IT is a chance to see York Minster as you have never seen it before. Visitors are to be allowed to scale walkways high above the Five Sisters Window and explore previously unseen crypt passages.

They will be able to go into the bell tower – and even see close up the inside of the Chapter House roof.

From this summer, cathedral bosses will be offering three new “hidden Minster” tours.

And, as our photos in today’s Press show, they promise to offer visitors some dizzying new perspectives on the magnificent building.

“People will get to see parts of the Minster they have not seen before,” said operations co-ordinator Howard Mosley.

“When you look above your head there is so much more to see than what you can see from the ground. There is so much more here than meets the eye.”

There certainly is. This marvellous Gothic cathedral has always been the jewel in York’s crown. It draws visitors from across the globe.

But while its stunning outline is a well-known landmark in York, there is so much to see that has formerly been off limits to the public.

It is great that Minster bosses are now planning to change that.

The Minster belongs to York, and to the world. We should all have the opportunity to experience, up close and personal, just what an incredible architectural and spiritual achievement this building is.

If you can’t wait until summer to take one of the three new £5 tours, they will be available to the public this Sunday as part of the Night Fever event.

We’d urge you to go along and try them out. This is one church that is well worth seeing.