Our seasonal trails bring over 1,400 years of history to life – helping young explorers with inquisitive minds to uncover the Cathedral’s fascinating story.

Our story

Did you know that dragons lurk in Canterbury Cathedral?

In fact, there are lots of animals and fantastical creatures for young explorers to discover in the Cathedral’s stained glass, carved stone, and amazing objects!

Make a day of it

With a range of interactive activities available during school holidays, there’s always something creative to get involved with.

One of our most popular events is the demonstration of traditional medieval stonemasonry techniques by our stone masons, where you can find out if you have what it takes to be a Cathedral Stonemason!

Dive into history with our fun trails and historic hunts. Claim your free gift in our Cathedral Shop at the end.

Our beautiful Precincts grounds are the perfect place to come for a family picnic and enjoy the view of the Cathedral.

A great place to begin your tour of the Cathedral’s history.

Our media guides bring the Cathedral’s story to life and are an accessible way to engage the whole family.

An engaging exhibition in our Water Tower, with digital elements to bring history to life for everyone.

No visit is complete without a trip to our brilliant Shop, where you can find all sorts of unique treats and gifts.

Rebuilt after the fire of 1174, the Quire is the first Gothic building in England.

Its French architect, William of Sens, fell from scaffolding when inspecting the blue central roof boss.

The building work was finished by his young assistant, who was known as William the Englishman.

Edward of Woodstock, known as the Black Prince, was the eldest son of King Edward III and father of King Richard II. 

One of England’s best known military leaders, his victory over the French at the Battle of Crécy made him very popular.

He died in 1376, one year before his father.

Dating back to the 13th century, this is the ceremonial enthronement chair of the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Named after the first Archbishop of Canterbury, St Augustine, the chair is made of Petworth marble.

The chair replaces an older one which was destroyed in the fire of 1174.

Canterbury’s role as one of Europe’s most important pilgrimage centres is inextricably linked to the murder of its most famous Archbishop, Thomas Becket, in 1170.

When, after a long-lasting dispute, King Henry II is said to have exclaimed ‘Who will rid me of this low born priest?’, four knights set off for Canterbury and murdered Thomas here in the place we now call the Martyrdom.

In the Cloister, look up to see beautiful carvings of heraldic shields and fascinating faces and animals.

Today, our team of stonemasons conserve the work of their medieval colleagues, but also create new carvings as intricate and beautiful as these are.

The Cloister and Chapter House were at the centre of monastic life. The Cloister connected the different parts of the monastery, and the Chapter House was used by the monks to assemble daily to discuss day-to-day matters and to read a chapter of Benedictine rule.