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 Talks and tours Exhibitions Calendar of services
Summer at the Cathedral
Come and discover the stories of some of the extraordinary women who have shaped the Cathedral’s famed history, from 597AD to present day.
Experience a rich programme of events, including talks, tours, activities and more - whether you are interested in faith, family activities or history, there’s something for everyone!
This programme includes a mix of paid, free with admission and free to all events. As spaces are limited, be sure to pre-book as soon as possible.
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]
Reflective Guided Pilgrimages
WEEKLY on a Thursday (please check dates), 16:30-17:00
Join our Pilgrim Officer after visiting hours, for a short guided pilgrimage around the outside of the Cathedral, stopping at places of significance for reflection and prayer.
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 our evening service at 17:30, followed by a blessing.
Free to attend; but donations gratefully received.
EXCLUSIVE TOUR
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:
- Wednesday 19 August, 14:00-14:45
- Wednesday 2 & 23 September, 14:00-14:45
£8 per person. Cathedral admission not included. Pre-booking required.
FREE TO VIEW*
Sacred Resonance
by Renaud Muraire
Reimagining Christian Iconography at Canterbury Cathedral
Until 8 September 2026
Renaud Muraire’s paintings create a powerful dialogue between traditional Christian iconography and contemporary human experience.
Drawing on biblical narratives that continue to resonate today, his work explores universal emotions, challenges, and aspirations, offering space for reflection on identity and lived experience.
* Free-to-view by anyone with a valid form of Cathedral sightseeing admission (including Cathedral Admission Ticket, Cathedral Pass or Friends’ Card).
BACK FOR 2026
'Climb the Corona' Tour
Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays in July - September*
The Corona Chapel was built in the 12th century to house the crown - ‘corona’ in Latin - of St Thomas Becket’s skull, which had been sliced off during his murder and was revered as a saintly relic.
Explore the Chapel, usually closed to the public, before climbing the 95 steps to the top of the tower itself!
£12 per person, plus Cathedral admission charge.
This is a popular tour; pre-booking suggested. Over 16s only.
Read full tour information and restrictions before booking.
*until 19 September
SPECIAL THEMED TOUR
Women of Canterbury Cathedral
Dates in August
Learn about the remarkable women who have shaped the Cathedral’s story across the centuries.
From influential medieval figures and pioneering benefactors, to trailblazing contemporary leaders, this tour reveals the often overlooked contributions that have shaped the Cathedral’s spiritual, cultural, and social legacy.
Dates:
- Thursdays 6, 13, 20 & 27 August, 14:15-15:30
£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.
Also available for private and group bookings by enquiry to [email protected]
'Mother Nature' Open Gardens
Saturdays 1, 8, 15 & 22 August, 11:00-15:00
Visitors are invited to explore some of our rarely-seen private Cathedral gardens, opened exclusively for four days only - included with your Cathedral admission ticket*.
Saturday 1 August: The Deanery Garden
Saturday 8 August: The Archdeaconry Garden
Saturday 15 August: The Archdeaconry Garden
Saturday 22 August: The Deanery Garden
This is a unique opportunity to experience a peaceful green space at the heart of Canterbury, usually closed to the public.
*Included free with a valid Cathedral Admission Ticket, Cathedral Pass or Friends’ Card. ** Kids go FREE every day! (T&Cs apply); does not apply to group bookings or school visits.
EXCLUSIVE ACCESS
Women in the Cathedral Collections: A visit to the Archives reading room
Friday 7 August, 14:00-14:55
This guided visit to the Archives reading room will present a unique opportunity to see items from the collections relating to specific women with links to the Cathedral’s history.
See some depictions of Queen Elizabeth I and even her signature, and admire items used during the installation of Archbishop Sarah Mullally.
£12 per person. Cathedral admission not included.
Booking essential.
Please ensure that you have selected the correct event when booking.
SPECIAL THEMED TOUR
Queen Bertha's Walk
Dates in July & August
A guided walk tracing Queen Bertha’s footsteps through Canterbury to the Cathedral, highlighting her pivotal role in laying the foundations of Christian worship in Kent.
Retrace the daily walk Queen Bertha of Kent took from St Martin’s Church, via St Augustine’s Abbey to Canterbury Cathedral, and learn about the re-introduction of Christianity to this part of the world by St Augustine in the 6th century as you pass other historic landmarks along the way; concluding with a short visit inside the Cathedral to complete the story.
Dates:
- Friday 7 August, 11:00-12:30
- Friday 4 September, 11:00-12:30
£25 per person, with Cathedral admission included.
Book at our Visitor Centre on the day of your visit, or email [email protected] to reserve your space.
Also available for private and group bookings by enquiry to [email protected]
TICKETS NOW ON SALE
80s Silent Disco
Saturday 15 August - 18:30-21:00 & 21:30-00:00
The world's premier tour of its kind, Silent Discos In Incredible Places, is returning to Canterbury Cathedral after selling out in record time earlier this year!
Expect some of the UK's best 80s DJs playing all your favourite tunes in the stunning, illuminated surroundings of the Cathedral.
This is strictly a 18+ event. Valid photographic I.D. may be requested on entry.
University of Kent MEMS presents
Food for Thought - The Bayeux Tapestry Revisited
A talk by Prof Benjamin Pohl, Professor of Medieval History, University of Bristol
Thursday 17 September, 19:00-20:30 at Cathedral Lodge
Prof. Benjamin Pohl is an expert in the history of medieval Britain and Europe. Coinciding with the Bayeux Tapestry’s highly anticipated exhibition in the UK, he will present a new interpretation of how and where this world-famous artefact was intended to be viewed.
