canterbury cathedral visits office

Event calendar

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Current events

Service times

Daily Morning Prayer 07:30 (Mon-Fri); 09:15 (Sat-Sun & Bank Holidays) Daily Eucharist 08:00 (On Sunday this is BCP Communion) Lunchtime Eucharist 12:30 (Wednesdays and Feast Days only) Daily Choral Evensong** 17:30 Sacred Space 19:30 (Wednesdays for Students & Young Adults) Sunday Choral Eucharist 10:00

Online worship

Find out more

Plan your visit

Where can I park? how accessible is it? Is there a shop?

Find everything you need to know to plan your visit.

Tickets and opening times

We can’t wait to welcome you to Canterbury Cathedral. Tickets prices can be seen below and are available to buy at our visitor centre on arrival. Please check our website prior to your visit as opening times may be subject to change.

Monday to Saturday 09.00 - 17.00 (last admission at 16.00)

Sunday 11.30 - 17.00 (last admission at 16.00)

It is possible to make an additional £3 donation to the Cathedral. Any contributions to keeping the Cathedral open are greatly appreciated.

Children (under 17)

Children go FREE when accompanied by a paying adult. (Max 2 children per paying adult; does not apply to group bookings).

Students studying full-time at local universities enjoy FREE entry with their student ID.

(Canterbury Christ Church University, University of Kent, University for the Creative Arts)

Other Discounts

English Heritage Members – 20% off

Precinct Pass - FREE if you fall under any of the following conditions:

• Work in the old city of Canterbury
• Live within 4 miles of Bell Harry tower
• Member of the Cathedral Congregation
• Cathedral Volunteer
• Member of any church in the diocese (on the parish electoral roll or equivalent)
• Resident within the Precincts

You can apply for a Precinct Pass here.

Discovery and explore over 14,00 years of history.   Book your tickets today and avoid the queues

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Monday to Saturday 09.00 - 17.00 (last admission at 16.00) Sunday 11.30 - 17.00 (last admission at 16.00)

Cathedral House 11 The Precincts Canterbury CT1 2EH United Kingdom

Accessibility

Discover and explore over 1400 years of history.   Book your tickets today and avoid the queues

Your donations directly contribute to the Cathedral’s conservation – providing a space of worship, learning and fun for generations to come. Thank you, from all at Canterbury Cathedral, for considering supporting us in this way.

How you can help

It costs around £30,000 per day to ensure the Cathedral is a safe and beautiful place to visit and worship in. Your generosity helps not only with the upkeep of the Cathedral, but grants us the opportunity to keep serving our local, national, and international community.

One-off donations

We rely on the support of our incredible donors to sustain this magnificent building, where even the smallest of contributions can help in the biggest ways.

Regular giving

By choosing to give a regular gift you will be helping us to look into the future, so we can continue to stand for centuries more and offer all that we can to those whom we serve.

Fundraising

There are lots of ways you can raise money for Canterbury Cathedral. From organising a fundraiser with friends and family, to holding a sponsored event, or even taking on a personal challenge.

A Warm Welcome..

From fun souvenirs to stunning jewellery – check out the Cathedral shop.

Whether you’re a local popping in for the weekend, or a family touring from afar – find all you need to know here.

What's on - Exhibition

Explore the complex, and often violent, story of Church-State relations through the centuries

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You are here: Things To Do > Canterbury Cathedral

Canterbury Cathedral

Type: cathedral / minister.

