Skip to main content

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 grounds 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 (aged 17 and under)

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 2025. 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 or Said Evening Prayer with Organ Meditation*   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

 

Planning your visit? Remember to check our closures.

Online Book Group: The Book of Margery Kempe (c.1436-8)

SESSION RECORDINGS AVAILABLE

This book group has now concluded, but you can still watch the session recordings to read and reflect on the text in your own time.

Known as the earliest autobiography written in the English language, The Book of Margery Kempe (c.1436-8) describes the dramatic transformation of its heroine from failed business woman and lustful young wife to devout and chaste pilgrim.

Kempe vividly describes her prayers and visions, as well as the temptations in daily life to which she succumbed before dedicating herself to her spiritual calling. She travelled to the most holy sites of the medieval world, including Rome, Jerusalem and Canterbury.

In her life and boisterous devotion, Kempe antagonized many of those around her; yet she garnered friends and supporters who helped record her experiences. Her book opens a window on to the medieval world, and provides a fascinating portrait of one woman’s life, aspirations, spiritual doubts, and prayers.

We joined Canon Emma online via Zoom, to reflect and discuss this extraordinary account of a medieval wife, mother and mystic.

Together, over ten weeks, we read and discussed the complete text - focussing on specific chapters each week.

We have been reading the Oxford World’s Classic version, translated by the Birkbeck scholar Anthony Bale.

We hope you enjoy reading this engaging and colourful work by a forceful and deeply spiritual lady of the fourteenth century.

 

For future suggestions of spiritual books for the group to read please email Canon Emma at [email protected]

Each week Canon Emma began with a brief introduction followed by discussion and then concluding with prayer.

Week One - 10 September

Conversion of Life: Proem plus Chapters 1 - 9

Watch session recording

Week Two - 17 September

A Visit to Canterbury and Julian of Norwich: Chapters 10 - 20

Watch session recording

Week Three - 24 September

On pilgrimage to the Holy Land: Chapters 21 - 30

Watch session recording

Week Four - 1 October

Margery in Rome: Chapters 31 - 40

Watch session recording

Week Five - 8 October

Margery causes a stir: Chapters 41 - 50

Watch session recording

Week Six - 22 October

Trials and Tribulations: Chapters 51 - 58

Watch session recording

Week Seven - 5 November

The Gift of Tears and revelations: Chapters 59 - 69

Watch session recording

Week Eight - 12 November

Margery’s Ministry of Prayer: Chapters 70 - 78

Watch session recording

Week Nine - 19 November

Contemplating the Life of Christ: Chapters 79 - 89

Watch session recording

Week Ten - 26 November

The Second Book: Chapters 1 - 10, plus Conclusion

Watch session recording

Online Book Group: The Book of Margery Kempe (c.1436-8)

Session Recordings

These recordings include Canon Emma's introductions for each session, and 'questions to ponder'.

  • What are your first impressions of the Book of Margery Kempe
  • Does it have any resonances with the spiritual journey as we understand it today?
  • Who do you think ‘wrote’ her text and what does the nothing of authorship mean in this context?
  • In what ways do you relate to Margery?
  • To what extent has Margery’s account been altered by time and shaped by later significance?

  • What are your first impressions of chapters 10 to 19 of The Book of Margery Kempe?
  • Why do you think Margery concentrates so much on telling us about her relationship with her husband?
  • In what ways is Margery a prophet?
  • How do you relate to Margery?
  • What do you make of Margery’s conversations with Christ?
  • Why do you think Margery needs to tell her story over and over again?

  • How do you feel about Margery praying to be released from the responsibility of a child?
  • What do you think Margery means by the term ‘feelings’?
  • What do you make of Margery’s private means and independence in relation to today?
  • Would have liked to have been a fellow traveller with Margery to Jerusalem?
  • In what ways do you relate to Margery?
  • Are the accounts of her travels real or fabricated?

  • What do you make of Margery's pilgrimage to Rome?
  • Have you ever been on a pilgrimage, in what ways was it similar or different?
  • Why do you think Margery is more concerned in telling us about the people she meets, rather than the pilgrimage sites?
  • In what ways do you relate to Margery?
  • How do you understand Margery's experience of her spiritual marriage'?
  • Is Margery trying to be like Bridget?

  • What do you make of Margery wearing white clothes?
  • What strikes you about this section we have read this week?
  • In what ways is Margery a holy person?
  • Have you ever had spiritual doubts like Margery?
  • What do you make of Margery asking for signs to reveal God’s will?
  • What do you wear and how much do your clothes represent your inner life?

  • What do you make of Margery's trials and tribulations?
  • In what ways could Margery be accused of being a Lollard?
  • Why do you think Margery is so concerned with telling us about these incidents of trial and defense?
  • To what extent do you relate to Margery's defense her faith?
  • Have you ever had to defend yourself in such a situation?
  • To what extent is Margery presenting herself as a Christ-like figure?
  • What do these chapters reveal of life in the fifteenth century?

  • What do you make of Margery’s weeping and sobbing, are they a gift from God or hysteria?
  • Have you ever had a time when tears have been a part of your spiritual journey?
  • Would Margery’s behaviour be tolerated today and if not, why?
  • What do you make of the intercessory nature of Margery’s tears?
  • In what ways does Margery’s story inspire you?
  • What difference, if any, does a tradition in weeping make to our reading of this text?
  • When are tears precious and a gift from God?

  • What do you think Margery’s ministry is?
  • How does Margery relate to other people and they to her, how has this changed through the book?
  • What does Margery’s book tell us about what life was like in fifteenth century England?
  • In what ways do you relate to Margery?
  • How do you understand Margery’s intercessory role?
  • If you were asked to articulate your ‘ministry or mission’ what would you say?

  • What do you make of Margery's visions?
  • To what extent are Margery's visions given, or based upon, devotional culture and practices of the time?
  • What have you learnt about medieval life in this section?
  • How do you meditate, and what does the role of the imagination have in your spiritual life?

Looking back on this first book of Margery Kempe:

  • What have you most enjoyed?
  • What has surprised you?
  • What will live with you?
  • What have you found difficult?
  • What has it said to you about your spiritual life?

Reflect for a moment, about what it has been like reading a fourteenth-century text.

  • What do you make of Book II?
  • What difference would it have made if Margery written her own book, and it not being written for her?
  • Is Margery a mystic?
  • How do you feel about Margery at the end of the book, do you think it is different to what you felt at the beginning?
  • What do you admire about Margery and what annoys you?

Looking back on this book group:

  • What have you enjoyed about it?
  • What will live with you?
  • How has it helped or hindered in your own spiritual life?
  • What has surprised you?

What has it been like reading a 14th century text?

Online Book Group: The Book of Margery Kempe (c.1436-8)

Supporting Resource

 

Following on from the series 'Julian of Norwich: a medieval take on lockdown and how to survive it', Canon Emma Pennington released 6-part series 'The English Mystics: their relevance for us today' in June 2021.

This series focused on the unique group of devotional writers at the end of the fourteenth century called The English Mystics. Each wrote from a different background and perspective but all spoke to a burgeoning lay audience about the life of faith and prayer.

It outlined who they are as a group and what their individual lives and writings have to say to us today which can be surprising relevant and rewarding.

The English Mystics - Episode Five: Margery Kemp

Watch this episode from Canon Emma's 6-part series, released in June 2021

Stay in the loop

Sign up to our newsletter and stay up to date with all the latest events, news and offers

By adding my email I confirm my subscription to the newsletter and understand that the email address provided will be held by the Cathedral and the email service company (dotdigital) to use for distributing this newsletter only. For more information please see the Cathedral Privacy Notice.