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Sightseeing Entry

 

We can’t wait to welcome you to Canterbury Cathedral.

Tickets can be booked online or are available to buy on the day at our Visitor Centre.

By accessing the grounds or buying a Canterbury Cathedral admission ticket, you agree to be bound by our Terms and Conditions of Entry.

 

It is always free to attend a service of worship or come into the Cathedral to pray.

Find out more about worship at the Cathedral.

Opening Times

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

Sunday 11.30* - 17.00 (last admission at 16.00)
*Between 11.30-12.30, access is available to the Cathedral grounds and Shop only. The Cathedral church opens at 12.30.

Opening times are subject to change. Occasionally, areas of the Cathedral may be closed to visiting, due to services, special events or for conservation work to be carried out.

To avoid disappointment, please check opening times and upcoming closures before visiting.

Cathedral Admission Tickets

Group and school visits must be booked separately (See further below).

Concessions are available, with a valid proof of eligibility (See further below).

 

All sightseeing entry includes† :

  • Entry to the Cathedral, Precincts and gardens
  • Exhibitions
  • Mini talks
  • Activity trails
  • Visitor events

† Subject to availability

 

Ticket prices as of January 2025

October-March

£18.00

 

Perfect if you're looking for a quieter visit, but still plenty to discover.

 

Multi-day ticket. Valid for 365 days from booking; re-visit the Cathedral and Precincts as often as you like during that time at no extra cost.

April-September (Excl. weekends in July & August)

£19.50

 

Make the most of the good weather, during our busy season.

 

Multi-day ticket. Valid for 365 days from booking; re-visit the Cathedral and Precincts as often as you like during that time at no extra cost.

Weekends in July & August

£21.00

 

Get more out of your summer visit, with special events and visitor experiences.

 

Multi-day ticket. Valid for 365 days from booking; re-visit the Cathedral and Precincts as often as you like during that time at no extra cost.

 

 

Kids go FREE every day!

Children (aged 17 and under) go FREE when accompanied by a paying adult. (Max 2 children per paying adult; does not apply to group bookings or school visits). Children must be accompanied at all times.

 

Concessions

You are required to present a valid proof of eligibility on entry.

 

Pre-book online

Universal Credit Day Ticket

FREE

Free day entry tickets are available to UK residents in receipt of the following:

  • Universal Credit
  • Pension Credit

Universal Credit Day Ticket holders are required to present proof of eligibility alongside their booking. See full T&Cs

Book Universal Credit Day Tickets

When booking, please consider if you are able to make a donation to Canterbury Cathedral (£3 suggested donation).

Application Registration Card (ARC) holders

FREE

Enjoy FREE entry with a valid Application Registration Card (ARC)

Local University Students

FREE

Students studying full-time at local universities - Canterbury Christ Church University, University of Kent, University for the Creative Arts - enjoy FREE entry with their student ID.

Cathedral Passholders

FREE

Locals can enjoy unlimited visits for the equivalent of just 10p per month!

You may be eligible for a Cathedral Pass if you:

  • work in the old city of Canterbury
  • live within 4 miles of Bell Harry tower, including within The Precincts
  • are a member of the Cathedral Congregation
  • are immediate family of a Cathedral staff member
  • are a member of any church in the diocese (on the parish electoral roll or equivalent)

Our Cathedral Pass cannot be used in conjunction with other promotions or offers.

Apply for The Cathedral Pass

Friends Cardholders

FREE

Friends of Canterbury Cathedral enjoy free entry, as well as many other membership benefits!

The Friends are the Cathedral’s fan club!

They are a community who work together to preserve the Cathedral, and, with the great gen-erosity of their members, contribute financially to many vital projects.

Other membership benefits include:

  • Full annual programme of Friends' events• New member celebration (which includes a private guided tour)
  • 10% discount at the Cathedral Shop and Cathedral Lodge (some exclusions apply)
  • Exclusive Friends’ Day each summer
  • Monthly Friendly Friday e-newsletters
  • Annual Cathedral magazine - view a sample of The Chronicle
  • Twice-yearly paper mailings
  • Membership badge
  • Exclusive Friends’ Day each summer

Find out more about the Friends

Event calendar

Have a look at the range of events Canterbury Cathedral has on offer below.

 

 

What's on

There’s something for everyone – see what exciting events are currently taking place.

See what's on

Service times

Daily Eucharist   08:00
Lunchtime Eucharist   12:30 (Wednesdays and Feast Days only)
Daily Choral Evensong or Said Evening Prayer with Organ Meditation*   17:30
Sunday Choral Eucharist*  11:00
All are welcome and there is no charge to attend a service. *Live streamed online.

Services

Online worship

Every day the Cathedral’s services are broadcast on our YouTube channel. It’s perfect for when you are unable to be here in person. 

Explore 

Find us

We can't wait to welcome you to the Cathedral

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

Between 11.30-12.30, access is available to the Cathedral ground and Shop only. the Cathedral church opens at 12.30.

Address

Cathedral House
11 The Precincts
Canterbury
CT1 2EH
United Kingdom

Parking 

Parking in the Cathedral grounds is only available for Blue Badge holders, subject to limited availability and prior arrangement. There are several public car parks nearby. 

