Cathedrals · South East England
Canterbury Cathedral
Also known as: Ardeaglais Canterbury
In or near Canterbury.
Canterbury Cathedral is the cathedral of the archbishop of Canterbury, the spiritual leader of the Church of England and symbolic leader of the worldwide Anglican Communion. Located in Canterbury, Ken
Peter Trimming — CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons licence
Plan your visit
- Typical visit
- 1 h–2 h
- Best time of year
- Year-round
- Nearest railway station
- Canterbury West · 0.7 km
- Paid entry
- Family-friendly
- Wheelchair accessible
Getting there & planning your visit
To visit Canterbury Cathedral, the nearest railway station is Canterbury West, located 0.7 km away. The postcode for sat-nav is CT1 2EP. The cathedral is wheelchair accessible.
About
Canterbury Cathedral is the cathedral of the archbishop of Canterbury, the spiritual leader of the Church of England and symbolic leader of the worldwide Anglican Communion. Located in Canterbury, Kent, it is on the site of one of the oldest Christian structures in England and forms part of a World Heritage Site. Its formal title is the Cathedral and Metropolitical Church of Christ, Canterbury. The cathedral was founded in 597 but was completely rebuilt between 1070 and 1077. The east end was greatly enlarged at the beginning of the 12th century, and largely rebuilt in the Gothic style following a fire in 1174, with significant eastward extensions to accommodate the flow of pilgrims visiting the shrine of Thomas Becket, the archbishop who was murdered in the cathedral in 1170. The Norman nave and transepts survived until the late 14th century, when they were demolished to make way for the present structures. Before the English Reformation, the cathedral was part of a Benedictine monastic community known as the Priory of Christ Church, Canterbury, as well as being the seat of the archbishop.
Photo gallery
360° view
Imagery © Mapillary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0
Official information
Canterbury Cathedral is a historic site with over 1,400 years of stories, making it a significant part of England's heritage. Visitors can explore its stunning architecture, including stained glass and carved tombs, and participate in various events and worship services.
Protected designations
- Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty: Kent Downs
Designations sourced from Natural England open data under OGL v3.
From the Wikipedia article
Canterbury Cathedral is the cathedral of the archbishop of Canterbury, the spiritual leader of the Church of England and symbolic leader of the worldwide Anglican Communion. Located in Canterbury, Kent, it is on the site of one of the oldest Christian structures in England and forms part of a World Heritage Site. Its formal title is the Cathedral and Metropolitical Church of Christ, Canterbury. The cathedral was founded in 597 but was completely rebuilt between 1070 and 1077. The east end was greatly enlarged at the beginning of the 12th century, and largely rebuilt in the Gothic style following a fire in 1174, with significant eastward extensions to accommodate the flow of pilgrims visiting the shrine of Thomas Becket, the archbishop who was murdered in the cathedral in 1170. The Norman nave and transepts survived until the late 14th century, when they were demolished to make way for the present structures. Before the English Reformation, the cathedral was part of a Benedictine monastic community known as the Priory of Christ Church, Canterbury, as well as being the seat of the archbishop.
Excerpt from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0. See the source article linked in Sources below.
Background
History
The Foundation is the authorised staffing establishment of the cathedral, few of whom are clergy. The head of the cathedral is the Dean, currently David Monteith, who is assisted by a chapter of 30 canons, four of whom are residentiary, the others being honorary appointments of senior clergy in the diocese. There are also a number of lay canons who all together form the greater chapter which has the legal responsibility both for the cathedral itself and also for the formal election of an archbishop when there is a vacancy-in-see. By English law and custom, they may only elect the person who has been nominated by the monarch on the advice of the prime minister. The Foundation also includes…
Sourced from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Coordinates
- 51.2797, 1.0831
- County
- Kent
- District
- Canterbury
- Parish
- Canterbury, unparished area
- Postcode
- CT1 2EP
- Parliamentary constituency
- Canterbury
- Established
- 1834
- Nearest railway station
- Canterbury West — 0.7 km
- Official site
- www.canterbury-cathedral.org
Sources
- wikipedia: Canterbury Cathedral (CC BY-SA 4.0)
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Other places nearby
Canterbury Cathedral, St Augustine's Abbey, and St Martin's Church
UNESCO World Heritage · 0.0 km
Trinity Chapel
Chapels · 0.0 km
Lavatory Tower
Memorials & monuments · 0.0 km
Prior's Chapel
Chapels · 0.1 km
The Canterbury War Horse
Public art & sculpture · 0.1 km
Canterbury Cathedral Lodge
Hotels · 0.1 km
The Buffs
Memorials & monuments · 0.1 km
Mooboo
Cafés · 0.1 km
Burgate Coffee House
Cafés · 0.1 km
The tower od St Mary Magdalen Butgate
Memorials & monuments · 0.1 km
Cathedral Gate Hotel
Hotels · 0.1 km
Tower of St Magdalene's Church
Historic churches · 0.1 km
Nearby
📷 10UNESCO World Heritage · South East England
Canterbury Cathedral, St Augustine's Abbey, and St Martin's Church
Canterbury Cathedral, St Augustine's Abbey, and St Martin's Church — World Heritage site in Canterbury, Kent, England, UK.