Tel: +44 01227 762862

Canterbury Cathedral has a tradition of visitor welcome that reaches back to the days of medieval pilgrimage. To all visitors we extend a warm welcome and hope that they too will enjoy sharing with us the beauty of one of the great holy places of Christendom. Canterbury Cathedral, together with St Augustine's Abbey and St Martin's Church make up Canterbury's World Heritage Site . The Cathedral and its history: St Augustine, sent by Pope Gregory the Great, arrived in 597AD as a missionary and became the first Archbishop, establishing his seat (or 'Cathedra') in Canterbury. In 1170 Archbishop Thomas Becket was murdered in the Cathedral and ever since, the Cathedral has attracted thousands of pilgrims, as told most famously in Geoffrey Chaucer's Canterbury Tales. The Cathedral houses a Romanesque Crypt, dating back to the 11th century, a 12th century early Gothic Quire and a 14th Century Perpendicular Nave. Beautiful medieval stained glass windows illustrate miracles and stories associated with St Thomas. Visitor facilities range from guided tours and audio tours to private evening tours and 'behind the scenes' tours to the Stained Glass Studio, Archives and/or Library. The Cathedral is very much part of the local community. It is used regularly for local, regional and/or national services and events. Some or all of it may, therefore, at times be closed for general visiting. Please contact the Cathedral Visits Office before visiting to check up-to-date opening times and possible closures. Please note that the east end of the Cathedral, including the Quire, will close every day in preparation for Evensong from 16.30 (Monday-Friday) and from 14.30 (Saturday & Sunday).

Book Tickets

Tripadvisor, map & directions.

Click here to view the map.

Road Directions

The Cathedral is located in the centre of Canterbury, within walking distance of both Canterbury East and West stations. Canterbury is only 30 minutes drive from Dover (continental ferries) and Folkestone (Eurotunnel), making it an ideal stop-over en route to London. Fast speed trains bring passengers from Canterbury to London within 56 minutes.

Public Transport Directions

Nearest station: Canterbury East/West is 1 miles

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Canterbury Cathedral

CANTERBURY CATHEDRAL

Discover England’s First Cathedral

With new visitor experiences, talks and tours, family-friendly activities, and ‘Kids go Free’*, now is the perfect time to discover Canterbury Cathedral – UNESCO World Heritage Site, seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury, and resting place of saints and royalty.

Whether seeking out stone dragons and grotesques, admiring the medieval stained glass windows – including the oldest in Britain -  marveling at carved tombs, or exploring the Cathedral’s stunning Cloisters and green spaces, there’s plenty to do. You might even be lucky enough to spot the peregrine falcons - the fastest animals in the world!- that make the Cathedral their home.

You can even see up close in the Cathedral's Crypt exhibition unique artefacts from its incredible history, including the armour of fearsome medieval warrior, The Black Prince. 

And we also welcome well-behaved dogs inside the Cathedral! (T&Cs apply)

Book now for a day out 1,400 years in the making - www.canterbury-cathedral.org

*Kids go FREE until 30 September 2024 (T&Cs apply)

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Canterbury Cathedral The Precincts Canterbury CT1 2EH

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Canterbury Cathedral

Top choice in Canterbury

A rich repository of more than 1400 years of Christian history, Canterbury Cathedral is the Church of England’s mother ship, and a truly extraordinary place with an absorbing history. This Gothic cathedral, the highlight of the city’s World Heritage Sites, is southeast England’s top tourist attraction as well as a place of worship. It is also the site of English history’s most famous murder: Archbishop Thomas Becket was killed here in 1170. The cathedral is an overwhelming edifice crammed with enthralling stories, arresting architecture and a very real and enduring sense of spirituality – although visitors can’t help but pick up on the ominous undertones of violence and bloodshed that whisper from its walls.

St Augustine, a missionary sent from Rome, built the first cathedral here sometime after his arrival in England in 597CE. He became the first Archbishop of Canterbury and formed a household here. A major fire damaged the building around 1070, leading to the cathedral being completely rebuilt by the Normans. Later, a community of Benedictine monks lived at the cathedral until Henry VIII's Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1540. Even after 800 years, it's the story of Archbishop Thomas Becket that continues to draw many pilgrims to Canterbury Cathedral. 

The martyrdom of Thomas Becket

Not one to shy away from cronyism, in 1162 King Henry II appointed his good friend Thomas Becket to the highest clerical office in the land, figuring it would be easier to force the increasingly vocal religious lobby to fall into line if he was pals with the archbishop. Unfortunately for Henry, he underestimated how seriously Thomas would take the job, and the archbishop soon began to disagree with almost everything the king said or did.

