Durham goes Dog Friendly

Durham Cathedral is the latest cathedral to allow in well-behaved dogs – on a trial basis.

Durham goes Dog Friendly

The trail started last month will run until the end of March.

Andrew Usher, chief officer at Durham Cathedral for visitor experience and enterprise, said:

“We’ve recognised that since the pandemic more places are becoming dog-friendly and Durham itself now advocates as a ‘dog-friendly’ city.

“This trial allows us to invite more people through the doors to experience the cathedral or join a service and enables us to support our long-term strategy to encourage pilgrimage from a broad spectrum, including the many people who arrive as pilgrims with their dogs.”

Dogs are allowed to attend services but they must be on short leads and not allowed near other people and dog owners must clean up after their pets, and, if they become disruptive, they will be asked to leave.

Due to the nature of some of the different spaces in the cathedral, dogs are not allowed in St Cuthberts Shrine, the library and museum, the central tower, the learning centre, the restaurant, and Priors Hall and they are not allowed on tower tours or at any ticketed events.

Mr Usher added that the trial is going well, with lots of positive feedback, especially from those who can now attend services with their dogs.

Durham is the 25th Church of England cathedral to allow dogs.

All our cathedrals allow assistance dogs.

Pictured here is the Dean of Canterbury, the Very Revd David Monteith with his own dog, Barney, in the cloisters at Canterbury.