Canterbury Cathedral
Canterbury Cathedral
4.5
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
12:30 PM - 4:00 PM
About
The first Church of England, this historic gothic-style cathedral dates back to 597, which served as a rich and powerful monastery of Benedictine monks in the 12th century.
Suggested duration
2-3 hours
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listingTours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
Full view
What is Travelers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Plan your visit
The area
Address
Best nearby
Restaurants
267 within 3 miles
Attractions
139 within 6 miles
Contribute
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
7,211 reviews
Excellent
4,786
Very good
1,718
Average
423
Poor
140
Terrible
144
Andy B
6 contributions
Sep 2022
Although we live in Kent and have done for many years (my wife all her life), we had only visited the Cathedral once before and that was relatively fleeting as I recall.
This time we benefited greatly from the expert guiding of our host Alan West, who absolutely illuminated the experience with his wide knowledge and enthusiasm of seemingly all facets of its architecture, construction, relevant history of the clergy, monarchy, and significant events (Thomas Becket and Henry VIII featured prominently) including damage to the wonderous stained-glass windows caused by both the reformists and German bombs in WWII.
The building is magnificent to explore on your own, but I wholeheartedly recommend you take a guided tour - it makes a significant difference to our visit.
This time we benefited greatly from the expert guiding of our host Alan West, who absolutely illuminated the experience with his wide knowledge and enthusiasm of seemingly all facets of its architecture, construction, relevant history of the clergy, monarchy, and significant events (Thomas Becket and Henry VIII featured prominently) including damage to the wonderous stained-glass windows caused by both the reformists and German bombs in WWII.
The building is magnificent to explore on your own, but I wholeheartedly recommend you take a guided tour - it makes a significant difference to our visit.
Written September 21, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Googly2010
Tonbridge, UK813 contributions
Nov 2022
We paid £10 for this unusual walk around the cathedral at night time whilst the impressive sound and light show illuminated the church with sometimes psychedelic light patterns and sounds. It certainly showed the massive ancient place in a new light for us. Some of the areas (it is a huge place) were more perfunctorily lit and we were feeling slightly let down until we reached the final part of the tour in the large nave facing the west window, where the kaleidoscope of imaginative light, images and sounds was mind-blowing. I have never taken LSD but if it like this, i am in!!
Written November 4, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
wheelveller_1202
London, UK16 contributions
Aug 2022 • Family
Canterbury Cathedral was a dream. Perfect for just having some time out and just take in valuable knowledge of the history the cathedral has to offer. One of the volunteer tour guides, David, had explained the story of Thomas Becket in great depth and extremely engaging too!
I was most surprised about the cathedral having accessible facilities. Since the building is very historic, I was not expecting the cathedral to have ramps, mobilifts, level accessible doors and lifts but it did and it added to my wonderful experience of the cathedral. One thing I really rate is that carers go free of charge if you are disabled and if you are a student of UKC or CCCU then you go also get free entry with ID so all in all in can turn out to be a cost effective day out!
I cannot wait to visit again!
I was most surprised about the cathedral having accessible facilities. Since the building is very historic, I was not expecting the cathedral to have ramps, mobilifts, level accessible doors and lifts but it did and it added to my wonderful experience of the cathedral. One thing I really rate is that carers go free of charge if you are disabled and if you are a student of UKC or CCCU then you go also get free entry with ID so all in all in can turn out to be a cost effective day out!
I cannot wait to visit again!
Written August 29, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
SusieLancsUK
Lancashire UK46 contributions
Apr 2022
Wonderful place to visit and highly recommended but oh dear the admissions experience was abysmal.
I visited on Easter Saturday and it took 45 minutes to get in - astonishingly in this day and age there is no online booking system to help manage the process at busy times. I was struck by the publicity saying that it costs £13 per minute to maintain and run the cathedral. Well I'm afraid a lot of £14 admission fees were being lost by people giving up and walking away. It is this which has made me rate it average.
I went to the Easter Sunday 11am service which was very uplifting. No admission charge on Easter morning so a very large gate was open - firmly shut the day before. If only it had been open with online booking and the scanners we have all become used to.
To sum up please do go but cathedral authorities improve your customer service!
I visited on Easter Saturday and it took 45 minutes to get in - astonishingly in this day and age there is no online booking system to help manage the process at busy times. I was struck by the publicity saying that it costs £13 per minute to maintain and run the cathedral. Well I'm afraid a lot of £14 admission fees were being lost by people giving up and walking away. It is this which has made me rate it average.
I went to the Easter Sunday 11am service which was very uplifting. No admission charge on Easter morning so a very large gate was open - firmly shut the day before. If only it had been open with online booking and the scanners we have all become used to.
To sum up please do go but cathedral authorities improve your customer service!
Written April 17, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Jake B
1 contribution
Jan 2023 • Friends
My experience was okay. Upon arriving I was greeted by 2 people looking miserable on the main gate - in their defence it was a freezing cold day and they said they had been forced to stand outside! It wasn’t a great welcome to one of the great Cathedrals.
