Planning your visit? Remember to check our closures.
Canterbury Cathedral opens up for W-A-L-K-I-E-S
In an exciting pup-date, Canterbury Cathedral has announced that from Saturday 1st July to Thursday 31st August 2023, visitors with dogs will be able to bring their well-behaved four-legged friends into all parts of the Cathedral building.
Guide dogs, hearing dogs and assistance dogs are already welcome in the Cathedral for those visiting or attending services - and dogs have been allowed in the beautiful grounds for some time - but this new trial will enable any visitor to bring their canine companion on a lead into the Cathedral itself, in a move that the Dean and Chapter hope will make the world-famous site even more accessible and welcoming to visitors.
Dean David said, “I am delighted to be able to trial this new policy for dogs, and to enable more people to visit because of it.”
Dogs are no strangers to the inside of the Cathedral, though they are usually in the form of paintings or stone carvings at the foot of tombs. Often symbolising faithfulness and loyalty, striking examples of this are on the tomb of Joan of Navarre – wife of Henry IV, the only King to be entombed at Canterbury Cathedral – and on the tomb of Archbishop William Courtenay, who died in 1396.
To ensure that the Cathedral remains a safe and enjoyable space for all visitors, the following rules will apply to visitors with dogs during the trial period:
- Dogs must be well-behaved and not disturb other visitors
- Dogs must be on a short lead at all times
- Owners must clean up after their dogs
- Visitors with dogs will not be able to attend a guided tour or mini talk
- Only guide dogs, hearing dogs and assistance dogs will be permitted at services
Water bowls will be available at the Cathedral Visitor Centre and refreshments Kiosk.
So, why not bring your well-behaved canine along for your visit, and experience all that the dog-friendly Canterbury Cathedral has to offer.
Stay in the loop
Sign up to our newsletter and stay up to date with all the latest events, news and offers
By adding my email I confirm my subscription to the newsletter and understand that the email address provided will be held by the Cathedral and the email service company (dotdigital) to use for distributing this newsletter only. For more information please see the Cathedral Privacy Notice.