By 1170, Henry had become exasperated with his former favorite and suggested to four of his knights that Thomas was too much to bear. Becket was murdered on December 29. Becket’s martyrdom – and canonization in double-quick time (1173) – catapulted Canterbury Cathedral to the top of the league of northern European pilgrimage sites. Mindful of the growing criticism of his role in Becket’s murder, Henry arrived in Canterbury in 1174 for a dramatic mea culpa and, after allowing himself to be whipped and scolded, was granted absolution.

Canterbury Cathedral today

This ancient structure is packed with monuments commemorating the nation’s battles. Also here are the grave and heraldic tunic of one of the nation’s most famous warmongers, Edward the Black Prince (1330–76). The spot in the northwest transept where Becket met his grisly end is marked by a flickering candle and a striking modern altar.

The doorway to the crypt is beside the altar. This cavernous space is the cathedral’s highlight, the only survivor from another devastating fire in 1174, which destroyed the rest of the building. Look for the amazingly well-preserved carvings among the forest of pillars.

The wealth of detail in the cathedral is immense and unrelenting, so allow at least two hours to do it justice. 

Entry to the cathedral is timed and tickets must be pre-booked online . Guided tours run with limited availability; call on the day (01227 762862) or ask at the desk on arrival.

Get In Touch

https://www.canterbury-cathedral.org

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Canterbury Cathedral

How to get there, contact details, facilities and information, tips & other considerations, related articles, salisbury cathedral, durham cathedral, st martin’s church | world heritage site.

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Canterbury Cathedral

What to expect when visiting canterbury cathedral, history and walking tours.

Canterbury Cathedral overview

For perhaps the majority of first time visitors to Canterbury, the big draw is to visit Canterbury Cathedral.

It is the cathedral of the Archbishop of Canterbury, leader of the Church of England and symbolic leader of the world-wide Anglican Communion.

Much of the history of Canterbury Cathedral pre dates the Church of England, notably Thomas à Becket assassinated in 1170 by followers of Henry II, the event that made Canterbury a major place of pilgrimage.

Canterbury Cathedral is at the heart of the city centre, you just turn a corner and all of a sudden the front entrance is in front of you, opposite the tourist office.

Because of the medieval street plan of Canterbury you would have walked a minimum of 5/10 minutes to get to the entrance, even if on a coach tour .

Visiting Canterbury Cathedral   Canterbury Cathedral history   Canterbury guided walking tours  

Visiting Canterbury Cathedral

Like  Salisbury Cathedral,  Canterbury has a well preserved Close, with just a few gates into the religious area from the city streets. You cannot actually see the Cathedral without paying for entry through the main gate.

A work around for this if you do not particularly want to enter the Cathedral is to go on the  Canterbury walking tour . The walking tour, is allowed within the Close and the walk spends significant time exploring the Close.

The area within the Close is extensive, the Cathedral is just one part of the complex.

When visiting Canterbury Cathedral, remember this is primarily a working Cathedral not a tourist attraction. At any time there may be a service or perhaps an event or pilgrimage that affects your visit.

Opening hours

The Cathedral is open seven days a week, from 10am to 5pm Monday to Saturday and 12.30pm to 5pm on Sunday. Last admission is at 4pm. It is worth knowing that these times do change at short notice for funerals, weddings, services and exceptional circumstances.

Currently the Cathedral is opening with reduced capacity with pre-booked ticket entry only. There are also no audio guides at present.

If you are specifically after a guided tour, we would recommend not going on a Sunday as they do not run on this day. Otherwise tours run three times a day.

40 minute audio tours are available all the time in several languages.

It is advised to check the website for upcoming closures and visitor restrictions.

There is a rolling schedule of events, check website for details.

Canterbury Cathedral history

St Augustine

The history of Canterbury dates back to to 597AD when St Augustine was sent as a missionary to establish his seat in Canterbury. The church buildings have been built and expanded since that time with much built in Norman times when the Cathedral was completely rebuilt.

