York Minster has defended its decision to increase its standard admission fee by 60 per cent, raising the price from £12.50 to £20.
The Minster says the rise is necessary to cover inflation and the added costs of repairing damage caused by climate change, with heavy rainfall leading to further deterioration of the stonework—especially in hard-to-reach areas.
The cathedral costs £33,000 each day to maintain. While it does receive funding from the Church of England to pay clergy, it receives no government support and relies heavily on donations to prevent the building from deteriorating.
Paul Peirson, the Minster’s head of works, told the BBC that raising enough money is a constant challenge, with £2 million per year set aside for preservation and improvements. He added that this is not enough to cover both materials and labour.
Entry remains free for those attending worship or coming in to pray.
The price increase has come as a shock to some tourists, who point out that it is now cheaper to visit other iconic religious sites such as the Vatican, where a tour ticket to St Peter’s Basilica is 20 euros (around £17.50).
The York Minster ticket acts as an annual pass, allowing multiple visits throughout the year, although this may not benefit visitors who are only passing through the city.
Speaking to the BBC, 72-year-old Alan Pilkington said he "can’t afford £20, not at our age. I’m afraid we won’t be going in again” but acknowledged that the Minster “need to get the money from somewhere”.
Michael Firth, 75, described the price as “outrageous”, adding: “Alright, ask for donations, but don’t pay, bloomin’ heck!”
York Minster says carers, children and local residents can visit free of charge. Sightseeing entry is also included with some York tourism passes.
The building is regarded as one of the city’s major landmarks and attracts around 700,000 visitors every year. Its Gothic structure is about 800 years old.
By comparison, St Peter’s Basilica in Rome receives around 11 million visitors annually.
York Minster was built as the cathedral for the Archbishop of York and as a symbol of the power, wealth and faith of the medieval Church. It is often considered the religious centre of the North of England.