Queen to visit Norwich cathedral

The Queen will make her first official visit to Norwich in almost eight years when she officially opens Norwich Cathedral's Hostry visitor centre and the refectory in May.

She will be accompanied by her husband the Duke of Edinburgh for the visit on May 4, which will include a service at the cathedral, visits to the new buildings and the unveiling of a plaque to commemorate the event.

The Dean of Norwich the Very Rev Graham Smith said: 'We are delighted to be able to host this important Royal visit which will mark a very special day for the cathedral and all those who played their part in the completion of these landmark buildings.'

The Queen's visit will be the first to the city since July 2002, when she came to Norwich Castle Museum as part of her Golden Jubilee celebrations.

The Hostry, which opened last year in the cathedral grounds, was part of a 10-year millennium project, costing �12.5m, which also included the new refectory.

Built on its original medieval foundation, the Hostry is a new welcoming area for visitors - harking back to centuries ago when a hostry on the same sight performed that service for monks.

It includes a welcome and interpretation centre, an education workspace, a song school for the choir and a conference room.

It is designed to help visitors engage with the cathedral and boost donations.

The Hostry was built using limestone, oak and glass, was designed by Hopkins architects and built by Morgan Ashurst.

The cathedral will be inviting many of those involved in the two projects and there will also be a limited number of places available to members of the public who are invited to apply for a place.

Anyone interested in applying for a place can complete a form in the Hostry Visitor Centre and all applications should be submitted by April 9.

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