On Christmas Day (25th Dec) the Cathedral will be open for services of worship only (no sightseeing entry). The Precincts will be open to all, free of charge, from 0700 to 2100.
On Boxing Day and New Year’s Day, we will be open for sightseeing from 1000 to 1700 (last entry at 1600).
Planning your visit? Check our opening times and upcoming closures.
*UPDATE* Please note, there will be no service of Said Evening Prayer at 4pm on 23rd or 24th December.
Apologies for the inconvenience.
From special services, tours and talks, to unique exhibitions, music concerts and visitor events, there's always lots to discover at Canterbury Cathedral.
Highlighted events
Please note, all talks, tours and special events have a max. capacity; pre-booking may be essential or otherwise recommended where possible. Please arrive early, as talks/tours/events will start promptly; if you arrive late, you may not be able to join the talk/tour/event. Please read individual talk/tour/event information and T&Cs before booking/attending.
Only assistance dogs are permitted at services, talks, tours and special events (unless otherwise stated). Please note, in some locations, dogs of any kind are not permitted, so please check full information and T&Cs before booking/attending.
If you have any questions, please contact our Visits Team at [email protected]
Advent and Christmas
'Hope'
All are welcome to join us for our traditional services, carol services and special events, child-friendly activities, beautiful trees and decorations - plus the return of the Canterbury Christmas Market to the Precincts!
Our charity partner this Christmas will be Catching Lives (Charity No. 1014868), as we seek to raise the profile of their work, and to raise money as they support homeless people in and around Canterbury.
ADVENT & CHRISTMAS
Nativity Scene in the Precincts
Our beautiful nativity scene is on display in The Precincts throughout Advent and Christmas, until Epiphany (6 January).
SPECIAL EVENTS AT THE LODGE
The Festive Season
Festive Lunches
Throughout December (enquire for availability)
FOR GROUPS
Shared Festive Party Nights
Various dates in December
(enquire for availability)
New Year’s Eve Gala
Wednesday 31 December, 18:30 - 01:00
Pre-payment or a deposit will be taken at the time of booking Festive Lunches, Shared Festive Party Nights or New Year's Eve; this is non-refundable.
See full Christmas T&Cs on the Canterbury Cathedral Lodge website.
FREE TO VIEW EXHIBITION
Smashed, Bombed, Lost - Recovered
Tales of Canterbury’s Stained Glass
Until Autumn 2026
Viewing Gallery, Visitor Centre
Over the centuries, Canterbury Cathedral’s stained glass has been damaged by war and vandalism, or lost through iconoclasm, neglect or theft.
What remains of those victims of violence can be inspiring - some glass was returned to the Cathedral, some repaired or re-purposed in surprising ways.
This history of damage, restoration and resilience now inspires stained glass by a young Ukrainian artist, Yelizaveta Smirnova, which reacts to the current global crisis.
This family-friendly exhibition is available to view every day during visiting hours.
You do not need a Cathedral Admission Ticket, Cathedral Pass or Friends’ card to view this exhibition.
'The Inside Story' Tour
WEEKLY Monday - Saturday 10:30, 12:00 and 14:00 and Sundays 13:00
Discover the story of Canterbury Cathedral through its soaring architecture, beautiful medieval stained glass and the history that helped make and shape the Cathedral.
From the Cathedral’s origins in the 6th century, the tour will encompass 1,400 years of history - with tales of royalty, clergy and everyday craftsmen who made the Cathedral what it is today - set amid a background of wars, political struggle and tales of bravery.
*Please note, this tour will not run on Christmas Eve (24 December) or Boxing Day (26 December).*
£5 per person, plus Cathedral admission charge.
Book at our Visitor Centre on the day of your visit, or email [email protected] to reserve your space.
FREE* Mini Talks
DAILY Between 10:00-16:00, various intervals
Listen to a bite-sized exploration of the Cathedral’s history with a free 15-minute Mini Talk, delivered by our knowledgeable team.