Find out more

 

Planning your visit? Remember to check our opening times and upcoming closures.

 

Planned closure: 13th - 15th January 2025

The Cathedral, Cathedral Lodge and Shop will be closed from Monday 13th - Wednesday 15th January 2025 for our Cathedral Staff Conference.

Morning and Evening Worship will take place as usual, and St Augustine’s Chapel will be available during the day for private prayer. Check service times

 

Advent and Christmas at Canterbury Cathedral

Journeying to Christmas

This Christmastide, we will be highlighting and remembering all the journeys in the birth of Jesus, but also all the journeys we all take at this time, not least moving from one year to the next.

All are welcome to join us for our traditional services and carols, brand new services and events, child-friendly activities, beautiful trees and decorations.

All our seasonal services are free to attend, with retiring collections to help cover our costs.

Donations given at our two traditional Carol Services, and all our Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services will - after deduction of costs - be shared equally between the Cathedral and this year’s chosen partner charity, The Social Justice Network. www.thesocialjusticenetwork.org

Essential information

Accessibility 

If you or a member of your party require additional arrangements to attend any of our Advent and Christmas services - such as a wheelchair space or space for an assistance animal, please email our Events Office at events@canterbury-cathedral.org.

All requests must be received at least four working days before the service date.

Only assistance dogs are permitted at services. Other animals will not be allowed access.

Please note, due to the nature of the building and the demand for places at our major services, we have limited capacity and can only offer up to three companion spaces for each person who requires additional arrangements.

 

Parking

Please note, there is no onsite parking for any of our Christmas services or events.

You can find local car parks, including park & ride and free disabled parking, here: Find somewhere to park | Canterbury City Council.

 

Getting here

Plan your journey

Watch our latest live streamed services

Many of our Advent and Christmas services are live streamed on YouTube and available to watch afterwards.

Life-size crib

 

Our beautiful life-size nativity scene - as well as our Advent Wreath, Christmas tree in the Trinity Chapel and large star in the Quire - will be on display until Sunday 26 January, as we continue to reflect on the wonder of the incarnation through the Epiphany season.

Free to view with a valid Cathedral Admission Ticket, Cathedral Pass or Friends’ Card. Children aged 17 and under go free (T&Cs apply).

This liturgical season comes to a close when we ‘turn from the crib to the cross’ to celebrate The Presentation of Christ in the Temple (Candlemas.)

All are welcome to join us on Sunday 2 February at 11am - in person or live on YouTube - for our Candlemas Eucharist.

We invite 5–11* year olds, to join us for Children's Church on Sunday 2 February, 10:30-12:15 in the Community Studio, where we will be making christingles, before processing them into the Cathedral as part of the main Sunday Eucharist at 11:00.
Find out more 

*Under 5s must be accompanied by a parent/carer.

Special services and events

Traditional and brand new services for this year, a variety of carol services, tours, talks and more.

A quiet service of Said Evening Prayer will also take place each Sunday in December, at 16:00 in the Crypt.

† Live streamed on our YouTube Channel.

Between 5 - 12 January 2025

Epiphany Services

 

Solemn Evensong of the Epiphany
Sun 5 January 2025, 17:30

 

Sung Eucharist for Epiphany
Mon 6 January 2025, 17:30

 

Epiphany Carol Service
Sun 12 January 2025, 17:30

 

If you require additional arrangements to attend please email our Events Office in advance at events@canterbury-cathedral.org

All requests must be received at least four working days before the service date.

Only assistance dogs are permitted at services. Other animals will not be allowed access.

Please read essential information here before attending.

Christmas trees and decorations

Our illuminated Christmas trees will return across the Cathedral and Precincts; and inspired by this year’s theme of journeys, the Three Kings will make an appearance; hundreds of stars will fill the Cathedral; and look out for the giant star suspended in the Quire!

The Friends of Canterbury Cathedral

The Friends are the Cathedral’s fan club!

They are a community who work together to help support this magnificent place.

Friends also benefit from free entry to the Cathedral and its Precincts, access to exclusive trips and events, e-newsletters, a 10% discount in the Cathedral Shop and Cathedral Lodge (some exclusions apply), an annual Friends’ Day, Friends’ Carol Service, and a special welcome event in the summer.

The Cathedral Shop

Shop Christmas at the Cathedral

Discover our beautiful collection of Christmas cards, our Official 2025 Canterbury Cathedral Calendar, Advent candles, Christmas decorations and more!

All profits go towards the upkeep of Canterbury Cathedral.

 

Don't know what to give?

Treat someone special to a Cathedral Shop gift voucher.

Watch again

Recordings of our streamed services are available to watch online.

Friends’ Carol Service

This service took place on Wednesday 18 December

Organised by and in support of The Friends of Canterbury Cathedral

Hear the Cathedral bells ring out to greet you as you arrive at our FRIENDly traditional service, with readings and music by our Cathedral girl choristers.

This was a fundraising event in support of The Friends of Canterbury Cathedral.

Watch again

Stay in the loop

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