with a feeling you should donate, would be good if they changed this and asked for funds in a less upfront way."

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