Arrive on a weekday morning around 10am. Early entry provides quiet access to the ancient sanctuary before group walking tours arrive, allowing you to view the Roman brickwork in peaceful natural light.
St Martin's Church tickets
Quick overview
- Access: Included in all Canterbury tour tickets
- Separate ticket: Not required
- When you'll see it: Final stop on the historic UNESCO World Heritage walking route
- Visit duration: 20–30 mins self-guided/30–45 mins with guide
- Best time: Weekday mornings before 11:30am
- Restrictions: Active place of worship; photography restricted during services
How to access St. Martin's Church?
St. Martin's Church is included with all Canterbury day tour tickets, and no separate ticket is required for admission. Located just outside the historic city walls along North Holmes Road, it marks the outer anchor of Canterbury's UNESCO World Heritage precinct. Book an all-inclusive day trip from London to guarantee seamless transport, entry access, and expert historical context throughout your visit.
How to best experience St. Martin's Church
Best time to visit
How long to spend
Allow 20 to 30 minutes for a self-guided walkthrough, or 30 to 45 minutes with a guide. Take time to inspect the Roman tiles reused in the nave walls and read the gravestone inscriptions in the churchyard.
Where it fits in your itinerary
Position this visit after touring Canterbury Cathedral and St Augustine's Abbey. Walking chronologically from the city centre out to St. Martin's mirrors the historical spread of early English Christianity.
Crowd patterns
Foot traffic peaks between 1pm and 3pm, especially when regional tour buses arrive. Midday visits mean navigating tight aisles inside the nave; visiting early or late in the afternoon avoids crowded spaces.
What to prioritise if time is short
Focus immediately on the 6th-century chancel walls featuring reused Roman bricks, the ancient tub font traditionally linked to King Æthelberht's baptism, and the views back toward Canterbury Cathedral from the churchyard.
Common mistakes to avoid
Assuming St. Martin's is located inside the Cathedral precinct. It sits a 10-to-15-minute walk east of the city walls, so factor in travel time to avoid rushing before closing.
Why it's worth seeing
St. Martin's Church holds the official title of the oldest church in continuous use in the English-speaking world. Most visitors arrive expecting a massive medieval structure like Canterbury Cathedral, but its true significance lies in its small scale and ancient fabric: 4th-century Roman bricks are directly embedded in the chancel masonry.
The Roman Wall foundations
Look closely at the south wall of the chancel to spot red Roman roofing tiles (tegulae) reused by 6th-century builders. This masonry marks the original structure used as Queen Bertha's private chapel before Saint Augustine arrived in 597 AD.
The ancient stone font
Situated in the nave, this historic stone font features intricate Norman carving over an earlier Anglo-Saxon circular rim. Local tradition links this location to the baptism of King Æthelberht of Kent.
The historic churchyard
A tranquil, elevated graveyard surrounding the building that contains centuries of Kentish burials, including the grave of artist Thomas Sidney Cooper, alongside views back toward the central spire of Canterbury Cathedral.
Historical & cultural significance
Founded prior to Saint Augustine’s arrival in 597 AD, the Church of St Martin initially served as the private chapel of the Christian Queen Bertha of Kent. Built using structural remains from Roman Britain, it became the headquarters for Augustine's mission, establishing Christianity across Anglo-Saxon England. Today, as part of a collective UNESCO World Heritage Site alongside Canterbury Cathedral and St Augustine's Abbey, it continues its 1,400-year legacy as an active parish church.
Notable figures
Queen Bertha of Kent
Frankish Christian princess whose presence established St Martin's as a Christian sanctuary prior to 597 AD.
Saint Augustine of Canterbury
Missionary who used St. Martin's as his initial base to convert the Kingdom of Kent to Christianity.
King Æthelberht of Kent
Anglo-Saxon king baptized by Augustine, establishing Canterbury as the spiritual heart of Anglo-Saxon England.
Know before you go
- Open Tuesday to Sunday: 11am – 3pm (Hours may vary seasonally)
- Sunday service hours take precedence over tourist visits
- Last entry: 15 minutes before closing
- Closed to tourists on major religious holidays and during private church services
- Address: North Holmes Road, Canterbury, Kent CT1 1PW, United Kingdom
- Located approximately 0.5 miles east of Canterbury city center (10–15 minute walk from the Cathedral Gate)
- Accessible via local bus routes stopping at Canterbury Christ Church University campus nearby
- Pedestrian access via a sloping paved path through the churchyard gates
- Main pathway through the churchyard involves a gentle uphill gradient
- Step-free entrance via a dedicated ramp into the nave
- The internal floor area is generally flat, though some aisles are narrow
- Accessible parking spaces are available on North Holmes Road by prior request
- Active parish church; silence and respectful decorum are required at all times
- Flash photography is prohibited inside the sanctuary; photography is banned during services
- Food, drinks, and smoking are strictly forbidden within the church building and grounds
- Dogs are permitted in the outdoor churchyard on leads, but service animals only inside
Frequently asked questions about St. Martin's Church
Yes. Access to St. Martin's Church is included in standard Canterbury heritage day trips and walking tours with no extra entrance fee required.
No. St. Martin's Church does not issue separate standalone entry passes; it is free to access as part of your Canterbury itinerary.
Yes. Independent travellers can visit the church during public opening hours, though booking a tour provides round-trip transport from London and historic context.
It is typically visited as the final historical stop, located a 10-to-15-minute walk outside the medieval city walls beyond St Augustine's Abbey.
Plan to spend 20 to 30 minutes. The building is compact, allowing ample time to view the Roman brickwork, font, and churchyard.
While there is no strict enforced dress code, modest casual attire suitable for an active place of worship is requested.
Commercial photography and flash photography are prohibited inside the church. Personal non-flash photos are permitted when services are not taking place.
Yes. A ramped entrance provides step-free access into the main nave, though the surrounding historic churchyard contains some uneven gravel paths and slopes.
