Canterbury Cathedral

Thomas Becket was murdered here on December 29, 1170 – killed by four knights who took Henry II’s frustrated outburst (“will no one rid me of this turbulent priest?”) more literally than the king intended, or later claimed to intend. Within three years the Pope had canonised Becket, Henry had done public penance at the tomb, and Canterbury had become one of the most important pilgrimage destinations in medieval Europe. Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales were written to entertain pilgrims on the road here in the 1380s. The cult generated extraordinary wealth for the cathedral and shaped the physical fabric of southern England for three centuries – until Henry VIII dissolved the monasteries, destroyed Becket’s shrine, and ordered his name removed from all service books. The crown managed to posthumously excommunicate a 400-year-old saint. The irony is that Thomas won: the pilgrimage traffic still comes.

Canterbury Cathedral is the Mother Church of the Anglican Communion, originally founded by Saint Augustine in 597 CE. The building spans architectural styles from Norman foundations to Early English lancet windows to the magnificent Perpendicular Gothic nave – each century adding its layer to the last.

Visiting

Admission in 2026 is 18 pounds for adults October through March, 19.50 pounds April through September, and 21 pounds for weekends in July and August. Under-17s enter free with a paying adult; local university students enter free. The ticket is valid for 365 days from purchase, meaning a second visit costs nothing – which genuinely rewards returning once you know what you are looking at. Guided tours run at 10:30am, 12pm, and 2:30pm Tuesday through Saturday, 5 pounds extra. Attending a service of worship is always free; evensong is typically at 5:30pm on weekdays, and the cathedral choir is one of the best in England.

What to See

The Quire is the operational heart, with 14th-century choir stalls and stained glass windows that survived both the Reformation and the Second World War bombing that destroyed much of central Canterbury in 1942. The Corona Chapel at the far east end was built specifically to house a relic of Becket’s skull and is the architectural endpoint of the medieval pilgrimage – the room that the whole building was organised around.

The Crypt below the main floor is the oldest surviving part of the building and contains some of the finest Romanesque stone carving in England. Low-vaulted, cool, and far less visited than the spaces above, it repays time on its own terms.

The Great Cloister provides quiet proportions and less visitor flow than the nave.

Canterbury Beyond the Cathedral

St Martin’s Church, a short walk east of the cathedral walls, is believed to be the oldest continuously used church in England; parts of the building date to the Roman period. It is less visited than the cathedral but by some measures more historically significant. The Roman Museum sits beneath current street level, preserving a wealthy Roman townhouse with original mosaic floors – Canterbury was Durovernum Cantiacorum, a major Roman settlement. The medieval city walls survive in substantial sections and the Westgate Towers (the largest surviving medieval gatehouse in England) contain a small museum.

Where to Eat

The Goods Shed, a short walk from the cathedral in the former Victorian railway goods shed, is a daily farmers market and food hall with vendors selling cheese, charcuterie, and hot food. Genuinely local, not tourist-facing. Go for lunch. Cafe Alfresco near the cathedral grounds is more convenient and more tourist-facing; adequate food with cathedral views.

Staying

The Falstaff Hotel near the Westgate has more character than the chain hotels dominating the centre. For a visit focused on the cathedral and the medieval city, staying within the walls is worth the premium over out-of-town options.

Getting There

Canterbury is 62 miles southeast of London; trains from London St Pancras or Charing Cross take 55-90 minutes. Canterbury makes a satisfying day trip from London, though a night gives you evensong and the cathedral in early morning without the day-trip crowds.