London's newest visitor attraction opens this month

A new stained glass window by the young artist Benjamin Finn has been installed in the north bay window of the new Library. As well as giving a view of London bridge and the City the window contains a wealth of figurative detail including historic figures, places and river scenes.

On Saturdays 17 and 24 March the congregations of the diocese are invited for a free day at London's newest visitor attraction - Southwark Cathedral's new buildings.

Admission will be free on both days to the exhibition, "A Long View of London" on display in the former Chapter House and a number of rooms not normally accessible to the public will be open for viewing. These include the new Seminar Rooms, the Library with its stunning view of the Thames, the Archaeological Chamber and Gallery.

Built as part of the £10m Millennium Project, the new 'Long View of London' exhibition uses state-of-the-art technology to give visitors a long view of London and especially Southwark, past and present. The exhibition features:

• Touch-screen computers showing artefacts uncovered during recent excavations
• panoramic views from cameras at the top of the Cathedral tower
• A 'Camera Obscura' show of '24 hours in Southwark in 6 minutes'.

Open Day visitors will be among the first to set foot on the "Link" where the names of the parishes are carved in the stone paving, to visit the new refectory and shop, to use the new audio guides and visit the south and east churchyard being landscaped to improve access for people with disabilities. Access is already possible through the new north courtyard and there are lifts within the building.

The special Open Days will start at 10am with last admissions at 5 p.m. There will be choral evensong at 4 p.m. and on 24 March there is the Diocesan MU service at 11a.m. in the nave.

If parishes are organising parties, the Cathedral Office (Rose Harding 020-7367 6722) would be glad to know the numbers.