St Albans Cathedral tower tours restart

TOWER Tours are back for a new season at St Albans Cathedral from this Saturday.

The tour takes visitors all the way to the top of the Norman Bell Tower with extensive views in all directions.

Escorted by the Cathedral Guides, the party learns about the history and structure of the great Norman Tower. Its walls are seven feet thick and are built of Roman bricks which were already over 600 years old when the Normans re-used them in 1077.

Visitors then climb to the North Transept gallery which provides good views of the interior of the Cathedral and a close-up view of the Rose Window.

In addition, the tour takes in the ringing chamber and the bell chamber where the Cathedral’s 21 bells can be seen close-up, together with the Victorian carillon (pictured).

The final climb is out onto the roof of the tower with views over the city and beyond.

Tickets are £8 per person and can be booked in advance at the Cathedral Bookshop or by phone on 01727 890213. There are four tours this Saturday at 10am, 11.30am, 1pm and 2.30pm and the tower will be open at various dates from June through to October for more tours.

For full details and dates for all tours throughout the summer and early autumn, go to www.stalbanscathedral.org/visit