Mappa Mundi museum: Monday to Saturday 10am to 4.30pm, £7.50, shut 25 and 26 Dec and 1 Jan, 2pm close on Christmas Eve. G4 on 18 Nov, Messiah on 12 Dec.

Hereford Cathedral’s Mappa Mundi and Chained Library museum stays open through the winter, Monday to Saturday, 10am to 4.30pm, with adult tickets at £7.50. Over Christmas it closes on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day, and shuts early at 2pm on Christmas Eve. Two big Christmas concerts are already on sale; the cathedral’s own carol services for 2026 are not yet published.

The quick answer

  • Museum: Monday to Saturday, 10am to 4.30pm, closed on Sundays. Closed 25 and 26 December and 1 January, and closes at 2pm on 24 December.
  • Tickets: adults £7.50, children 8 to 16 £2, under-8s free.
  • Concerts: G4 Christmas on Wednesday 18 November and Messiah by Candlelight on Saturday 12 December, both from 7.30pm.

Mappa Mundi and Chained Library: winter hours and prices

From the cathedral’s opening times and museum pages, read on 25 September 2026:

Ticket Price
Adult £7.50
Adult with Gift Aid £8.50
Adult with National Art Pass £3.75
Student £6
Child, 8 to 16 £2
Child, under 8 Free
  • Open: Monday to Saturday, 10am to 4.30pm.
  • Closed: every Sunday, Good Friday, Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.
  • Christmas Eve 2026, a Thursday: closes early, at 2pm.
  • Friday 2 October: opens late, at 12.30pm.
  • Groups of 10 or more are asked to contact the cathedral in advance.

This year that means the museum is shut on Friday 25 December, Saturday 26 December and Friday 1 January. The cathedral has not said anything about the substitute bank holiday on Monday 28 December.

The cathedral shop and café keep the same hours, Monday to Saturday from 10am to 4.30pm.

The cathedral itself

The cathedral opens for Morning Prayer at 8am, with the doors open from 7.30am, Monday to Saturday. Services are listed on its service times page:

Day Services
Monday to Friday Morning Prayer 8am, Eucharist 10.30am, Evening Prayer or Evensong 5.30pm
Saturday Morning Prayer 8am, Eucharist 8.30am, Evensong 5.30pm
Sunday Holy Communion 8am, Cathedral Eucharist 10am, Choral Matins 11.30am, Choral Evensong 3.30pm

The choir normally sings Evensong every day in term time except Wednesdays. The cathedral advises anyone making a long journey to check before they travel.

Christmas concerts and events

Date Event
Tuesday 3 November Lego Club
Tuesday 17 November Lego Club
Wednesday 18 November, 7.30pm to 9.30pm G4 Christmas, carols and festive songs
Tuesday 8 December Christmas Lego Club
Saturday 12 December, 7.30pm to 9.30pm Messiah by Candlelight

Tickets for cathedral events are sold through its booking site, at the Ticket Desk (Monday to Saturday, 10am to 4.30pm) or on 01432 374 202.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Mappa Mundi open over Christmas?

Yes, apart from three days. The Mappa Mundi and Chained Library museum is closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day and closes early, at 2pm, on Christmas Eve. On other days it keeps its usual hours, Monday to Saturday from 10am to 4.30pm.

Is the Mappa Mundi open on Sundays?

No. The museum is closed every Sunday all year, and on Good Friday. The cathedral itself holds four services on a Sunday, starting with Holy Communion at 8am.

How much does it cost to see the Mappa Mundi?

An adult ticket is £7.50, or £8.50 with Gift Aid. Students pay £6, children aged 8 to 16 pay £2 and under-8s go free. A National Art Pass halves the adult price to £3.75.

How do I book tickets for Christmas concerts at Hereford Cathedral?

Through the cathedral’s online booking site, at its Ticket Desk, open Monday to Saturday from 10am to 4.30pm, or by phone on 01432 374 202.

Still to be confirmed

The cathedral has not yet published its 2026 Advent carol service, Festival of Lessons and Carols, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day service times. We will check the cathedral’s events listing in late October and add them here.

More Christmas in Hereford