2013 was a year of celebration at Norwich Cathedral as the iconic landmark welcomed its greatest number of visitors since the opening of the Hostry in 2009.
Following year-on-year declines, the Cathedral recorded an impressive 29% increase in visitor numbers with over 15,000 more people visiting throughout the year. Visits increased for each month of the year and Christmas was exceptionally busy with tens of thousands of people visiting and over 5,500 people attending festive services.
Speaking on the marked increase in visitor numbers, Jon Holland, Marketing Manager at Norwich Cathedral said, “2013 has been a fantastic year. We have worked hard so people know about the considerable number of attractions and events the Cathedral has to offer all year round, suitable for everyone. The Cathedral offers a vibrant, warm and welcoming experience to those who visit and this is reflected in the number of visitors we have seen during the year.”
“As well as being an iconic landmark, the Cathedral is a living building and we have seen people visit from the UK and around the world for various reasons, from discovering the history and heritage of the building and enjoying lunch or a drink in the Refectory, to attending a service or event or relaxing in the Close. We hope that those who visited in 2013 will return and we look forward to welcoming new visitors in 2014.”
2014 promises to be another busy and exciting year at the Cathedral with the Cathedral Choir and Norwich Baroque performing St Matthew’s Passion on 29 March, the commemoration of the First World War including a centenary concert on 12 July, and the Shakespeare Festival (16 – 19 July) featuring two touring companies, Shakespeare’s Globe and The Lord Chamberlain’s Men.
