One of the most magnificent examples of Gothic cathedrals in the UK, it's well worth visiting for it's beautiful architecture, historical and religious significance, and surrounding local highlights. I won't go into it's background as other reviews have already mentioned, just updating that as of September 2023 admission is £17 for adults, free for children under 17, and local students, and discounted 20% for English Heritage members. Audio tours are £5 to rent, guidebooks are £10 for purchase. Hours are Mon-Sat 9AM to 5PM and Sun 11:30AM to 5PM, with last admissions an hour prior to closing. This is a working church so they have services and special events do check their website before you book. Interesting enough the single ticket is valid for 12 months so you may revisit within the year if you would like, I guess that accounts for the higher price of admission compared to some other cathedrals, maybe also bc there are currently renovations being done to the exterior of one of the main towers. The town of Canterbury has a walkable (about a 15 min walk from edge to edge of city center), pedestrian friendly main thoroughfare with lots of shops and restaurants, if there was one thing I wished coming on a brief day trip to a couple places, was that I got a couple more hours to walk around and explore the town, after spending about 45 minutes inside the cathedral itself. read more

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Very cool hotel in Canterbury Cathedral inside the monastery the room are adequate, but nothing fancy. The location is awesome although a little hard to get to if you're not familiar with the city as it's no car zone. You're able to walk around the cathedral by yourself at night as long as a guests has access to it. read more

This is a great historic site to come visit if you are in the area. The cathedral is massive, an imposing yet beautiful structure with lovely stained glass and stonework around. Plenty of areas to explore, you can also see the site of Thomas Beckett's assassination in 1170. Crazy to think how old this place is! read more

Sometimes you meet someone who goes above and beyond. This week we experienced the later.. with Simon Nichols of the Canterbury Cathedral gift and tour shop. We had booked a walking tour of Canterbury and paid for the tickets at the Canterbury Roman Museum as we were told. Although it turns out they sold us 2 tickets when we requested 1, we were told to meet the tour guide with her lollipop sign at the butter market. At 2pm tour time no tour guide.. a few minutes later Simon came out of the cathedral shop on a break. Although our tour, payment etc. had nothing to do with him he kindly Called the tour provider to learn no tour scheduled. So we went back to the Roman museum and attempted to get a Refund, where there were no apologies and a grudging refund! Won't book there again nor visit the Roman museum. As I walked back to Cathedral Simon kindly asked how it had gone, and kindly shared information of alternative at the cathedral etc. He really turned around our day from a bad experience to something quite magical. Thumbs up to him and Canterbury Cathedral! read more

I realize that Yelp UK is just getting started, but this is a pretty botched listing for one of the most significant sites in Britain. I submitted a request to change the categories, and I added a real photo. Anyway, this was the first cathedral I ever visited, and still remains perhaps my favorite. I prefer it architecturally to Westminster Abbey, but in terms of history it can't compete. Both King Henry IV and Edward the Black Prince of Wales are buried in the cathedral. Henry is the only monarch to be buried here; allegedly he chose the cathedral in an attempt to appear pious amid feelings of guilt over his usurpation of the throne. I really like what they have done with the shrine to Thomas Becket--a simple, modern design with four pieces of metal (iron?) in the shape of a 'T' with a sword to each side. Funny story about our visit: My friend Deez wanted to climb the pulpit and have us take a photo of him. He got about halfway up, but the top was roped off and there were a lot of people around, so he gave it up. A it later, we were near the entrance doors towards the end of our visit when a mighty gust of wind sprang up and blew the doors open FROM THE INSIDE. It was really startling. None of us are religious, but we took it as a sign that our irreverence was no longer welcome, so we skipped out before lightning decided to strike. read more

Canterbury Cathedral - Photo courtesy of Wikipedia - Gift Shops Near Me - Canterbury, KEN

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Canterbury is the seat of the Church of England so a visit to the Cathedral is an absolute MUST! The four reviews before me are descriptive so I wouldn't want to reiterate what has already been said. What I will write is that I agree with them and that you must see it if you are there. As always with all tourist attractions, get there early so that to avoid the crowds and get a less rushed tour with one of the guides. read more

Canterbury Cathedral - Gift Shops Near Me - Canterbury, KEN

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Huge Cathedral that was the scene of the crime in 1170 and where all the bodies are buried. Enter at your own risk. read more