A great chance to discover more about the 1,400 years of history of our magnificent Cathedral - from the Black Prince and the turbulent Thomas Becket, to our Historic Graffiti and marvellous Stained Glass.
Take a pew and learn something new!
Talks subject to availability on the day. Ask at our Visitor Centre for times.
*Included free with a valid Cathedral Admission Ticket, Cathedral Pass or Friends’ Card. Kids go FREE everyday! (T&Cs apply); does not apply to group bookings or school visits.
Reflective Guided Pilgrimages
WEEKLY on a Thursday (please check dates), 16:30-17:00
Join us after visiting hours for a short guided pilgrimage around the Cathedral, stopping at places of significance for reflection and prayer.
Torin Brown, our Pilgrim Officer, will lead a pilgrimage around the outside of the Cathedral, visiting places of symbolism and structures of meaning, to reflect upon our lives and our world. It is a pilgrimage of prayerful intent.
We will walk in silence between reflections of meaning, in an exercise of mindfulness, and in preparation for the evening service.
All are welcome to join us afterwards for our evening service at 17:30, followed by a blessing for those who wish to attend.
Free to attend; but donations gratefully received.
NEW DATES ADDED FOR 2026
Taizé Lunchtime Prayer
Mondays, during choir term time (see dates), 12:30-13:00 in the Crypt
The worship of Taizé is based on simple repetitive chants, the reading of scripture and silence.
All are welcome to come and experience this way of praying as we connect with God and one another through sound and silence.
In person only.
Free to attend; but donations gratefully accepted.
‘The St Thomas Becket Story’ Tour
Uncover the full story of St Thomas Becket in the Cathedral, where echoes of his life and legacy resound.
Explore the places in the Cathedral associated with the life and death of the renowned saint and martyr, from the location of his shocking murder in 1170; to the site of his first tomb, where over 700 miracles were reported; and discover how the story was re-told in stained glass.
Dates:
- Wednesday 31 December, 11:15-12:30
- SPECIAL TOUR: Mon 29 December (The Martyrdom of St Thomas Becket), 11:15-12:30
£5 per person, plus Cathedral admission charge.
Book at our Visitor Centre on the day of your visit, or email [email protected] to reserve your space.
LIMITED TIME ONLY FREE* EXHIBITION
"HEAR US"
at Canterbury Cathedral
Until 18 January 2026
A unique collaboration between poet Alex Vellis, curator Jacquiline Creswell, and marginalised communities.
Through graffiti-style displays within the Cathedral, participants pose personal questions to God, merging contemporary inquiries with ancient architecture.
The project highlights graffiti as a means of reclaiming public spaces, preserving cultural heritage, and affirming identity.
By blending traditional and innovative elements, "Hear Us" explores the dynamic interaction between faith, art, and community, offering participants a platform for creative expression and self-discovery in a sacred setting.
*This exhibition is free to view with a Cathedral Admission Ticket, Cathedral Pass or Friends' Card. Children aged 17 and under go free (T&Cs apply).
Image: CGI pre-exhibition image
In collaboration with MEGA Events
The Best of Hans Zimmer & Film Favourites Illuminated
Friday 9 January 2026, 19:30-21:10 GMT
Cinema’s most iconic music performed by the Illuminated Orchestra, enhanced by a stunning light show!
Featuring music from Inception, Interstellar, Gladiator, Jurassic Park, E.T., James Bond, Lord of the Rings, Lion King, Star Wars, Titanic, and much more.
TICKETS ON SALE NOW!
“The music from the films I love performed by a live orchestra - truly amazing!!”
“An incredible show, a true spectacle”
"A wonderful evening with magical music"
"Being a long-time John Williams and Hans Zimmer fan, it was a dream come true to hear this music played live"
“First-class entertainment by first-class musicians”
Image © MEGA Events
MONTHLY
FRIENDly Singing for Wellbeing
St Paul’s Church Hall, Canterbury, CT1 1NH
ALL welcome – rusty singers included!
