Canterbury Cathedral, St Augustine's Abbey, and St Martin's Church Historical Site

Address: The Precincts, Canterbury, Kent CT1 2EH, United Kingdom

Website: https://www.canterbury-cathedral.org

Hours: Daily 9am-5pm

Admission: Approximately £12.50-£14 for adults (varies); free to enter for worshippers

The property comprises three linked ecclesiastical sites in Canterbury in southeast England: Canterbury Cathedral, St Augustine’s Abbey and St Martin’s Church, with origins between the 6th and 12th centuries and central importance in the history of Christianity in England.

The cathedral complex includes a large medieval cathedral precinct with a mixture of Norman and Gothic architecture, a nave and choir used for daily worship, medieval crypts and cloistered spaces. The cathedral is especially noted for its extensive stone sculpture, stained glass and the location associated with the martyrdom of Thomas Becket.

St Augustine’s Abbey offers visible archaeological remains of an early monastic foundation established on a landscaped site adjacent to the cathedral precinct. St Martin’s Church preserves Anglo-Saxon fabric and is an example of an early parish church with long continuity of use.

Christian worship at Canterbury began with Augustine’s mission in about 597 AD, when Augustine established a bishopric and monastic community. The cathedral was rebuilt and expanded in the Norman and medieval periods; it became a principal site for the English church and a national pilgrimage destination after the murder of Archbishop Thomas Becket in 1170.

The abbey and church complex evolved over centuries with monastic, episcopal and parish functions, and underwent phases of rebuilding, dissolution and conservation from the medieval period through post-Reformation and modern conservation efforts.

All three sites lie in the centre of Canterbury in Kent, eastern England. Canterbury is about 85-90 km southeast of central London and sits on low chalk hills within a historic urban core defined by the cathedral precinct and the River Stour.

• Ecclesiastical seat: The cathedral is the seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury, the senior bishop of the Church of England and a principal figure in the worldwide Anglican Communion.
• Becket memorials: Thomas Becket was murdered in the cathedral in 1170, and the site became a major medieval pilgrimage destination; vestiges and memorials to Becket remain visible.

What to See#

• Canterbury Cathedral: Located close together within the city of Canterbury, occupying sites across the cathedral precinct and adjacent streets; established parts of the complex date from the 6th to the 12th centuries.
• St Augustine’s Abbey: Founded around 597 AD by Augustine of Canterbury as the principal monastery for the English church; contains archaeological remains and later medieval structures.
• St Martin’s Church: An early Christian parish church in Canterbury with fabric dating to the Anglo-Saxon period and continuous use since the early medieval era.

Canterbury Cathedral is in the centre of Canterbury, Kent. Frequent High Speed rail services run from London St Pancras to Canterbury West (about 55 minutes on the high‑speed service); Canterbury West station is roughly a 15-20 minute walk to the cathedral through the city centre. Other Southeastern services also serve Canterbury East. By car from London follow the M2/A2 eastbound (approximately 60-80 miles, journey time depends on traffic) and park in one of the city centre car parks, then walk to the cathedral.

• Arrive early in the day to avoid mid-morning coach parties that commonly arrive in Canterbury; mornings are best for quieter visits to the cathedral and precincts.
• Allow time to visit the other World Heritage components-St Augustine's Abbey and St Martin's Church are within easy walking distance and provide important historical context many visitors skip.
• Join one of the cathedral's guided tours or attend a choral service if possible; guided visits and services reveal parts of the building and the story of the site that self-guided visits often miss.