Crown and Coronation

Come to Canterbury Cathedral to experience the splendour of Coronations and the Crown Jewels in this amazing new immersive light show. Crown and Coronation will bring the spectacle, significance and shared experience of Coronations to life, demonstrating the pivotal role of the Crown Jewels, part of the Royal Collection, within the ceremony.

The show will feature stunning imagery spanning more than 1,000 years of history, enhanced by the magnificence of Canterbury Cathedral – host to many kings and queens throughout its incredible history - where the projections and soundscape will sweep through the amazing interiors. The Crown Jewels, the objects at the very heart of the Coronation ceremony, will be projected through detailed footage and an emotive musical score, evoking the sensation of having a private audience with the magnificent collection.

Crown and Coronation has been created by Historic Royal Palaces – the charity that cares for the Tower of London - in partnership with Luxmuralis, as part of an artistic collaboration between artist Peter Walker and composer David Harper. Luxmuralis worked with Canterbury Cathedral in September 2023, with the hugely popular Renaissance show.

Crown and Coronation launched in November 2023 with a spectacular installation within the walls of the Tower of London, just months after the world witnessed the Crown Jewels in use at a Coronation for the first time in 70 years. The show is undertaking a UK-wide tour of famous landmarks and locations until December 2025.

The experience involves walking through the Cathedral to view a number of different light and sound projections. Each installation lasts about 5-8 minutes on a continuous loop. The whole experience should last between 45–60 minutes.

This exhibition includes loud sounds, music and moving and flashing images throughout the experience, as well as bright lights and areas of darkness within the Cathedral.

Only bottled water is permitted within the Cathedral and there is strictly no smoking or vaping within the building or the grounds.

Address: Canterbury Cathedral, The Precincts, Canterbury CT1 2EH

Timeslots

Timeslots are in operation for this event to allow a steady flow of people. Admission to the light and sound exhibition will be from the timeslot you have selected. We have provided a door time 15 minutes prior to your time slot. This will allow time for you to join the correct queue prior to your entry time. Audience members who arrive more than 15 minutes before their allocated time slot will not be admitted to the Cathedral grounds – this is to ensure that crowds can be managed and admitted on time.

Please be aware that this is a very popular event and our team will be working hard to admit visitors as punctually as possible, as such we ask that visitors be patient and work with our stewards, so that everybody can enjoy the event.

Accessible Access

We will endeavour to ensure all ticket holders enjoy their experience to the best of our abilities. However, please be aware that the full route is not step-free and includes uneven surfaces. The Cathedral Nave is wheelchair accessible and stewards will be able to guide you to this section when you enter the grounds, if you are unable to traverse the full route.

The first timeslot of each day is reserved for accessible access and will feature a step-free experience solely taking place within the Cathedral Nave.

Refunds

Tickets are non-refundable.

Parking

There is no dedicated parking for this event and car parks in Canterbury will be busy. Blue badge spaces are available within the Cathedral grounds, but these are subject to limited availability and advance booking. We encourage visitors to walk or use public transport where possible. Please leave plenty of time to find parking.

Can I bring my children?

Children under 2 years will be admitted free of charge. However, due to the uneven floor and multiple staircases, pushchairs are not permitted, apart from within the step-free accessible session at 18:00 each night.

Children (ages 2 to 16 years inclusive) shall require their own ticket which shall be at full ticket price.

Children (ages 16 years and under) must be supervised at all times. Supervision of children shall be by not less than 1 adult (aged 18 years or over) per 4 children.

Where will I enter and exit?

Entry will be through the Christ Church Gate, located in the Buttermarket. You will need to show your tickets here to enter the Cathedral grounds and will then be directed to the queue for your relevant timeslot. Tickets will be checked twice to ensure you have the correct timeslot. Exit will be at the Southwest door and through the Cathedral shop.

What do I need to show when I arrive?

When you purchase your places for the event, you will be sent an email confirmation which serves as your ticket. Please bring this with you – either on your phone or as a print out – and show it to Cathedral staff when you arrive. Taking a screenshot means you don’t have to worry about signal when arriving.

Be sure to check the date and time slot of your tickets/email confirmation to ensure you do not attend the wrong session.

Can I arrive earlier or later than my timeslot?

Early entry will not be permitted before your time slot but every effort will be made to allow access if you are running late within the confines of the opening hours of the show. This will depend on capacity and will be at the discretion of the Cathedral.

Can I change the date and time of my ticket?

Ticket dates and times cannot be altered once purchased. Please email [email protected] if you have any questions over this.

Will I have to queue?

Queues are likely for this event but we will do our best to get everyone admitted as close to their time slot as possible. A queue will be in place for the current time slots. When you arrive, please join the relevant queue or as directed by staff.

Please dress for the weather. Due to the architecture of the Cathedral, sensible shoes are also advised.

Do you have toilets?

Yes. These are located in the Cathedral grounds towards the south-east end of the Lodge car park, opposite the War Horse statue.

Are dogs allowed?

Only assistance dogs are permitted within the event.

Can I take photos?

Visitors are welcome to take videos and photos (no flash) of the installation. We would love to see them, you can share by tagging @cburycathedral, @historicroyalpalaces and @luxmuralis on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Thank you for your support, and we look forward to welcoming you. If you have any questions about your booking or the venue, please get in touch at [email protected]  or by calling 01227 865279.