Turn up for a cuppa and a biscuit, followed by sociable singing to put a smile on your face, led by Jamie Rogers, Assistant Director of Music, and our Choral Scholars.
Please join us between 14:00-15:00 on the following Mondays:
- 12 January 2026
- 9 February 2026
Plus more dates scheduled in 2026
Free to attend but donations welcomed.
All welcome. No need to book.
Organised by and in support of The Friends of Canterbury Cathedral (Charity No 1210093).
A FRIENDLY TALK
The Bayeux Tapestry
Tuesday 20 January 2026, 10:30-11:30 in the Clagett Auditorium
As we eagerly await the temporary return of this 11th Century Romanesque masterpiece to the British Museum in London, Patricia Erskine-Hill will speak to Friends about this immensely detailed embroidery that was probably commissioned by Bishop Odo, William the Conqueror’s half-brother, to embellish his newly-built cathedral in Bayeux in 1077.
£10 Friends of Canterbury Cathedral; £15 non-members. Includes tea and coffee on arrival.
This event is organised by and in support of The Friends of Canterbury Cathedral (Registered Charity No 1210093).
Image: Bayeux tapestry design product © Cathedral Gifts Enterprises
Canterbury Choral Society presents
Britten: St Nicolas
Saturday 24 January 2026, 19:30-21:00 in the Nave
This event is organised, managed and delivered by Canterbury Choral Society.
To mark the 50th anniversary of Benjamin Britten's death, Canterbury Choral Society and Youth Choir will perform his popular cantata St Nicolas. This inventive work features dramatic storms and shipwrecks alongside touching scenes from the saint's life, with audience participation in two hymns.
Joining the choir are the world-renowned London Mozart Players, who will also perform two of the finest English works for string orchestra by Elgar and Vaughan Williams.
Together with Holst's moving Psalm 86, this promises to be an evening of rich enchantment and powerful storytelling.
Tickets range: £16 - £34 (+ booking fees)
Tickets are available to purchase on the Canterbury Festival website.
A FRIENDLY TALK
The Friends' Coffee Concert
Tuesday 3 February 2026, 10:30-11:30 in the Clagett Auditorium
Your chance to be entertained by the Cathedral’s Choral Scholars whilst enjoying coffee and pastries.
This informal concert will showcase the progress and repertoire of the Scholars who joined the Cathedral in September 2025.
Expect a warm welcome and a mixed musical medley on a chilly Tuesday morning!
Tickets: £10 Friends of Canterbury Cathedral, £15 non-members. Includes tea and coffee.
This event is organised by and in support of The Friends of Canterbury Cathedral (Registered Charity No 256575).
NEW DATES ADDED
Cathedral Library Tours
Our Cathedral Library collection includes books from the early decades of printing onwards, including books from some of the earliest European printing presses.
Join a guided tour to learn more about the Library and to explore some of the collection close-up.
Dates:
- Thursday 5 February, 14:00-14:45
- Thursday 12 March, 14:00-14:45
- Thursday 16 April, 14:00-14:45
£8 per person. Cathedral admission not included.
Pre-booking required. Not suitable for under 12s.
A FRIENDLY TALK
Life in a Changing City – Canterbury 1825-1910
Tuesday 10 February 2026, 10:30-11:30 in the Clagett Auditorium
Popular speaker Doreen Rosman will continue her series of talks about the history of Canterbury.
A boy born in 1825, who survived into the 20th Century, would have lived through a time of major technological change: the coming of railways, gas and electric lighting, telephones and cinemas, bicycles, cars, and even an aeroplane.
This talk explores how these developments would have impacted on his life, and how the city changed before his eyes. Doreen Rosman taught history at the University of Kent. Her publications include, Canterbury: A History since 1500, the story of a city and its people.
£10 Friends of Canterbury Cathedral; £15 non-members. Includes tea and coffee on arrival.
This event is organised by and in support of The Friends of Canterbury Cathedral (Registered Charity No 1210093).
