Booking choice: Leeds Castle, Canterbury and Dover, from $141 per person. Check dates Compare the options below
Canterbury Cathedral is the mother church of the Anglican Communion, the place where Archbishop Thomas Becket was murdered in 1170, and part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site together with St Augustine's Abbey and St Martin's Church.
Most day trips give you about two hours in Canterbury, and on the lower-priced tours the cathedral ticket is yours to buy.
The quick answer
Adult entry in 2026 is £18 (October to March), £19.50 (April to September) or £21 (July and August weekends); children 17 and under go free with a paying adult. Sightseeing hours are 10 AM to 5 PM Monday to Saturday, with last entry at 4 PM; on Sundays the church opens to visitors at 12:30 PM.
How much is a Canterbury Cathedral ticket in 2026?
£18 per adult from October to March, £19.50 from April to September and £21 on July and August weekends.
| Season | Adult | Children (17 and under) |
|---|---|---|
| October to March | £18.00 | Free with a paying adult |
| April to September (not July and August weekends) | £19.50 | Free with a paying adult |
| July and August weekends | £21.00 | Free with a paying adult |
Prefer it organised? Evan Evans offers cathedral entry and a guided tour as a booking option.
Check dates for Leeds Castle, Canterbury and DoverIs the cathedral ticket valid for more than one day?
Yes: the cathedral sells it as an annual pass, valid for a year from booking, so you can come back as often as you like.
Attending a service of worship is always free, and so is coming in to pray in one of the chapels; sightseeing needs a ticket.
What are the opening hours?
Monday to Saturday 10 AM to 5 PM, last admission 4 PM; Sunday 11:30 AM to 5 PM, with the church itself open to visitors from 12:30 PM.
On Sundays, between 11:30 AM and 12:30 PM only the grounds and shop are open to visitors. If your tour reaches Canterbury on a Sunday morning, plan the old town first and the cathedral afterwards.
Which tours include cathedral entry?
Anderson, Evan Evans and Golden Tours include it only if you select the option with entry; Day Tours London, Go Tours UK and The English Bus leave it to you.
You can pay at the Visitor Centre on the day or book online for fast-track entry. Want a guide inside? The Evan Evans option adds a guided tour of the cathedral.
Want a guide inside? Evan Evans adds a guided cathedral tour as a booking option, plus Leeds Castle entry.
Explore Leeds Castle, Canterbury and DoverHow long do you need inside?
About an hour covers the nave, the place of Becket's martyrdom, the quire and the crypt at a steady pace.
With two hours in Canterbury, that leaves about an hour for lunch and the old town. Rather wander the lanes and the River Stour? Skip the interior and see the outside from the precincts.
What is there to see?
The Gothic nave, the spot where Becket was killed, the quire, the crypt, centuries of stained glass and the cloisters.
Becket's murder by four of Henry II's knights in 1170 turned the cathedral into one of medieval Europe's great pilgrimage sites, the destination of the travellers in Chaucer's Canterbury Tales.
What if you are already in Canterbury?
Take a 90-minute walking tour with a qualified city guide; it enters the cathedral precincts through Christ Church Gate.
The Canterbury Highlights walking tour meets in the Buttermarket outside the cathedral gate and costs about $22. Entry to attractions, including the cathedral itself, is extra.
Staying in Canterbury? Check dates for the 90-minute highlights walk.
Check dates for the Canterbury walking tourFrequently asked questions
Is Canterbury Cathedral free?
Not for sightseeing: adults pay £18 to £21. Children 17 and under go free with a paying adult, and services are free to attend.
Can you buy tickets on the day?
Yes, at the cathedral's Visitor Centre. Booking online in advance gives fast-track entry.
Is Canterbury Cathedral open on Sundays?
Yes, from 11:30 AM for the grounds and 12:30 PM for the church, until 5 PM.
Is the cathedral wheelchair accessible?
Mostly. A lift by the Dean's Steps gives step-free access to the quire and a ramp leads into the crypt; the Trinity Chapel is the only area wheelchair users cannot reach, says the cathedral. The Visitor Centre lends wheelchairs free. The day trips themselves are not wheelchair accessible.
Ready to book
Choose your day
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before on every option. Prices are from-prices in USD and move with the season.
Leeds Castle, Canterbury & Dover Day Trip
- Leeds Castle entry, about 1.5 hours
- Canterbury Cathedral entry and guided tour if you select that option
- About 20 minutes at the White Cliffs; Dover Castle seen from the coach
White Cliffs of Dover & Canterbury Day Trip
- Coach from Blackfriars, central London (departs 7:30 AM)
- About 2 hours at the White Cliffs on the cliff-top path
- About 2 hours in Canterbury, with a walking tour of the old town
Canterbury Highlights Walking Tour
A 90-minute walk with a qualified city guide
