An ancient landmark in a modern, bustling city

Exeter Cathedral has welcomed people through its doors for centuries, and will work with partners on the VISTA-AR project to better-uderstand visitors, their motivations, and their experiences. 

Key Figures

1050 Founded by King Edward the Confessor
100 000 Visitors each day
20 000 Books in the Library

Exeter Cathedral is the jewel in the city’s crown, and bears witness to 900 years of history on a site that has been at the centre of life in the city since Roman times.

The Cathedral is the seat of the Bishop of Exeter and still a ‘working church’ that continues the centuries-old tradition of daily choral worship that is unique to the Church of England. During the day the Cathedral operates as a tourist destination, welcoming over 100,000 visitors each year as part of efforts to generate income through a number of commercial operations.

Innovation is required in order to breathe life into the Cathedral’s visitor offering to attract new audiences. Creative approaches to interpretation and a better understanding of the existing visitors will inform investment in new technologies able to co-exist alongside the building’s religious function.