Our free* 15-minute Mini Talks offer a a bite-sized exploration of the Cathedral’s 1,400 years of history.
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 every day! (T&Cs apply); does not apply to group bookings or school visits.
FREE* Mini Talks
DAILY Between 10:00-16:00, various intervals
Listen to a bite-sized exploration of the Cathedral’s 1,400 years of history with a free 15-minute Mini Talk, delivered by our knowledgeable team.
Talks subject to availability on the day. Ask at our Visitor Centre for times.
* Included free with a valid form of admission. Kids go FREE every day! (T&Cs apply)
A FRIENDLY TALK
Mary Moders – The Counterfeit Lady Unveiled
Tues 10 November, 10:30
Dr Sara Read, Senior Lecturer at Loughborough University will reveal the story of the many lives and escapades of Mary Moders, born near our Cathedral in 1642, and executed in 1673 when she declared to the crowds that she hoped God would forgive her as she forgave her enemies.
Friends: £10; non-members: £15
Organised by and in support of The Friends of Canterbury Cathedral (Registered Charity No 1210093).
EXCLUSIVE STUDY DAY
Lost and Found: Hidden Histories of Canterbury’s Stained Glass
Tues 10 November, 10:30-17:00
Complementing the exhibition currently in our Viewing Gallery, this study day will combine visits to the Stained Glass Studio and the Archives reading room with talks from leading experts in their field; with a delicious lunch and refreshments included.
Don't miss this rare opportunity to discover the stories behind our stained glass.
General admission: £95; Student admission: £45
An Evening with Sarah Raven & Adam Nicolson
Thurs 12 November, 18:30-20:30
Venue: The Lodge at Canterbury Cathedral, CT1 2EH
Join Sarah Raven and Adam Nicolson for a rare evening together, sharing the inside story of two remarkable gardens - Sissinghurst and Perch Hill - and the family, ideas and history that connect them.
Together, Sarah and Adam will explore these two very different places: Sissinghurst, steeped in memory and nostalgia, and Perch Hill, colourful, experimental and always looking forward. Through their personal stories, you’ll discover how each garden has evolved, the people and ideas that have shaped them, and what gardens can give us in return - beauty, solace and a tremendous sense of optimism.
£29 per person
FREE* EXCLUSIVE ACCESS
'Canterbury and the early Normans' Reading Room Open Days
Thurs 19 & Fri 20 November, 11:00-15:00
- Entrance through the Water Tower Corridor
Enjoy a limited time only interactive experience relating to the Bayeux Tapestry.
We will be showcasing work by Christ Church University on reconstructing the Norman Castle in Canterbury, there will be hands-on models to explore the development of the cathedral throughout history and an opportunity to construct Norman and Gothic arches, as well as a selection of costumes for selfies!
Special objects on display will include maps produced by William Urry of early Norman Canterbury.
*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.
Please note, dogs are not permitted in the Archives.
Sparkle and Splendour: Archives & Library Tour and Meal
25 November & 4 December
Discover the stories held within Canterbury Cathedral.
Step behind the scenes of the Cathedral’s Archives and Library and explore a remarkable collection of historic documents, rare books and fascinating objects.
- Wed 25 November - Tour and Dinner from 18:15
- Fri 4 December - Tour and Lunch from 11:15
£75 per person (10% discount for Friends of Canterbury Cathedral).
A FRIENDLY TALK
Crowds and Clouds of Angels
Mon 5 October, 14:30
There are so many angels there could seem to be an avalanche of them. It’s unusual for there not to be an image of at least one angel, if not many, in our churches and cathedrals and yet passers-by know very little about them.
Popular speaker Imogen Corrigan returns to reveal angelic details – not least when the wings came in.
Friends: £10; non-members: £15
Organised by and in support of The Friends of Canterbury Cathedral (Registered Charity No 1210093).
'Christmas in the Archives and Library' Open Days
Saturdays 5 & 12 December, 11:00-15:00
- Entry via the Water Tower corridor
Pop in to take a peek at some festive treasures in the Reading Room!
The display will include historic Christmas cards and the glimmering processional cross used in the installation of Archbishop Sarah, amongst other surprises.
Included free with a valid form of admission. Kids go FREE every day! (T&Cs apply)
Dogs are not permitted in the Archives.
EXCLUSIVE TOUR
Stained Glass Studio Tour
Fri 10 December, 11:00-12:00
Our Cathedral Studios workshop is dedicated to the preservation and conservation of Stained Glass Heritage.
Visit the studio, meet one of our conservators and learn more about their work specialising in the conservation, restoration and protection of stained glass from the 12th Century to the 20th Century.
£40 per person, with Cathedral admission included.
Pre-booking required; not suitable for under 18s.
