Pictures of Canterbury Cathedral

a Cathedral in the town of Canterbury, in the county of Kent

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About Canterbury Cathedral

This magnificent cathedral has been a place of pilgrimage for hundreds of years. It was the scene of Thomas a' Becket's murder in 1170, the spot is marked by a plaque, later he was made a Saint, there is a magnificent shrine to him in the Cathedral.

The building is renowned for its fantastic Norman crypt, believed to be the largest in the world; it is also known for its wonderful series of chapel's. The impressive Lady Chapel is quite possibly the best of these, it has fine stone screens - a gift of the Black Prince who wanted the chapel to be his final resting place. The Black Prince's Chantry is an early Norman chapel once used by the Huguenots; it takes its name from alterations made by the Black Prince. Two of the oldest chapels in the cathedral are opposite the north transept, these are dedicated to St.Mary Magdalene and St.Nicholas. St. Gabriel's chapel has Byzantine frescoes dating from the early 1100's in here visitors can see pillars carved with figures and animals. And in the great east crypt is yet another magnificent chapel of our Lady, this has a ceiling decorated with crowns carrying the letter "M".

Originally the cathedral was founded in the year 597, but nothing of these buildings remain. The buildings we see today are the product of early craftsmen following the Conquest. Much of the glory of Canterbury Cathedral rests with two men, William of Sens, who designed the choir and apse after the fire of 1174, and Henry Yevele, who designed the nave in 1374. Late in the 15th-century the central Bell Harry Tower was added.

Superb elaborate monuments can be seen throughout the cathedral, and in Trinity Chapel on the south side visitors can see the magnificent tomb of Edward the Black Prince, son of Edward III, who died in 1376. On the north side lie the bodies of King Henry IV and his wife Joan of Navarre, they rest in a canopied tomb with splendid alabaster effigies.

Historically, Thomas a' Becket is Canterbury Cathedral's most famous Archbishop, but Thomas Cranmer was Archbishop here during the Reformation, it is he that compiled the early Prayer Books for what was to become the established Church of England. During the reign of Mary I when the Catholic religion was restored Cardinal Pole was anointed Archbishop. Of the men who served as Archbishop during the reign of Elizabeth I, the two best known are John Whitgift and Matthew Parker.

Most recently in the 20th-century, the late Pope John Paul, leader of the Roman Catholic Church met with Archbishop John Runcie in 1982 at Canterbury Cathedral. The two men knelt together in silent prayer at the shrine of Thomas a' Becket.

This is an awesome place which is undeniably beautiful, it's rich historic past is illustrated at every turn you make and this applies to the magnificent architecture of the exterior as much as it does to its glorious interior.

To visit Canterbury Cathedral is to part-take of one of life's most rewarding spiritual experiences.
Please see below for other recommended attractions and towns to visit near Canterbury Cathedral.

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Distances and directions shown below are approximate. For true driving distances please visit the AA Route Planner

Recommended attractions near Canterbury Cathedral

Sir John Boy's House (Kings Gallery)	(0.1 miles, 0.2 km)	Pictures
Canterbury Royal Museum & Art Gallery	(0.2 miles, 0.4 km)	Pictures
St Augustine's Abbey	(0.8 miles, 1.3 km)	Pictures
Goodnestone Park Gardens	(7.0 miles, 11.2 km, direction E)	Pictures
Reculver Towers & Roman Fort	(8.2 miles, 13.2 km, direction NE)	Pictures
Crabble Corn Mill	(13.2 miles, 21.2 km, direction SE)	Pictures
Isle of Sheppey	(13.8 miles, 22.2 km, direction NW)	Pictures
The Battle of Britain Memorial	(13.9 miles, 22.4 km, direction SE)	Pictures
The Dover Bronze Age Boat	(15.0 miles, 24.1 km, direction SE)	Pictures
Dover Museum	(15.0 miles, 24.1 km, direction SE)	Pictures

All attractions in Kent
Complete A to Z of attractions in England

Recommended towns near Canterbury Cathedral

Canterbury, in the county of Kent (0.2 miles, 0.3 km)
Canterbury is an exquisite joyous place, it is submerged in history and is considered to be the birthplace of English...
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Chilham, in the county of Kent (5.6 miles, 9.0 km, direction SW)
Chilham is a place of extraordinary serenity, it is both picturesque and pleasant, a lovely place to spend a perfectly peaceful day or a quiet, romantic weekend.
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Aylesham, in the county of Kent (6.5 miles, 10.4 km, direction SE)
The village preserves its history, it has several noted buildings from when it was built and a strong community spirit still prevails. Of interest is the beautiful sculpture dedicated to the men who lived in Aylesham and spent their lives working in the mines.
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Snowdown, in the county of Kent (7.3 miles, 11.7 km, direction SE)
Snowdown was famous for its colliery, it was one of only four collieries in Kent. It opened between 1907 and 1912, with a new town being built at Aylesham to provide home for workers who came largely from the north-east of England and from Wales.
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Faversham, a Historic Market Town in the county of Kent (8.6 miles, 13.8 km, direction W)
There is record of settlements in the area in pre-historic times, it is known that the Romans and the Anglo-Saxons both established villages.
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Barfrestone, in the county of Kent (8.6 miles, 13.9 km, direction SE)
Apart from the church, the village of Barfrestone reveals leafy lanes studded with enchanting cottages.
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Leysdown-on-Sea, in the county of Kent (10.6 miles, 17.0 km, direction NW)
This is a busy Kentish coastal holiday resort which has sandy beaches and safe shallow waters, thus the beach is ideal for sunbathing and to swim from.
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Birchington, in the county of Kent (11.7 miles, 18.7 km, direction NE)
Situated in what is known as 'The Garden of England' on the north Kent coast along which there is a ribbon of lively towns, lovely sands and an azure blue sea.
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Lynsted, in the county of Kent (13.0 miles, 20.9 km, direction W)
A charming, restful place in what is known as cherry-orchard country, and although the cherries are still here, arable farming has taken over much of the land.
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Hythe, in the county of Kent (14.6 miles, 23.5 km, direction S)
This delightful seaside resort is one of the five original Cinque Ports, it can trace its noble history all the way back to AD732 when it was granted a charter by the Saxon King Ethelred.
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All towns in Kent
Complete A to Z of towns in England

Nearby travel help

Canterbury West Station	(0.3 miles, 0.5 km)
Canterbury East Station	(0.7 miles, 1.2 km)
M2 Junction 7	(6.9 miles, 11.1 km, direction W)
M2 Junction 6	(8.3 miles, 13.4 km, direction W)
Lydd Airport	(23.6 miles, 38.0 km, direction S)
London City Airport	(46.7 miles, 75.2 km, direction W)
Canterbury Cathedral to London	(54.5 miles, 87.7 km, direction W)

Accommodation & Hotels near Canterbury Cathedral

Hotel Name
The Millers Arms Inn	(0.1 miles, 0.1 km)
Pilgrims Hotel	(0.2 miles, 0.3 km)
Sun Hotel	(0.2 miles, 0.4 km)
Falstaff Hotel	(0.2 miles, 0.4 km)
Abode Canterbury	(0.3 miles, 0.4 km)
Fusion RBR	(0.3 miles, 0.5 km)
Swallow Chaucer Hotel	(0.5 miles, 0.8 km)
The Victoria Hotel	(0.8 miles, 1.2 km)
Best Western Abbots Barton Hotel	(0.8 miles, 1.4 km)
Ebury Hotel	(0.9 miles, 1.4 km)
All of our hotels are available to book online & with special discounts