Visiting the Cathedral

Our visitors are very important to us and we aim to ensure that you have the very best experience possible during your time here.

Opening times

The Cathedral is open daily from 07:30 to 18:00 (17:00 on Saturdays).  Tours are available from 10:00 to 16.30 (14:00 on Saturdays).  Occasionally access may be restricted due to services or special events.

Individual Admission

We are committed to keeping entry to the Cathedral free for all individual casual visitors although donations are always welcome.  Audio guides are available for £1 per head.

We hope you enjoy your visit to Rochester Cathedral.  This ancient and beautiful building has relied on the generosity of its visitors and congregation from its earliest times.  For information please see here.

Group Visits

You can download our Group Visits leaflet here.

We appreciate that often groups are working to tight timetables, so to help you plan your time effectively we have devised a number of ways for you to explore and enjoy the Cathedral.

Group bookings

Although entry is free for the casual visitor the Cathedral can be extremely busy and we are limited in the numbers allowed. Therefore it is essential that groups book in advance to avoid the disappointment of us being unable to accept your group due to Health and Safety reasons.

Fee: £2 per head to cover administration

Guided tours

Our team of trained guides will be able to lead you on a fantastic journey through the Cathedral, imparting interesting anecdotes and information that you could never discover on your own.

Guided tours must be booked in advance, are also available in French and can be tailored to your interests.

Fee: £4 per head / £3 per head for Parish Groups within the Rochester Diocese

Audio guides

A series of specially created audio tours has been created, one for visitors, one for families and a reflective tour, which offers a spiritual exploration of the building.  We also offer descriptive tours for the visually impaired and hand held signed or subtitled tours for those who are hard of hearing.

The general audio tour is available in English, French, German, Mandarin and Spanish.

Fee: SPECIAL OFFER of £1 per head

Special Tours

Fee: £8.00 per head
Minimum number: 10

Pilgrimage Package - We are pleased to be able to offer a special tour for our pilgrims.  A personal welcome to your group by the Canon in residence, the reflective audio tour, cream tea and you can of course join us for Eucharist or Evensong depending on your choice of time and day.

Guided Tour and Cream Tea - Enjoy your very own guided tour followed by a Cream tea.

Bespoke Package - We also offer bespoke tours tailored to your needs, from Benedictine monasticism to Norman architecture, graffiti to memorials and textiles.  The Guild of Embroiderers welcomes visitors, though these times are limited.  Just ask and we will book a tour to suit the interests of your group.

Bookings

If you would like to book a group visit, please print out and fill in the form on our leaflet, or use our web form here.  For more information please contact the Bookings Secretary on (01634) 810073 or click here to send an email.

Accessibility

There is access for wheelchairs through the North door, and by lift from the Nave to the Quire. The Crypt is currently not accessible to wheelchairs. There are WCs for people with disabilities in the Tea Rooms and in the Cathedral (by the South Door).

Cathedral Facilities

Among the many historical, architectural and spiritual wonders the Cathedral holds, there is a small shop (at the welcome desk) stocking a selection of gifts and souvenirs.

The Welcome Desk is situated in the North Transept of the Cathedral and open mostly between 10 am and 4 pm Monday to Saturday and between 12 noon and 4 pm on Sunday, except for occasions when the Cathedral is being used for events or services.  For a comprehensive list of our wide range of souvenirs and gifts please see our gift list.

The Tea Rooms provide excellent food at affordable prices, whilst the Gardens offer a delightful haven of tranquillity.

Photography, Video and Mobile Phones

There is no charge for taking photographs. However, no photography, video or mobile phone recording is allowed during services or rehearsals for services and concerts. We ask that visitors respect this sacred space and turn off their mobile phones during their visit.

Accommodation

You may find either of these websites useful for researching various accommodation options near the Cathedral:

• iKnow Kent
• BedandBreakfasts.co.uk