Summer at Winchester, York Minster and Canterbury

This Summer: What will you discover?

Outdoor theatre, open-air cinema, summer organ recitals, creative workshops, tours, new trails, and welcoming worship, Canterbury and Winchester cathedrals and York Minster have announced their summer programmes with a range of activities and entertainment for all ages.

For all events and activities happening at your cathedrals this summer click here.

The summer starts at Winchester Cathedral with a new children’s summer trail where visitors – young and old – can step into history and discover medieval Queens, deep divers, pilgrims, and hidden creatures. There’s “The Secret Garden” outdoor theatre later this month and throughout August children’s summer craft workshops are available for families to get creative with fun and educational hands-on activities with the chance to make a souvenir to take home. There’s story time, too. And throughout August there are tailored tours of Winchester Cathedral designed especially for children and families.

Winchester is also host to the Kings and Scribes Exhibition which takes visitors on a journey through over 1,000 years of history.

Winchester Cathedral warmly welcomes families to join their services, where worship is free for all ages.

York Minster has unveiled its summer programme which includes the cathedral’s Summer Organ Recital series, innovative theatre and classic cinema in the surroundings of Dean’s Park, fascinating exhibitions and fun new trails for children and families to help them explore the medieval Minster.

Summer visitors to the York Minster Precinct will also be able to experience two new welcoming, green spaces both with wonderful views of the cathedral: a newly revamped and replanted College Green and Minster Gardens, a peaceful new garden oasis next door to the York Minster Refectory.

These green spaces have been planted with trees, shrubs, flowers, grass and wildflower turf all specially selected to provide colour and scent all summer long. Perfect for wildlife and pollinators, picnics and a peaceful escape from the heat and bustle of the city.

York Minster’s full summer includes exhibitions like Majesty: Monarchy & York Minster that explores the cathedral’s centuries-old relationship with the monarchy in celebration of the Coronation of King Charles III. New childrens trails like Maths Quest and Light Quest and there are Little Explorers backpacks to pick up at the welcoming desk.

The summer organ recitals start on 20 July and run every Thursday evening til 24 August with world-class visiting organists alongside York Minster’s own accomplished musicians.

More details here.

Canterbury Cathedral has special services, tours and talks, unique exhibitions, music concerts and visitor events this summer with a wide range of tours including garden tours, stain-glassed tours and graffiti tours.

More information here.