Valentine’s Four-course Dinner with Pianist
Saturday 14 February - bookings available at 18:30, 19:00 and 19:30
Treat your loved one to an exclusive four-course fine dining dinner in the Refectory Restaurant.
All guests receive a complimentary glass of Prosecco, and a local Pianist will be playing throughout the evening.
Pre-payment or a deposit will be taken at the time of booking Festive Lunches, Shared Festive Party Nights or New Year's Eve; this is non-refundable.
See full Christmas T&Cs on the Canterbury Cathedral Lodge website.
A FRIENDLY RECITAL
Winter’s Journey
Tuesday 24 February 2026, 14:00-15:00 in the Eastern Crypt
We are delighted to welcome the return of the Rev’d Dr Jonathan Arnold, Executive Director of the Social Justice Network and Lay Clerk, and Jamie Rogers, Assistant Director of Music, who will perform Schubert’s song cycle, Winter’s Journey.
The lyrics tell the rather sad story of a man unhappy in love who leaves his lover to wander in the ice and snow and reflect upon his human condition.
The songs, which will be in the original German, will be interspersed with readings of their English translations by our Canon Missioner, the Rev’d Dr Emma Pennington.
£10 Friends of Canterbury Cathedral; £15 non-members. Includes tea and coffee on arrival.
This event is organised by and in support of The Friends of Canterbury Cathedral (Registered Charity No 1210093).
EXCLUSIVE ONSITE PARTNERSHIP CLASS
RSN Day Class: Dove of Peace and Huguenot Chapel Experience
Friday 6 March 2026, 10:00-16:00 in the Community Studio
Embroider a beautiful Dove of Peace, designed by the Royal School of Needlework Embroidery Studio, inspired by the Huguenot Dove found on stonework within the Huguenot Chapel at Canterbury Cathedral.
The event includes an exclusive opportunity to visit the Huguenot Chapel, given to the refugee French Protestant Huguenots by Queen Elizabeth I more than 400 years ago.
This exclusive partnership class is part of The Friends of Canterbury Cathedral’s unique association with the Royal School of Needlework, dating back to the 1930s.
- BOOK YOUR PLACE NOW -
The class cost is £175 per student and includes all materials and necessary equipment to complete the project.
A FRIENDLY TALK
A Turn to Nature – the Natural World of Growing Things in the Architecture and Artefacts of Canterbury Cathedral
Tuesday 10 March 2026, 10:30-11:30 in the Clagett Auditorium
We are delighted to welcome back Canon Christopher Irvine, former Canon Librarian at Canterbury and now Honorary Teaching Fellow at St Augustine's College of Theology, to speak to us.
In this illustrated talk, Canon Irvine will lead us on a visual journey of discovery and show us how and why the world of nature is brought into our Cathedral through stone carving, wooden sculpture, and, surprisingly, even stained glass!
£10 Friends of Canterbury Cathedral; £15 non-members. Includes tea and coffee on arrival.
This event is organised by and in support of The Friends of Canterbury Cathedral (Registered Charity No 1210093).
A FRIENDLY TALK
Catherine the Great
Friday 20 March 2026, 10:30-11:30 in the Clagett Auditorium
In this talk given by Patricia Erskine-Hill, attendees will find out more about this extraordinary woman who asserted her power over Russia.
Catherine II, best known as Catherine the Great, was the Empress of Russia from 1762-1796. Born Princess Sophia Augusta Frederica of Anhalt-Zerbst (Prussia), she came to power after over-throwing her husband Peter III.
Catherine influenced the arts, established the first state-funded higher education institute for women in Europe, built new cities and towns, and brought recognition to Russia as one of the great powers of Europe.
£10 Friends of Canterbury Cathedral; £15 non-members. Includes tea and coffee on arrival.
This event is organised by and in support of The Friends of Canterbury Cathedral (Registered Charity No 1210093).
BOOK NOW
Holy Week Retreat: The People of the Passion
Wednesday 1 April – Sunday 5 April
Join our clergy for Holy Week at Canterbury Cathedral, and experience a deeper appreciation of the death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus of Nazareth.
