Bedsearcher's Guide to Canterbury Cathedral

Canterbury Cathedral

The first Archbishop of Canterbury was St Augustine who arrived on the coast of Kent as a missionary to England in 597 AD. He was sent, from Rome, by Pope Gregory the Great. Ever since the murder of Archbishop Thomas Becket in the Cathedral in 1170, Canterbury has attracted thousands of pilgrims and the tradition continues to this day with a large team of Welcomers, Guides, Cathedral Assistants and Chaplains on hand to give all visitors a warm welcome. Every day Morning Prayer is said and Evening Prayer is sung. The Eucharist is also offered daily and on Sundays the Sung Eucharist is at 11am. Canterbury Cathedral has a tradition of welcome that reaches back to the days of medieval pilgrimages and this is not only fully maintained today, but has been developed to meet the needs of modern tourists.

Hotels near Canterbury Cathedral

There are many hotels near Canterbury Cathedral which can be booked online through Bedsearcher. The Canterbury Cathedral hotels vary in price and quality, ranging from unrated but still pleasant budget Canterbury Cathedral UK hotels to five star luxury Canterbury Cathedral UK hotels. Canterbury Cathedral hotels leave you excellently placed for a day at Canterbury Cathedral and where you can really explore the area. Canterbury Cathedral UK hotels can be found often within walking distance of Canterbury Cathedral and hotels a little further away from Canterbury Cathedral are ideal as a base for touring the entire area. Many Canterbury Cathedrals hotels offer parking and a range of other facilities, including many Canterbury Cathedral hotels with leisure facilities, ensuite rooms, babysitting services and restaurants. There are many cheap and expensive hotels near Canterbury Cathedral and these are ideal for a relaxing retreat or an overnight stay before or after visiting Canterbury Cathedral. Booking in advance is advisable in many Canterbury Cathedral UK hotels as they are very popular due to their proximity to Canterbury Cathedral although some hotels near Canterbury Cathedral will have spaces if you're visiting during the quiet season. There are many hotels near Canterbury Cathedral and many of these can be booked directly through Bedsearcher.

How to get to Canterbury Cathedral

Canterbury Cathedral is in the centre of the historic city of Kent. By road on the M2 or M20 follow the signs for the A2 to Canterbury. By rail take one of the direct services on offer from London Victoria or Dover Priory to Canterbury East Station.

Opening Times

Canterbury Cathedral is open from Easter to the 30th September from 9am until 6.30pm and from the 1st October to Easter from 9am until 5pm. The cathedral is also open between 12.30pm and 2.30pm and 4.30pm and 5.30pm throughout the year. Please note that access for general visiting may be restricted during regular and special service times

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