Benedictine Monks

Until the 10th century the Cathedral community lived as the household of the Archbishop. During the 10th century, it became a formal community of Benedictine monks, which continued until the monastery was dissolved by King Henry VIII in 1540 .

Murder of Archbishop Thomas Becket

The best known event in the Cathedral's history was the murder of Archbishop Thomas Becket in 1170. Canterbury, always on the medieval pilgrim route to Rome, became an end in itself, as thousands came to worship at Becket's tomb, especially after his canonization in 1173. Geoffrey Chaucer's pilgrims in his poem, The Canterbury Tales, were by no means unique.

When Becket was made Archbishop of Canterbury by King Henry II in 1162, he changed his total allegiance from the King to the Pope and the Church. Henry had expected his full support, and there were many conflicts between them. Four knights, overheard the King's rage and took seriously his shout of "Who will rid me of this meddlesome priest?" and promptly went to Canterbury and killed Becket at the altar.

Miracles and martyrdom

Three days after his death, there began a series of miracles attached to his martyrdom. These are depicted in the miracle windows of the Trinity Chapel. In 1173, Becket was canonized by Pope Alexander III. Pilgrims began to flock to Thomas' shrine in the Cathedral; a year later Henry, in sackcloth, walking barefoot, was among them.

Civil War period

During the Civil War of the 1640s, the Cathedral suffered damage at the hands of the Puritans; much of the medieval stained glass was smashed and horses were stabled in the nave. After the Restoration in 1660, several years were spent in repairing the building.

Second World War period

During the Second World War, the Precincts were heavily damaged by enemy action and the Cathedral's Library was destroyed.

Guided walking tours of Canterbury

If your visit to Canterbury is for anything other than a quick half day visit to Canterbury Cathedral it is well worth taking a guided walking tour.

The walk will give you a great background to the history of Canterbury from its beginnings to modern day. The walk covers all that is worthwhile in the city centre.

It is a great first item on your agenda, giving you orientation, background and an opportunity to sound out a local guide with no commercial bias of the attractions on offer for you to visit later. You'll hear and see things not in any guide book too.

The walking tour also goes into the cathedral grounds, (though doesn't enter the Cathedral itself) a facet you would otherwise have to pay for. The knowledgeable city guides have been performing this tour uninterrupted since 1948.

Admission charges are very modest and the tour runs daily at 11am and 2pm from in front of the tourist office. During winter months (October to March) only the morning tour operates.

Tickets can be purchased from the official tourist office, directly opposite the front entrance to Canterbury Cathedral.

Canterbury Walking Tour website

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Canterbury Cathedral

Venue description.

Canterbury Cathedral has a tradition of visitor welcome that reaches back to the days of medieval pilgrimages. St Augustine, sent by Pope Gregory the Great, arrived in 597 AD and became the first Archbishop, establishing his seat ‘Cathedra’ in Canterbury. In 1170 Archbishop Thomas Becket was murdered in the Cathedral and ever since, the Cathedral has attracted thousands of pilgrims. The Cathedral houses the most important collection of medieval stained glass windows in the country. It has a Romanesque Crypt, dating back to the11th Century, a 12th Century Quire and 14th Century Nave. The Cathedral, together with St Augustine’s Abbey and St Martin’s Church, forms Canterbury’s World Heritage Site. The Cathedral Lodge, immediately next to the Cathedral, offers first class accommodation and conference facilities.

• Accessibility

For full details, please visit our website, www.canterbury-cathedral.org, for downloadable Access Statement and Facilities for Visitors with Disabilities leaflet.

Accessibility Guide

Accessibility Guide Link: http://www.canterbury-cathedral.org/policies/access/

• Access Statement

Access Statement Link: http://www.canterbury-cathedral.org/policies/access/

See Access Statement.

We offer a wide range of facilities for visitors with additional needs, from BSL tours to materials for the blind. Staff in the Visits Office, [email protected], will be pleased to make arrangements to ensure that all visitors have a first class visitor experience.

