Quick answer
Beverley Minster is a vast, free medieval church full of carved musicians and animals, with a roof tour for older children. It is indoors, so it works on a rainy day. The Minster’s usual visitor hours are 10am to 4pm daily, except 26 December. Before midday on Sundays, visitors can normally use only the west end until services finish. The Christmas Tree Festival, 4 to 13 December 2026, has longer hours, with adults £6 and accompanied under 18s free. The roof tour climbs 113 steps in a narrow space.
Is it right for my child?
- Carving hunts: the Minster says it has more than 70 medieval carvings of musicians, in wood and stone, showing about 20 instruments. The biggest group is along the north aisle.
- Funny wooden seats: the 68 misericords in the Quire date from 1520. Their carvings include a dog played like a bagpipe, a man muzzling a bear and a fox preaching to geese.
- Very old treasures: the Minster’s top 10 includes the Saxon fridstool, its oldest object, and a Norman font from about 1170.
- Older children: the tours page says the Roof Tour is for over 8 years, while on 13 November its booking page said aged 8 or over. The Minster says you see its treadwheel, and the central roof boss is lifted for a view of the floor below.
- Toddlers: the official pages give no minimum age for a normal visit.
Plan your visit: a parent’s checklist
- Entry is free. The Minster invites a donation by cash or card.
- Check the daily calendar before you go. The Minster says there may be temporary closures for special events.
- Avoid Sunday mornings for exploring. On the calendar we read on 13 November, Sunday entries showed the Minster opening to visitors at 12pm. The festival page lists 10am opening on its Sundays, 6 and 13 December, so check first.
- Taking photos? The facilities page says a permit is required for cameras and videos. It costs £3 from the shop or the welcomers.
- Leave the dog at home unless it is an assistance dog. There is a water bowl for dogs outside the Highgate Entrance.
- Book tours in advance through TryBooking, linked from the tours page. On 13 November the Roof Tour booking page banned open-toed sandals, flip-flops and high heels.
Prices and tickets
Normal entry is free, with donations invited. Donations help keep it open every day except 26 December.
- Christmas Tree Festival, 4 to 13 December 2026: adults £6, accompanied children under 18 free. On 13 November the festival page offered tickets online at £6 plus a booking fee, or at the door. It said card payments are preferred.
- Exploring Beverley Minster tour: 1 hour, 20 places, £8 before fees. The tours page gives £8.50 including fees.
- Roof Tour: 90 minutes, 13 places, £12 before fees or £12.75 on TryBooking. Check the age rule in the FAQ below.
- On 13 November the tour pages we read listed no child or family ticket.
Pushchairs, babies and toilets
- Step-free way in: there is level, step-free access at the accessible entrance, which has a power-assisted door. It is signed from the main entrance.
- Toilets: the facilities page says there are toilets just outside the accessible entrance. Wheelchair accessible toilets are in the Parish Hall.
- Baby changing: this is in the Parish Hall. Ask a Welcomer or Virger on duty in the Minster if you need it.
- Roof Tour: 113 steps up a medieval spiral staircase, with some uneven floors.
Food and drink
The official pages do not mention a café for normal visits. The facilities page says coffee and tea are usually available in the north transept, opposite the shop. It is serve yourself, and a donation is requested. The festival page mentions a festival café during the Christmas Tree Festival.
Getting there and parking
The Minster’s postcode is HU17 0DP.
- Free parking: the Minster car park opposite the main entrance has 30 spaces, 2 of them for Blue Badge holders. Roads near the Minster have time-limited free parking.
- Flemingate: the Flemingate Shopping Centre multi-storey has 500 places, about 5 minutes’ walk away. The Minster’s page gives 3 hours for £2.00.
- Train: Beverley station is about 8 minutes’ walk away.
- Bus: the bus station is about 12 minutes’ walk away.
When to visit
Usual visitor hours are 10am to 4pm daily, except 26 December, with festival hours below. Before 12pm on Sundays, visitor access is normally limited to the west end until services have finished. Festival Sunday mornings may differ, so check first. The Minster also warns of temporary closures for special events.
The shop opens Monday to Saturday and is closed on Sunday. The home page gives 10am to 4pm, but the gift shop page says 11am to 4pm.
- Christmas Tree Festival, 4 to 13 December 2026: more than 150 decorated trees, open 10am to 5pm with last entry at 4.15pm. On 9 and 10 December it opens until 9pm, with last entry at 8pm. The programme lists a Quiet Hour from 9am to 10am on those two days.
- Christmas services for families: a Walking Nativity at 3pm on 22 and 23 December, for pre-school children upwards. It is free, but places must be booked; on 13 November the booking link was not yet available. Crib Services at 1pm and 3pm on 24 December suit children under 10 especially.
- Minster Tots: 0 to 5 year olds, Tuesdays 9.30am to 11.15am in the Parish Hall, voluntary donation £2 per family.
Additional needs and disability support
The Minster publishes an accessibility page, and its tours page adds the Roof Tour warnings below.
- Accessible entrance: level and step-free, with a power-assisted door.
- Accessible toilets are in the Parish Hall. Ask a Welcomer or Virger.
- Blue Badge parking: 2 spaces in the Minster car park, opposite the main entrance at the end of Highgate.
- Hearing loop: it is in use during services. Switch your hearing aid to “T”.
- Tours: the accessibility page says there is level access to the areas on the Exploring Beverley Minster tour. The tours page says the Roof Tour is not recommended for people with heart or breathing problems, or anxiety in narrow spaces.
- Guide dogs, hearing dogs and assistance dogs are welcome at all times.
- The official pages do not mention a Changing Places toilet, a visual story or sensory resources.
Frequently asked questions
Is Beverley Minster free to visit?
Yes, normal entry is free and a donation is invited. During the Christmas Tree Festival, 4 to 13 December 2026, the festival page lists adults at £6, with accompanied under 18s free. Tours and photography permits cost extra.
Can children go on the Beverley Minster roof tour?
Only older children. The tours page says over 8 years, but on 13 November the booking page said aged 8 or over, so ask about an 8-year-old. The tour climbs 113 steps in a narrow space, though the tour area is fully enclosed with secure barriers. The tours page bans open-toed sandals and flip-flops, and the booking page also banned high heels on 13 November. Arrive 15 minutes early to sign the terms.
When are roof tours running?
On 13 November the Roof Tour booking page showed dates up to 28 November 2026 only. The Minster calendar also listed roof tours in December. It showed no tours on 5 December, so check the booking page.
Is Beverley Minster open on Sundays?
Yes, but before 12pm visitors can normally use only the west end until services finish. Services and events can also take place on Sunday afternoons, so check the daily calendar. The shop is closed on Sundays.
Is Beverley Minster open at Christmas?
The Minster says it is open every day of the year except 26 December. Check the daily calendar for service times and temporary closures before you travel.
Checked on 13 November 2026 against the official Beverley Minster pages for opening times, how to find us, accessibility, facilities, tours, Christmas Tree Festival, Christmas 2026 and the daily calendar. Prices and times can change, so check before you travel.
