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Tickets and opening times

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

 

 

Adult

£17.00

Our standard visitor ticket is valid for 12 months, meaning you can re-visit the Cathedral as often as you want during that time at no extra cost.

Children (under 17)

Free

Children 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.

 

Canterbury 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.

English Heritage Members

20% discount on visitor entry

  • Not valid with other promotions or offers.
  • Discount applies to tickets bought on the door at our Visitor Centre only. Discount is not available for online booking. Standard price admission tickets cannot be refunded and exchanged for discounted tickets.
  • Valid until 31 March 2024. T&Cs apply.

Cathedral Pass

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

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*   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

 

Evening closure of Precincts, Tues 26 – Sat 30 September

Due to the Luxmuralis light show and the need to manage large queues, public entry to the Precincts after 17:30 will only be possible for Luxmuralis ticket holders or those attending Choral Evensong.

Planning your visit? Remember to check our upcoming closures.

The Choir’s central purpose is to sing at the daily services which take place at the Cathedral. These services are broadcast live on the Cathedral’s YouTube channel, and are appreciated by a substantial global audience. As the Mother Church of the Anglican Communion, and as the seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury, many special occasions take place at the Cathedral in which the Choir plays a central role. In 2022, it sang at the fifteenth Lambeth Conference, a decennial gathering of Anglican Bishops from around the globe.

Parallel to its liturgical work, the Choir pursues a varied programme of recordings, concerts and tours. It has performed extensively throughout the USA and in Europe. At home, the Choir has appeared at numerous music festivals and venues; each year it presents an orchestrally-accompanied concert at the Cathedral. The Choir has collaborated with various leading ensembles, including The English Concert, Fretwork, and His Majestys Sagbutts and Cornetts.

The Choir has recorded for a number of high-profile labels, recently including Decca Records, Signum Classics and Accent Records. Its latest album, titled Palimpsest: new works from old, is a collaboration with saxophonist Sam Corkin, and consists of specially-commissioned pieces by leading composers for choir, organ and saxophone. The girl choristers also recently recorded music by Johann Christoph Pepusch with internationally-renowned soloists and critically-acclaimed period instrument ensemble, The Harmonious Society of Tickle-Fiddle Gentlemen. This will be released later in 2023.

News of the Choir’s activities is posted regularly on the Cathedral’s social media channels.

Join the Choir

For children with a love of singing, there can be few more rewarding experiences than being a Chorister at Canterbury Cathedral. For more information about this unique and life-changing experience, please read our Chorister Information booklet (PDF).

We are currently recruiting Boy Choristers. For more information about the audition process and to apply, see Join the Choir.

The Cathedral Choir includes 12 adult singers who sing the alto, tenor and bass voice parts. These positions are held by a mixture of permanent professional singers (Lay Clerks), and early career singers (Choral Scholars).  

Lay Clerk positions are advertised from time to time on our Vacancies page.

The Cathedral maintains a list of Deputy Lay Clerks who are available to sing in the Choir in the event that a Lay Clerk or Choral Scholar is absent. Deputy Lay Clerks are generally singers with extensive professional experience. If you are interested in joining the list as an alto, tenor or bass, please contact the Director of Music, David Newsholme.

Our Choral Scholars ordinarily spend a year living together in shared accommodation within the Precincts and working at the Cathedral, during which time they hone their vocal and musical skills and experience.

Positions are advertised annually in the autumn and are open to altos, tenors and basses. Prospective candidates are warmly invited to contact the Director of Music, David Newsholme, for informal discussions about the role.

The Cathedral offers an opportunity each year to an organist who is at an early stage in their career. The Organ Scholar lives in shared accommodation with the Choral Scholars (see above), plays the organ at services on a regular basis, and gains invaluable experience of all aspects of the Cathedral’s musical life.

The Organ Scholar position is advertised annually in the autumn. Prospective candidates are warmly invited to contact the Director of Music, David Newsholme, for informal discussions about the role.

Canterbury Cathedral Boys Choir3

“There's an X factor of sheer fun here that has accounted for the group's success, and you should sample it for yourself.”

AllMusic

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