The price was £15.50, a tad pricey but I would imagine the money goes to the upkeep of the building or to the wider congregation in some way.
Inside the greaters were very pleasant and informative. Everyone seemed to be very knowledgeable and approachable. My only complaint would be the general cleanliness of the building, it is filthy! There were finger print marks all over the glass on the doors, food wrappers on the floor and large clumps of dust all over the floor. This is all hardly surprising as I saw what I assumed was the cleaner sitting down in the church in front of everyone on his phone! As well as the dirt, there was furniture slung around all over the place and even electrician appliances left outside which is hardly a safe way to keep them. It really ruins the magnificence of the whole building, especially when compared to other cathedrals who do a lot better job without charging so much money.
A good experience if you like history or churches, but there’s is definitely room for improvement and they really need to give the place a good clean.
The price was £15.50, a tad pricey but I would imagine the money goes to the upkeep of the building or to the wider congregation in some way.
Inside the greaters were very pleasant and informative. Everyone seemed to be very knowledgeable and approachable. My only complaint would be the general cleanliness of the building, it is filthy! There were finger print marks all over the glass on the doors, food wrappers on the floor and large clumps of dust all over the floor. This is all hardly surprising as I saw what I assumed was the cleaner sitting down in the church in front of everyone on his phone! As well as the dirt, there was furniture slung around all over the place and even electrician appliances left outside which is hardly a safe way to keep them. It really ruins the magnificence of the whole building, especially when compared to other cathedrals who do a lot better job without charging so much money.
A good experience if you like history or churches, but there’s is definitely room for improvement and they really need to give the place a good clean.
Written January 22, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Graham Jarvis
2 contributions
Apr 2022
You cannot access the cathedral inside or outside without paying £14 for each person.
This is a church and the centre of the Anglican Church and the £14 is a disincentive.
Entry to Christianity should not be based on the ability or willingness to pay.
The church is for the rich and those who have assets.
No discounts for pensioners or those on benefits….this is not Christianity in action…and don’t tell me the Church is poor.
Absolutely disgusted
Graham, Leeds, Yorkshire
This is a church and the centre of the Anglican Church and the £14 is a disincentive.
Entry to Christianity should not be based on the ability or willingness to pay.
The church is for the rich and those who have assets.
No discounts for pensioners or those on benefits….this is not Christianity in action…and don’t tell me the Church is poor.
Absolutely disgusted
Graham, Leeds, Yorkshire
Written April 27, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Linda T
Bradford-on-Avon, UK82 contributions
Mar 2022
Canterbury Cathedral gets a low rating from me because of its inaccessibility. £14 is steep for an entrance fee, but there is a lot to see in the cathedral and I can accept that the maintenance costs are prohibitive. What I can't accept is that it is impossible even to get a peek at the outside of the building, or wander round the cathedral close without first queueing up and paying this fee.
I know of no other cathedral in England where you have to pay a hefty fee, even to look at the outside of the building, or enjoy its environs.
Canterbury Cathedral is supposed to be a place of pilgrimage- to me, this does not seem a very Christian welcome.
I know of no other cathedral in England where you have to pay a hefty fee, even to look at the outside of the building, or enjoy its environs.
Canterbury Cathedral is supposed to be a place of pilgrimage- to me, this does not seem a very Christian welcome.
Written April 21, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
vlcnc
London, UK26 contributions
Feb 2023 • Couples
...means we didn't actually get to see it beyond the front entrance. The Church of England's insatiable greed means they even block you from entering the grounds to just see the outside which they only allow if you're part of an expensive guided city tour. Most churches in other countries allow you to enter with a small optional donation or have at least an hour for free for a day to ensure it is kept accessible to people of all means. The Church of England is an incredibly wealthy institution, so to charge £15 per person and not even allow one to see the outside of the cathedral for free is just so immensely greedy, I'm honestly speechless. For info of other visitors, there is no way or viewing point in the city to get a view of the cathedral anywhere else, the only way is to buy a ticket to enter the grounds.
Written February 18, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Lynne S
United Kingdom122 contributions
Jun 2022 • Friends
This is a stunning building and place of worship. You do not have to be religious to appreciate the history and incredible craftsmanship of the stonemasons, stain glass window artists, carpenters, architects and of course restorers and maintenance staff. We paid the £5 for a tour - well worth it to get get a better understanding of the history of the building and the stories behind the incredible stain glass windows.
Written June 29, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
deborahk3
Maidstone, UK1,804 contributions
Mar 2022
Up until this visit, I have only ever seen Canterbury Cathedral from the outside. On this visit we were happy to pay the £14 entrance fee (it goes towards the upkeep) and go inside. It really is beautiful cathedral and deserves to be part of a UNESCO World heritage site. The Cathedral and grounds are huge, and pilgrims and visitors have been coming since the medieval ages. It remains one of the most visited places in the country, not surprising, as its history is intrinsically linked to the country's history. It remains, the mother church of the worldwide Anglian Communion and the seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury. There is so much to see inside, not least, The Great West window, the Great Cloister and Chapter House, to name but a few. Definitely worth a visit, for the history alone.
