Salisbury Cathedral reopens to visitors for first time in 2021
There's a few changes including a new ticketing system
For the first time this year, general visitors will be allowed to visit Salisbury Cathedral from today (Wednesday 19th May).
So far, during 2021, the building has been used as a vaccination centre, where 35,000 jabs were administered.
That ended a couple of weeks ago though, as the building was being readied to reopen as normal.
WHAT CHANGES HAVE BEEN MADE?
Over the past couple of days, almost 300 hundred volunteers at the Cathedral have been taking part in some trial visits to test out it's new ways of doing things.
Some things will look a little different from the last visits that were made.
The steep ramp into the Cloisters has now been levelled and replaced by a gentle incline to make access easier.
Meanwhile, the old Welcome Desk has been replaced by a curved desk that is set to one side, offering plenty of room for visitors to check in, and easy access to the shop.
Anyone going to visit will also have to pre-book their tickets, this will help the Cathedral accommodate the government's track and trace requirements.
Extra bits and stories have also been added to the visitor tours.
After changes made in August 2020, anyone not living in Salisbury will now have to pay for entry.
It's £8 per adult and £5 for students, while children under 13 and anyone with proof that they live in SP1, SP2 or Laverstock can go free.
They say they depend on income from visitors in order to raise the £14,000 it costs every day to maintain the building and keep it open.
You can book your visit by going to the Salisbury Cathedral website, or by calling 01722 512156.
Speaking ahead of reopening, the Cathedral's sub-Dean and Canon Chancellor, The Reverend Edward Probert, said:
"We are grateful to the Friends of Salisbury Cathedral for covering the cost of our new entrance ramp, which makes the visitor entrance much more accessible. We are also thankful for the awards received via the Cultural Recovery Fund and Heritage Emergency Fund, which have helped to support us during the pandemic and allowed us to prepare so thoroughly for reopening. The new entrance and desk are certainly eye-catching and complement the Cathedral's architecture, and we hope the new information, images and insights will make visiting the Cathedral even more special."
The Refectory restaurant and Cathedral shop also open today.