Sightseeing Entry

Tuesdays 15, 22 & 29 July 11:15-12:30
Tuesdays 5,12,19 & 26 August 11:15-12:30

Walk the picturesque Precincts and discover traces of the medieval monks of Christ Church Priory, once on this site.

Christ Church Priory at Canterbury Cathedral was the home of Benedictine Monks-known as the 'Black Monks'. They followed a strict set of rules and lived a life of prayer, manual work, bible study, worship and self-sufficiency, but with an emphasis on hospitality.

The Monastery was equipped with everything the monks needed to look after themselves, from a bakehouse, infirmary and bath house through to large gardens where the monks grew their own food. They even brewed their own beer on site! The heart of the monastic gardens was the Herbarium, a medieval herb garden where medicinal herbs were grown. In 2004 the Herbarium was re-imagined by our Cathedral gardeners, using a range of authentic plants.

Today, evidence of the lives of the monks can be found in the ruins dotted around the Cathedral Precincts, the Great Cloister and Chapter House and the repurposed buildings found on site.

Join us on a walking tour of the Cathedral Precincts and gardens; learn about Christ Church Priory's monks, the buildings they used and the history of the medieval Herbarium; discover the medieval uses for common kitchen herbs like sage, fennel and lemon balm, and learn about some plants that would not want to use in your recipes today!

Please note, this tour will take place outside and involve walking on uneven surfaces in varying weather.

£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.