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Visited April 2015: "A must see on your UK Trip" We arrived at Canterbury Cathedral later than planned, ate a lite lunch in the car, but the wait was worth it. There were so many windows with stain glass that I went crazy snapping photos. The atmosphere was different, almost better, then at Westminster Abbey. It was almost serene, and calmer then the Abbey. The people didn't seem to be in a rush, there was no fighting to get into any chapels and they were more conscientious of others. I did not feel comfortable going down into the crypt, but my friend did. She said it was close quarters, and the individuals were placed in tombs or just had headstones. Another thing I liked about this Cathedral was that you were able to take video and photos unlike at Westminster Abbey. read more

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If anyone has ever read The Canterbury Tales, you need to visit here. Two years of British Lit peaked my interest in this historic place so when a friend suggested I help chaperone a study abroad trip here, I jumped at the chance. If you like history, do a little reading up on the history of the place before go and you'll have a better understanding of the importance of the church in the history of Christiandom in England. You can see the location where Thomas Becket was murdered and imagine the crowds of Christians making their pilgrimage to a Christian icon. There's also plenty to do in the surrounding area so you can make a day trip out of visiting the Cathedral and then enjoying the various shops and cafés in the area. Admission also reasonably priced as compared to some of the other religious centers in England. £8 for adults and £7 for groups and concessions, so if you have a student ID, bring it. =) read more

Canterbury Cathedral - Gift Shops Near Me - Canterbury, KEN

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Ah gosh! You know when wishes you don't even know you have get fulfilled? That's what it was like for me to visit the Canterbury cathedral. If someone would have told me in my sophomore year of undergrad when I took a seminar on Chaucer that I would actually one day go and see the Canterbury cathedral for myself, I wouldn't have believed them. But here I am and while we couldn't go in as the cathedral was closed for a private event, I walked up the high street, following the the spires, recalling the first sentence of the Canterbury tales (When April, with his sweet showers, Has pierced the drought of March to the root, And bathed every vein in such a liquid, From the power of which the flower is conceived) from my studies and it was just an amazing moment. Since the cathedral was closed to the general public, I stopped at the gift shop and saw thru postcards and the other merchandise the replicas of the beautiful stained glass windows inside the cathedral. Fell in love with the beautiful image of Archangel Uriel so much, purchased both a postcard as well as a stained glass window decal. This ended up being a very brief visit, so hope to plan better next time and actually go inside into the cathedral! read more

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One of the greatest of all cathedrals in England (other candidates include Gloucester Cathedral, the York Minster, Ely Cathedral and, of course, St.Paul's in London). In its present shape it is a product of almost 800 years of building, demolishing and re-building, starting in 1070 A.D. Remarkably, it doesn't feel like a hodgepodge at all. ;) Not only is the architecture magnificent, but the details (sculptures, gravestones, plates, etc) inside are a joy to behold, too. The cathedral is full of intriguing, even spectacular detail. You can enter through any of the four gates to the large, awesome cathedral grounds, though most likely you will be entering through the city centre gate. This attraction is not free. It's UKP 10.50 for a single adult ticket - and it's totally worth it. The cathedral is open daily from 9.00 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. (5 p.m. in the winter). Arguably, it's the most famous cathedral outside of London, due to its significant (and controversial) history as the place where Bishop Thomas Becket was killed by the king's henchmen. It's so important a historic incident that there's a famous verse play about it, by T.S. Eliot, and an opera based on said play, Murder in the Cathedral, by the Italian composer Ildebrando Pizzetti. Thomas Becket's shrine is also in the cathedral. Expect to spend at least 1.5-2.0 hours at this place. You can walk around the cloister and the gardens when you're finished with the building proper. It's just a magnificent construction, unforgettable even if you're not a religious person (me neither). Guided tours are available and recommended. There's just so much to see that might otherwise escape your attention. See my photos to get an impression of Canterbury Cathedral. read more

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An amazing cathedral. It can be busy so I recommend a late afternoon visit. They must be taking some cues from amusement parks where the exit is through a gift shop. It is an easy day trip from London and definitely worth it. read more