The talk is based on Prof Pohl's recent research published in Historical Research, which received global media coverage.
Attendance is free, but advanced registration is required.
This event is organised by the Centre for Medieval and Early Modern Studies (MEMS) at the University of Kent, and supported by the British Academy.
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:
NO session in July 2026
- 14 September 2026
- 12 October 2026
- 2 November 2026
- 14 December 2026
This is a free event, but donations to help sustain this monthly event are welcomed.
All welcome. No need to book.
Organised by and in support of The Friends of Canterbury Cathedral (Charity No 1210093).
Canterbury Cathedral
Heritage Open Days
Between 11 - 20 September
Every September, thousands of volunteers across England organise events to celebrate the country’s fantastic history and culture. It’s your chance to see hidden places and try out new experiences – all of which are FREE to explore.
This year we are hosting three special events at Canterbury Cathedral:
- ‘Lives of the Monks’ Guided Tour
- 'Cathedral Gardens Through History' Exhibition
- 'Monastic Gardens' Guided Tour
All events have a limited capacity and spaces fill up fast - so don't miss out, and book your FREE place now!
BOOK NOW
Canterbury Festival presents
Anna Lapwood: Live in Canterbury Cathedral
Friday 16 October, 20:00 at Canterbury Cathedral
One of the UK’s most dynamic ambassadors for classical music gives her first performance on the Canterbury Cathedral Organ.
Expect a dazzling programme of film music interspersed with traditional organ repertoire.
As the official organist of the Royal Albert Hall, Anna Lapwood has broken genre boundaries and introduced a huge new audience to the organ. An established conductor, broadcaster, and a fierce advocate for the advancement of female voices within her industry, she has reached millions via her devoted social media following and collaborated with artists from Florence & the Machine to Benedict Cumberbatch.
Tickets: £13.50 (+ £1.50 fees)
Due to the position of the Cathedral organ audiences will be unable to see Anna directly, however a live video feed of Anna’s performance will be projected onto a large screen in the central nave.
Canterbury Choral Society presents
Festivities, Fanfare and Fireworks
Saturday 17 October, 19:30 at Canterbury Cathedral
Join Canterbury Choral Society and the London Mozart Players for an evening of celebratory masterpieces in the beauty of Canterbury Cathedral Nave.
Bringing together the glory of the High Baroque and Classical periods, this concert combines two of Handel’s majestic anthems written for the Coronation of King George II in 1727, together with the music he wrote for a grand fireworks display following a victory against the French.
This is followed by one of the finest of Haydn’s six great masses, his Harmoniemesse, written for the name day of Princess Maria Josepha Hermengilde Esterházy, the wife of his patron.
Tickets range: £21.50 - £32.50 (+ £1.50 fees)
Canterbury Festival presents
Circa: Eternity
Tuesday 20 - Saturday 24 October evenings, various times
A one-of-a-kind Festival experience. Acrobats hang from the roof of the Nave and perform incredible feats in a bespoke Cathedral circus piece for a rare UK performance.
- Tue 20 Oct, 19:30
- Wed 21 Oct, 19:30
- Thu 22 Oct, 19:30
- Fri 23 Oct, 19:15 & 21:30
- Sat 24 Oct, 19:15 & 21:30
Step into Canterbury Cathedral for a transformative hour of world class circus from Australian ensemble, Circa.
Take your seat around the catwalk stage to witness these talented circus artists explore powerful emotions and delve into profound themes such as love, death, loss, hope and wonder.
Tickets range: £40 - £43.50 (+ £1.50 fees)
Canterbury Festival presents
Britten Sinfonia’s Surround Sound Playlist
Tuesday 27 October, 19:30 at Canterbury Cathedral
Lie down and discover a completely new way to experience world-class classical music in this relaxed, immersive performance with Britten Sinfonia and Tenebrae in the magnificent setting of the Cathedral Nave.
You’re sitting or lying on mats in the Cathedral, looking up at the soaring arches and beautiful ceiling above. Lighting states shift and capture the mood as a seamless musical sequence fills the magical space from all directions… like a drivetime radio mix or eclectic playlist, but live and all around you, performed by more than 100 musicians, with orchestral drama, solo virtuosity and heart bursting moments of choral beauty.
Tickets range: £25 - £53.50 (+ £1.50 fees) - Child tickets from £8.50
A FRIENDLY EVENT
Quilters’ Guild Partnership Class
Wednesday 28 October, 10:00-16:00 in the Community Studio
An inaugural class run in partnership with The Quilters’ Guild.
Students will be creating a design inspired by our Cathedral’s Cosmati Pavement using the English Paper Piecing quilting method. More information and details of how to book will be released in the autumn.
£65 for Friends of Canterbury Cathedral and members of The Quilters’ Guild; £95 non-members.
Cost includes the kit, a sandwich lunch, and afternoon tea and cake.
This event is organised by and in support of The Friends of Canterbury Cathedral (Registered Charity No 1210093).
Canterbury Festival presents
APOLLO5: Crossings
Thursday 29 October, 19:30 at Canterbury Cathedral
Take a musical pilgrimage along the Via Francigena as critically acclaimed British vocal ensemble APOLLO5 launch their new album Crossings at Canterbury Festival with an expansive programme which maps this historic pilgrimage route in song.
One of Britains’ smallest but most dynamic vocal groups bring their vibrant and versatile sound to the atmospheric setting of Canterbury Cathedral. Part of the VOCES8 Foundation, APOLLO5’s repertoire embraces Renaissance, classical and contemporary works alongside folk, jazz and pop.
Tickets range: £21.50 - £32.50 (+ £1.50 fees)