A FRIENDLY TALK
Living Through Change – Canterbury in the Reign of Elizabeth II
Fri 29 January 2027, 10:30
This last talk in a series on the history of Canterbury charts how local residents witnessed the building of vast housing estates, an influx of students to new centres of higher education, and the growth of tourism.
Friends: £10; non-members: £15
Organised by and in support of The Friends of Canterbury Cathedral (Registered Charity No 1210093).
A FRIENDLY EVENT
The Friends' Coffee Concert
Tues 3 February 2027, 10:30
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 2026.
Expect a warm welcome and a mixed musical medley on a chilly Tuesday morning!
Friends: £10; non-members: £15
Organised by and in support of The Friends of Canterbury Cathedral (Registered Charity No 1210093).
A FRIENDLY TALK
A Cultural Melting Pot – Art and Architecture in the Norman Kingdom of Sicily
Fri 26 February 2027, 10:30
2027 marks the 1000th anniversary of William the Conqueror’s birth.
As our Cathedral takes part in the national celebrations of the Year of the Normans, join John Williams as he returns to speak to Friends about the Norman period in Sicily (1061–1194).
Friends: £10; non-members: £15
Organised by and in support of The Friends of Canterbury Cathedral (Registered Charity No 1210093).
A FRIENDLY TALK
Paradise Gardens
Tues 9 March 2027, 10:30
Jo Arnell, garden designer and regular contributor to the Wealden Times will talk to Friends about the history of these gardens, which spread throughout Egypt and the Mediterranean during the Muslim Arabic conquests, reaching as far as India and Spain. She will give examples of how the gardens are created, explain their symbolism, and where such gardens can be found today.
Friends: £10; non-members: £15
Organised by and in support of The Friends of Canterbury Cathedral (Registered Charity No 1210093).
EXCLUSIVE ONSITE PARTNERSHIP CLASS
RSN Day Class: Bayeux-inspired Motif
Fri 12 March 2027, 10:00-16:00
As part of Canterbury’s links with the Bayeux Tapestry, Marg Dier, a tutor from the Royal School of Needlework has designed a Bayeux-inspired motif for this special class.
* Bookings open in January 2027 *
Class cost: £185
Enhance your visit
FREE* Mini Talks
DAILY Between 10:00-16:00, various intervals
Listen to a bite-sized exploration of the Cathedral’s 1,400 years of history with a free 15-minute Mini Talk, delivered by our knowledgeable team.
Talks subject to availability on the day. Ask at our Visitor Centre for times.
* Included free with a valid form of admission. Kids go FREE every day! (T&Cs apply)
Media Guide
With enhanced content at every step, our media guides allow each member of your group to take their tour, their way, delving deeper into what interests them and gaining insight from our experts.
£5 per person
Book your tickets now
Annual passes start from £18.00 - with unlimited return visits, Mini Talks, exhibitions and activities included - plus Kids Go Free every day! (T&Cs apply)
Get free entry with a Cathedral Pass or Friends Card, plus 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.
Exhibitions
LIMITED TIME ONLY FREE EXHIBITION
Smashed, Bombed, Lost - Recovered
Tales of Canterbury’s Stained Glass
Viewing Gallery, Cathedral Visitor Centre
Free for all to view - no admission required!
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, which reacts to the current global crisis.
You do not need a Cathedral Admission Ticket, Cathedral Pass or Friends’ card to view this exhibition.
Image © Yelizaveta Smirnova, Artist
Making History: Church, State and Conflict
Cathedral Crypt
Explore up-close a unique collection of artefacts that tell the complex, and often violent, story of Church-State relations.
Amazing objects on display include the battle shield of Edward The Black Prince, a charter of King Henry II issued five years after the murder of Thomas Becket, and an 11th-Century document with the wax seal of William the Conqueror.
Chalices, Flagons and Patens
Water Tower Corridor
Church practice through the centuries has been full of variety, and this can be seen in the objects used in worship, from simple communion cups to decorated chalices.
Monastic Life
Water Tower
In this exhibition in the Cathedral's newly-restored Water Tower, discover what day-to-day life was like for Canterbury's monks
Make a day of it
World-class heritage
Take time to explore Canterbury’s world-class heritage - wander along ancient city walls, walk cobbled streets and relax in riverside gardens as you enjoy contemporary bars, restaurants and independent, boutique shops.
St Augustine’s Abbey and St Martin’s Church
Explore all three sites that make up Canterbury’s UNESCO World Heritage Status: St Augustine’s Abbey and St Martin’s Church, in addition to Canterbury Cathedral.
Learn more about the medieval period with a visit to the Eastbridge Pilgrim’s Hospital or the peaceful Franciscan Gardens.
Stay at The Lodge
And if one day isn’t enough, you can always stay at the Canterbury Cathedral Lodge.
It’s situated within the private grounds of the Cathedral and guests enjoy free entry throughout their visit.