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It's a beautiful cathedral, with lots of history, but not my favorite. It doesn't have the best stained glass and it's not the prettiest in my opinion. The thing that annoyed me most was how much the charge to tour it. £9.50 entrance, plus £4 for an audio guide and another £5 to tour the gardens is just too steep, especially when places like Gloucester Cathedral don't even charge to get in. Also, if the place is listed as a World Heritage site, you'd think there would be some sort of discount for English Heritage members, especially since St. Augustine's Abbey next door is a heritage site. If you're really interested in seeing the spiritual home of the Church of England, then you have to go. If you just want to see a big old church, I'd skip it and go to someplace like Gloucester, or York. read more

Probably one of the better known cathedrals in England, not just because of the Archbishop of Canterbury, but think Chaucer, Black Knight and Thomas Becket. I actually graduated here, and had many a field trip as part of my undergrad. (literally, roll out of bed and I was there-the brilliant life of the undergrad) and the grandeur of it never fails to impress even if I am not religious. If you have an hour or two, spend it exploring the cathedral, peer into the crypt to see all the ghoulies in the walls and pillars. Also definitely take a good look at Henry Chicele's double decker tomb (yes, like the buses!) especially the gruesome grisly reality in the bottom tomb. Pay attention to the stained glass windows, they tell stories of the mad and mental, it's like a medieval Jeremy Kyle show, no joke. Also, feel free to pray in your own language, i quote the priest standing at the lectern, boring his eyes into me. (Apparently I look like a tourist...) Bit unnerving but at least they're welcoming. LOL. I think they're still doing renovations at the moment in the wing where you should see effigies of some pretty magnificent royal plantagenet tombs, so i don't think you can go in yet but once that is done, I highly recommend. My whole undergrad life was spent watching this cathedral in the landscape and peering into its tombs. It definitely has a special place in my heart. read more

Can't go to Canterbury w/o visiting this cathedral! The history is amazing and architecture is stunning. As an American, it's not everyday I see something this OLD. It's surreal to think about this cathedral and Canterbury tales. read more

For religious people and history lovers this will be a great visit. It's a mix of a church and cemetery since there is lot of important persons buried inside. read more

Not unintentionally, you can exit the Cathedral through the gift shop, though it's more like a super-gift shop, given its size and selection. Plenty you can sort through to take with you, including a lovely poster of the Cathedral delineating its architectural history, for just about 5 bob. Stop in on your way out. read more

One of the most beautiful cathedrals I've had the chance to take in on my travels to Europe. The outside is very delicate and well done, with an impressive interior to match. The stained glass inside was one of the highlights for me, and I have quite a few photos of it on top of a postcard! While it should definitely be on your list of places to visit, it's not going to have as much to discuss as some of the larger historical sites in the UK. Yet if you love architecture and/or visiting cathedrals, you'll get quite a bit out of this visit. If I remember correctly, I had to pay for a photo pass here. Granted this was in 2000, but I'd ask before finding your camera in a guard's trash can somewhere... read more

This is a massive cathedral! I'd definitely recommend to anyone interested in art, history, or Catholicism. Unfortunately, the exterior was under renovation while we were there, but it was still really cool. You can walk around all parts of the cathedral including the courtyards and the basement. So many places to see! read more

As someone who is not always into walking around historic churches, this one was pretty good. There were tons of staff members around helping us, the place was HUGE, and they let you know where your 9 pound entry fee was going. There was lots of things too read, but not too much. I might consider taking a tour next time. The gardens and outside areas are beautiful and well managed. I want to move onto the grounds. read more

I'll admit, the only reason I wanted to come was because it was a World Heritage site - I'm very glad my cathedral-loving best friend dragged me here though, because it's a gorgeous piece of architecture and history. It was a really sunny (!!) day too, and the light played off the exterior of the building in a breathtaking way. It's slightly expensive to go in, as a previous reviewer stated, but worth it I think to see the tombs of Henry IV and the Black Prince, St Thomas and all of the gorgeous interior. We were also treated to a Christmas choir from what I think were a local children's group, and the architecture really made their voices resonate throughout the entire space - in a serene, solemn sort of way. Beautiful! We got lost trying to walk to the cathedral from the train station too, so signage could probably be better - though I guess since the cathedral is so imposingly big compared to everything else, we'd have eventually gotten there anyway. The town itself is really cute, but beware the weekends because there will be no place to eat or sit after coming out of the cathedral - it's filled to the brim with tourists! read more