★ Iconic📷 5Chapels · South East England
Trinity Chapel
Trinity Chapel — East end of Canterbury Cathedral.
📷 5Memorials & monuments · South East England
Lavatory Tower
Lavatory Tower — Grade I listed building-listed memorial in england-south-east, United Kingdom.
📷 5Chapels · South East England
Prior's Chapel
Prior's Chapel — Grade I listed chapel in Canterbury, Kent, England, UK.
📷 5Public art & sculpture · South East England
The Canterbury War Horse
The Canterbury War Horse — a public art in england-south-east, United Kingdom.
📷 5Hotels · South East England
Canterbury Cathedral Lodge
Canterbury Cathedral Lodge — a hotel in england south east.
Where to eat & stay near Canterbury Cathedral
Places to stay
📷 5Hotels · South East England
Canterbury Cathedral Lodge
Canterbury Cathedral Lodge — a hotel in england south east.
📷 5Hotels · South East England
Cathedral Gate Hotel
Cathedral Gate Hotel — a hotel in england south east.
📷 7Hotels · South East England
The Thomas Ingoldsby
The Thomas Ingoldsby — a hotel in england south east.
📷 5Hotels · South East England
Hampton by Hilton Canterbury
Hampton by Hilton Canterbury — a hotel in england south east. 3-star. Brand: Hampton.
📷 5Hotels · South East England
The Pilgrims Hotel
The Pilgrims Hotel — a hotel in england south east.
📷 5B&Bs · South East England
The White House
The White House — a bed-and-breakfast in england south east.
Places to eat & drink
📷 5📷 5Cafés · South East England
Burgate Coffee House
Burgate Coffee House — a café in england south east.
📷 5Restaurants · South East England
Happy Samurai
Happy Samurai — a restaurant in england south east.
📷 5Cafés · South East England
Cafe Chambers
Cafe Chambers — a café in england south east.
📷 5📷 5Cafés · South East England
The Moat Tea Rooms
The Moat Tea Rooms — a café in england south east.
More cathedrals in this region
📷 5Cathedrals · South East England
Old Minster
Old Minster — former Anglo-Saxon cathedral for the diocese of Wessex.
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Old Sarum Cathedral
Old Sarum Cathedral — Grade I listed former cathedral in Salisbury, Wiltshire, England, UK.
📷 5
📷 5Cathedrals · South East England
Robertsbridge Abbey
Robertsbridge Abbey is a cathedral in the United Kingdom.
Frequently asked questions
- Where is Canterbury Cathedral?
- Canterbury Cathedral is in Kent, South-East England, United Kingdom (postcode CT1 2EP), in the parish of Canterbury, unparished area.
- What is Canterbury Cathedral?
- Canterbury Cathedral is the cathedral of the archbishop of Canterbury, the spiritual leader of the Church of England and symbolic leader of the worldwide Anglican Communion. Located in Canterbury, Ken
- How do I get to Canterbury Cathedral?
- The nearest railway station is Canterbury West, about 0.7 km away. Drivers can use postcode CT1 2EP.
- When was Canterbury Cathedral built?
- Built or established in 1834.
- Is Canterbury Cathedral a protected site?
- Yes — Canterbury Cathedral is part of the Kent Downs National Landscape (AONB).
- How do I get to Canterbury Cathedral?
- The nearest railway station is Canterbury West, about 0.7 km away. Drivers can navigate to postcode CT1 2EP.