Written September 18, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
apcmoomin
London41 contributions
I understand that the Nave and Quire and Trinity Chapel are listed on the day I would like to visit. Is it worth paying the £14 entrance fee to see the other parts that will be open?
Abovetheclouds
1,728 contributions
Everything was open when I went recently. Check online the days when all is open. I would say go when everything is open. I would also recommend the guided tour which is an additional fee. The cathedral is stunning. The parts you have mentioned are important so it's silly to go and not see everything. Just be mindful as I went early May that there are renovations. Although you can still see everything, parts of the exterior and some of the inside had obstructed views.
AndreinaAndreina
London, UK1 contribution
What time can we see the choir?
Canterbury Cathedral
Canterbury, UK
The Choir perform at regular Evensong services throughout the year and also in special performances and concerts which are listed on the Cathedral's What's On page. At various times throughout the year we have visiting choirs performing as our Choristers are on holiday however the best opportunity to hear our Cathedral Choir remains at Evensong which takes place at 17:30 during the week and 15:15 on weekends.
Risa S
Sydney31 contributions
Are you open to tourists during the Easter weekend? Or just on particular days? If so, when/what time will you be open to us tourists?
CanterburyCathedral
3 contributions
Yes, we are open, although there are several restrictions due to additional Easter services. There are several lengthy services on Good Friday, so that is probably not a good day to visit. For up-to-date visiting times and service details, visit the 'Visiting' and 'What's on' section on our website. TripAdvisor does not allow links.
We hope to welcome you soon.
SharonA
Saudi Arabia276 contributions
Is it free to go inside the Cathedral?
CanterburyCathedral
3 contributions
It is free to attend services, but outside of service times, there is an entrance charge of £12.50 for adults, £8.50 for children, family £33. We hope you visit soon.
Patricia l
Valenciennes, France2 contributions
Bonjour, pourriez vous m'indiquer ou je peux réserver les billets pour la visite de la cathédrale de canterbury Merci
CanterburyCathedral
3 contributions
Bonjour. C'est pas necessaire (possible) de reserver les billets pour une visite, sauf si vous visitez en groupe.
Veuillez visiter notre site Web pour les heures d'ouverture.
Cordialement.
Jannerbloke
Plymouth, UK12,409 contributions
Do you use any gluten free communion wafers?
I have heard several Canon's leading the service inform the communicants that gluten free wafers are available.
devo camminare con le stampelle e ho il pass per disabili valido in tutta Europa. vorrei sapere dove posso trovare il parcheggio più vicino alla cattedrale di Canterbury
Spock
Rome, Italy250 contributions
Mi spiace non poterti rispondere con precisione.
La cattedrale rimane in pieno centro storico e, lungo le poche vie di passaggio nelle sue immediate vicinanze, non ho notato grosse aree di parcheggio dedicato.
Comunque, come puoi vedere dalle mappe, a ca. 100 mt. è segnalato il parcheggio di Queningate.
Tuttavia ti suggerirei di inviare una email al municipio di Canterbury per avere informazioni dettagliate.
Buon viaggio.
Linda T
Saffron Walden, UK3 contributions
are dogs allowed in cathedral grounds i saw a dog sign with a dog on a lead and a tick beside it at the entrance to the cathedral today and we plan to visit later in week.
CanterburyCathedral
3 contributions
Dogs (on a lead) are allowed in the Cathedral grounds, but not Cathedral itself (except guide dogs).
We look forward to welcoming you and your dog!
Linda T
Saffron Walden, UK3 contributions
are dogs allowed in the cathedral?
Geraldine S
Billericay, UK34 contributions
No. Unless aide dog.
Canterbury Cathedral
Frequently Asked Questions about Canterbury Cathedral
- Canterbury Cathedral is open:
- Sun - Sun 12:30 PM - 4:00 PM
- Mon - Sat 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
- We recommend booking Canterbury Cathedral tours ahead of time to secure your spot. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. See all 42 Canterbury Cathedral tours on Tripadvisor
- Hotels near Canterbury Cathedral:
- (0.03 mi) Cathedral Gate Hotel
- (0.04 mi) Canterbury Cathedral Lodge
- (0.11 mi) The Thomas Ingoldsby Hotel
- (0.14 mi) Hampton By Hilton Canterbury
- (0.06 mi) The Sun Hotel Canterbury
- Restaurants near Canterbury Cathedral:
- (0.02 mi) Happy Samurai
- (0.02 mi) Burgate Coffee House
- (0.02 mi) Citi Terrace
- (0.03 mi) Mooboo
- (0.03 mi) Wagamama