Beautiful building / fascinating history, what else do you want? It's a bit pricey to get in, but I think in the end it was well worth the visit. read more

Just beautiful, steeped in so much history that the guides and assistants were all eager and willing to help explain, and show. So much to see and to do. Amazing if you want to step back in time !! read more

I spent a day alone wondering around Canterbury. I thought that it was absolutely ridiculous to charge £10.50 to get inside the cathedral but decided that having so much history, I couldn't avoid it. Not only I spent that money, I also spent £4 on the audio guide (definitely recommend it!). Everyone inside the cathedral is super friendly and helpful. I was there alone wandering for almost 3 hours (!!!!) and took close to 250 pictures. I'm anything but religious and had such a great time. Really recommend to everyone who visits Canterbury!! read more

One of the most incredible spots I have visited. If you go on Sunday you can attend the church service - and in saying you are there for the service, you can avoid the admission fee. I didn't know that until after I paid - but while I was looking like a vagrant, I did not feel that I was dressed for service. I am not religious, but I do appreciate church architecture and history. This is magnificent on both accounts. If you are visiting the UK, spend some time getting out to Canterbury and seeing the Cathedral. Like Amy S. stated, if you enjoyed The Canterbury Tales, it is definitely "must see', read more

MASSIVE, CLASSY, will fuel your imagination wheather you're familiar with the Canterbury Tales or not!

If you're ever in Kent, the Canterbury Cathedral is a must. University of Kent students get in for free, otherwise it's 6 pounds (regular adult entry). It's probably my most favorite cathedral, the architecture inside the cathedral is impressive as you can see the history actually unfold with it's distinct differences. Might as well take a guided tour as well, what you learn about in the Crypt is amazing. If you keep up with it's events, they usually have various music performances. My favorite was the Christmas Carol service! read more

Canterbury Cathedral is absolutely beautiful, no doubt at all. Unfortunately we arrived late on a Sunday and since there was a service going on, we weren't able to tour the entire space. However, we still enjoyed a nice wander around. I only felt that the experience lent itself to 3 stars because of the large sign stating that they were out of audio guides. It's the sort of venue that without a guide, isn't worth more than perhaps 1/2 hour of wandering. I was very disappointed in this, particularly since there weren't more than a handful of people in the whole place and it seemed unlikely that all the guides were gone. Still, the space is lovely, and we particularly enjoyed the very welcoming feel to the shops that have grown up on the circular streets around the cathedral. Canterbury felt like a fun place to spend a day, and we wished we'd come earlier on to enjoy it properly. read more

Pro Tip: Go on the guided tour. It's 5pounds per person and the best 5pounds you will spend in Canterbury. The guide is super knowledgeable and the tour brings the cathedral to life. Excellent!!! Lasts about 1.5hrs. read more

what a historical place? its got great architecture and its within a great village. I love visiting this place.

Canterbury Cathedral is a beautiful sight, even if just over the buildings in the city. Inside is far more impressive, the stained glass is incredible and the architecture is captivating from your first step indoors. Currently renovation work is taking place on the outside of the cathedral, but even then the scaffolding doesn't take anything away from the sight. The staff indoors are always helpful, offering maps and assistance in a variety of languages. The price, £9 an adult, is pretty extreme, but there is enough things to view in the cathedral to make your visit last a long time, including cloisters and crypts. Unfortunately it will never be good for disabled access, it's just too old. There is a lift in there, but that still wouldn't help if you couldn't walk as there are two or three steps to even enter the building, and there are far too many small rooms off to the side for them all to be accessible. read more

Phenomenal landmark and architecture. try to get a decent guide if you are visiting. some of the gargoules and the intricacy and detail over the main gate are incredible. A very interesting and central part of English history, politics and religion, read the other reviews for a few snippets if your knowledge is rusty or patchy. read more

My Auntie got married here, and what a place to get married. It was very warming and we had a very nice welcome, all the tourists doing a Mexican wave, cheering and taking pictures. We got to walk through the top of the Cathedral, and everyone just stood there staring. The Dean was very friendly so if you visit Canterbury Cathedral and he is there you should definitely speak to him. read more