Our programme of events will take you through the experience of the darkness of the cross to the joy of Easter morning.
Using Bible passages and art we will be reflecting on the different people that were involved in the Passion and Easter narratives and ponder how their faith was both tested and strengthened by these events.
£150 per person - Includes a full programme of special activities, as well as refreshments, and sandwich and soup lunch on Saturday.
Accommodation is also available at an additional cost
NEW EXCLUSIVE TOUR
Behind the Scenes: Book and Paper Conservation in Action
Tuesday 21 April, 14:00-15:30 in the Conservation Studio
A rare chance to see behind the scenes of the Archives and Library, in our conservation and bookbinding studio.
Learn about the skills and techniques required to repair fragile paper, parchment, bindings and seals, and view some fine and rare examples of bindings from our collections.
£25 per person. Cathedral admission not included.
Pre-booking required; not suitable for under 18s.
Regrettably, due to the location, this tour is not wheelchair accessible, and is not suitable for those with limited mobility.
A FRIENDLY TALK
Rome-ing Again
Tuesday 28 April 2026, 10:30-11:30 in the Clagett Auditorium
Join John Williams as he once more wanders along the highways and lesser-known byways of early Christian Rome, delving into its outstanding archaeology and art history.
Peeling away the rich layers of meaning of structures, mosaics, frescoes, and everyday objects, he will reflect on the interplay between the Rome of Emperors and the evolving religion of Christianity.
A Trustee of The Friends for eight years to September 2025, Dr Williams was for a long time County Archaeologist and Head of Heritage Conservation at Kent County Council.
£10 Friends of Canterbury Cathedral; £15 non-members. Includes tea and coffee on arrival.
This event is organised by and in support of The Friends of Canterbury Cathedral (Registered Charity No 1210093).
A FRIENDLY CONCERT
The Central Band of the Royal British Legion
Saturday 30 May 2026, 18:00-19:00 in the Nave
Join us in The Nave of Canterbury Cathedral as we welcome the return of The Central Band of The Royal British Legion for a sensational and heart-stirring concert featuring songs from the shows and military music.
Tickets: Children (up to 12) £10, Adults £25
- BOOKING OPENS SOON -
Tickets will available to purchase on the Canterbury Festival website or via the Canterbury Festival Box Office.
This event is organised by and in support of The Friends of Canterbury Cathedral (Registered Charity No 1210093).
A FRIENDLY TALK
Living Through Two World Wars - Canterbury 1914-1951
Tuesday 16 June 2026, 14:30-15:30 in the Clagett Auditorium
Doreen Rosman returns for a final talk in her series about the history of Canterbury, focusing on one person's experience to evoke what it would have been like to live through this period of tumultuous change.
Doreen Rosman taught history at the University of Kent. Her publications include, Canterbury: A History since 1500, the story of a city and its people.
£10 Friends of Canterbury Cathedral; £15 non-members. Includes tea and coffee on arrival.
This event is organised by and in support of The Friends of Canterbury Cathedral (Registered Charity No 1210093).
Canterbury Choral presents
Verdi: Requiem
Saturday 20 June 2026, 19:30-21:00 in the Nave
This event is organised, managed and delivered by Canterbury Choral Society.
An opportunity to hear Verdi’s great choral masterpiece, as Canterbury Choral Society and its Youth Choir demonstrate their power and expressive range in this dramatic work.
Verdi, the opera composer, combines his operatic roots in the great arias with a sense of universal spaciousness in the choruses of telling splendour. One of the most enduring choral favourites from the 19th century, the Requiem brings together a wide-ranging palette combining all his finest attributes – touching lyricism, luxuriant orchestral colour, and choruses which range from the whispered to earth-shattering fortissimos, stretching soloists and choir alike to extremes.
Tickets range: £16 - £34 (+ booking fees)
Tickets are available to purchase on the Canterbury Festival website.