Assistance dog facilities

Assistance dog exercise facilities.

The Cathedral grounds are extensive and are available for dogs.

Other assistance dog facilities

The Welcome Centre has a water bowl.

The venue says it has...

• Sign Language
• Carer Discount
• Dedicated Seating
• Disabled Access
• Induction Loop
• Large Print
• Disabled Parking
• Overnight Accommodation

This information has been supplied by the venue. Please write a review to voice your opinion and verify this listing.

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Canterbury Cathedral

Canterbury Cathedral is more than just a beautiful old building. It is a place of worship, a place to meet, a sanctuary, a haven, a celebration, a place of joy and occasionally sadness, but most of all it is alive with the people who make the Cathedral what it is today.

Find out more

All Regions / World Heritage Sites England / Canterbury Cathedral

Canterbury, in Kent, has been the seat of the spiritual head of the Church of England for nearly five centuries. St Martin’s Church, the ruins of St Augustine’s Abbey and Christ Church Cathedral together reflect milestones in the history of Christianity in Britain. They reflect in tangible form the reintroduction of Christianity to southern Britain by St Augustine, commencing at St Martin’s Church where Queen Bertha already worshipped, and leading to the conversion of King Ethelbert.

They also reflect the successive architectural responses to Canterbury’s developing role as focus of the Church in England – adaptation of Roman buildings, the development of Anglo-Saxon building in mortared brick and stone, and the flowering of Romanesque and Gothic styles in addition to the development under St Augustine and the monks from Rome, of early Benedictine monasticism, which spread from its cradle in Canterbury throughout Britain, had a profound impact on English society.

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Did you know..?

Archbishop Alphege was captured by the Vikings and beaten to death with ox bones when he refused to be ransomed. – https://www.canterbury-cathedral.org/

Canterbury Cathedral had one of medieval Britain’s first running water supplies. Created by Prior Wibert in circa 1165, it even flushed the monks’ toilets. https://www.canterbury-cathedral.org/

Archbishop Thomas Becket was murdered in Canterbury Cathedral in 1170. Four knights sliced off the top of his skull, spilling his brains and blood on the floor in the area now known as the Martyrdom. https://www.canterbury-cathedral.org/

Location: Canterbury, Kent

Country: United Kingdom

Year of Inscription: 1988

UNESCO Criteria: (i), (ii), (vi)

Contact information:

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Visit Canterbury

Welcome to canterbury.

There is nowhere quite like Canterbury.  Our medieval walled city has been hosting visitors for more than 1,000 years, so a warm welcome for any 'pilgrim' is guaranteed.

This spring embrace the floral displays and warm weather as you wind your way through our cobbled streets. Drink in the historic sights, shop at  a huge mix of independent and high street retailers, and relax in award-winning restaurants, breweries and cosy cafés. We're just under 1 hour’s train journey from London with Southeastern trains , and moments away from the stunning Kentish countryside - perfect for picnics in the sunshine, walks by cornfields and embracing the beauty of the Garden of England . 

The coastal towns of Whitstable and Herne Bay are on our doorstep offering sweeping sea views and quintessential seaside town charm, not to mention the sensational seafood.

If you're looking at a great UK break or a longers escape in a medieval yet modern destination with beautiful views , outstanding shopping, and great local food and drink...then Canterbury is waiting for you.

We can't wait to show you around.

Enjoy Kent's best night out - which night will you choose?

Need some inspiration?

Why You Should Visit Canterbury in 2024

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Start planning your journey

Getting to and around Canterbury couldn't be easier. 

Just under 1 hour from central London by direct high speed Southeastern train services , with two train stations serving the rest of Kent and the south east region. 

The M2 motorway allows a quick journey from London or the Port of Dover, and there are ample bus and coach services to the coast and countryside every day. 

You can even walk or cycle through idyllic Kentish countryside to Canterbury as thousands of pilgrims from across Europe have done for thousands of years. 

Plan your journey HERE