From remarkable historical objects to fascinating reads in the Archives and Library, Canterbury Cathedral has an abundance of collections to pique your interest.
Things to discover
Exhibitions
What can you discover in our incredible range of exhibitions? Take a look at what’s on before you decide to visit to make sure you don’t miss out on something spectacular.
Historical objects
The Cathedral is full of paintings, sculptures, church silver, vestments, altar frontals, stained glass and much more. See the significant treasures and renowned artefacts for yourself as you take a walk around the Cathedral.
Book your tickets
Tickets start from £18.00 or free if you have a Cathedral Pass or Friends Card.
Other concessions available, with a valid proof of eligibility.
Group visits and school visits must be booked separately; KIDS GO FREE offer does not apply to group or school visits.
Fascinating facts
650
For nearly 650 years, the Black Prince’s funerary achievements have been held at Canterbury Cathedral, and are now on permanent display at our exhibition in the Crypt.
8,000
The archives of the Cathedral contains around 8,000 charters, including 30 that date from before the Norman Conquest!
50,000
The Cathedral Library contains about 50,000 books, and holds 40 incunables (books or fragments of books printed before 1501).
Our Archives and Collections contain over 200,000 documents - the oldest of which dates from the late 8th century – and about 3,000 objects.
Talks and tours
Our free* 15-minute Mini Talks offer a a bite-sized exploration of the Cathedral’s history, and guided tours are the perfect way to discover the Cathedral’s amazing history, spaces, and secrets.
We also host a range of paid talks, and run various free* themed talks, tours and open days through the year.
Please note, all talks and tours have a max. capacity; pre-booking is recommended where possible. Please arrive early, as talks/tours will start promptly; if you arrive late, you may not be able to join the talk/tour. Please read individual talk or tour information and T&Cs before booking/attending.
Only assistance dogs are permitted at services, talks, tours and special events; however 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]
*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.
'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.
£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.
Please note, there will be no Mini Talks on Sunday 4 January.
*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.
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
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.
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.
NEW DATES ADDED
Gentle Tours
Join us for our step-free tours, delivered at a gentle pace, in a smaller group; split into two parts, with a comfort break.
Hear the story of Thomas Becket, our most famous Archbishop, and see the site of his murder and feast your eyes on some of our oldest stained glass windows.
Explore the Quire and a ‘Cadaver tomb’, contrast medieval and dramatic modern windows and find out why there is a cannonball in an Archbishop’s tomb!
Dates:
- Thursdays 8 & 22 January, between 14:15-16:00
- Thursdays 5 & 19 February, between 14:15-16:00
- Thursdays 5 & 19 March, between 14:15-16:00
- Thursday 2 April, between 14:15-16:00
£5 per person, plus Cathedral admission charge.
NEW DATES TO BE ADDED SOON
‘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.
£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.
NEW DATES TO BE ADDED SOON
Stained Glass Windows Tour
Did you know that some stained glass windows at Canterbury Cathedral are amongst the oldest in the world?
Join us on a guided tour, offering an introduction to the history and range of stained glass found at the Cathedral, from medieval to modern.
Discover richly-detailed Bible-story windows, explore Miracle Windows and see the oldest stained glass in England.
£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.
NEW DATES TO BE ADDED SOON
Historic Graffiti Tour
On this tour, members of the Cathedral’s Historic Graffiti Team will shine a light on a selection of the fascinating historic graffiti that can be found throughout the Cathedral.
Focusing on the Eastern Crypt, Quire and Trinity Chapel, a selection of different types of historic graffiti from different periods will be revealed; along with the very different motivations in the past for making marks on walls.
£5 per person, plus Cathedral admission charge.
Various dates throughout the year
FREE* Family Tours
Bring your little historians to Canterbury Cathedral to hear stories of Becket and the Black Prince, Monks and Miracles, Tombs and Towers.
These tours are aimed at children aged 6 - 13 but are suitable for the whole family to enjoy!
Tours last 45 minutes, and pre-booking is recommended.
Keep an eye on our Event Calendar and socials for future tour dates
*Included free with a valid Cathedral Admission Ticket, Cathedral Pass or Friends’ Card. Children aged 17 and under go free (T&Cs apply); does not apply to group bookings or school visits.
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).
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).
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).
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 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).