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 Torin Brown, 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 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.
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:
- Wednesdays 5 & 19 August, 14:00-14:45
- Wednesday 2 & 23 September, 14:00-14:45
£8 per person. Cathedral admission not included. Pre-booking required.
Not suitable for under 12s. Please note, dogs of any kind are not permitted in the Archives & Library.
Regrettably, due to the location, this tour is not wheelchair accessible.
FREE TO VIEW*
Sacred Resonance
by Renaud Muraire
Reimagining Christian Iconography at Canterbury Cathedral
21 May - 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*
*until 19 September - except 30 & 31 July, due to closures
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 Corona 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]
FREE* LIMITED TIME ONLY ACCESS
Visits to the Archives Reading Room
Monday 27 - Friday 31 July, 11:00 - 15:00
Come to the Archives reading room for a unique opportunity to see items used during the installation of Sarah Mullally as Archbishop on 25th March.
This will include the magnificent St John’s Bible, the Cathedral’s copy of a hand-written and hand-decorated Bible produced for the Millenium.
No need to book - included with admission.
*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.
'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 Old Convent 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.
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
A FRIENDLY TALK
Eva Braun – Victim or Contriver?
Tuesday 22 September, 10:30-11:30 in the Clagett Auditorium
Hear the story of the woman who devoted her life to Hitler. A former saleswoman and photographer’s assistant, Braun lived a secluded life in Hitler’s circle and had no known children. She remained largely unknown to the German public until after the War.
The material of the talk is sensitively presented.
Popular speaker, Melanie Gibson-Barton returns to speak to Friends and reveal more about this now infamous woman.
£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
Canterbury’s Pubs – 1,000 Years of Pilgrims, Drinking, and History
Friday 25 September, 10:30-11:30 in the Clagett Auditorium
Following on from her highly-popular talk on Aphra Behn two years ago, Charlotte Cornell returns to speak about the inns, public houses, and taverns which have formed a major part of the history of Canterbury over the last millennia.
Offering refuge to weary pilgrims to the city or as social hubs for local citizens, how have these hostelries shaped and influenced local architecture and culture?
Cornell will reveal more about some of the characters who once trod the cobblestones of Canterbury in search of refreshment.
£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
King Charles III – 40 Years of Architecture
Monday 5 October, 14:30-15:30 in the Clagett Auditorium
King Charles III’s affection for architecture is well-known, but the extent of his engagement has never been fully presented to the public.
In this talk inspired by his book on the subject, Clive Aslet will draw together the many threads, from the ‘carbuncle’ speech made at Hampton Court in 1984 until his accession to the throne.
The four decades of the King's commitment to architecture have coincided with Clive Aslet's career as a journalist, during which he has followed the story and often written about it, not least during the 13 years for which he was editor of Country Life.
£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 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.
This event is organised by and in support of The Friends of Canterbury Cathedral (Registered Charity No 1210093).
A FRIENDLY TALK
Mary Moders – The Counterfeit Lady Unveiled
Tuesday 10 November, 10:30-11:30 in the Clagett Auditorium
Dr Sara Read, Senior Lecturer at Loughborough University will reveal to attendees the story of the many lives and escapades of Mary Moders (aka the Crafty Whore of Canterbury and the Famous Cheat), born near our Cathedral in 1642 and who died by execution in 1673 when she declared to the crowds that she hoped God would forgive her as she forgave her enemies.
Sara Read will reveal the original picture of Mary. Or will she…?
£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).