Visitors will be able to explore parts of Canterbury Cathedral’s Precincts for free during a trial period to test such a scheme’s “financial viability”.

It has been announced sections of the popular landmark’s grounds will be open from 9am to 9pm daily and won’t cost to enter for six weeks.

Sightseers currently have to buy a ticket to enter both the precincts and Cathedral during opening hours.

The standard entry fee is £17 – with children aged 17 and under allowed in for free with a full-paying adult. University students are also granted free entry.

However, between January 29 and March 10, visitors will only need to pay to enter the main Cathedral building and the north side of the precincts, which include the cloisters, herb garden and Chapter House.

The south side, the Memorial Garden, the Dark Entry, and Green Court will be free during the trial.

The historical site draws more than a million visitors a year and is seen as a unique place of worship and globally significant.

Officials say they want the landmark to be “accessible to everyone” but the site’s running costs are high.

The Cathedral’s website says: “As stewards of this special place, we want as many people as possible to enjoy it.

“However, the financial reality is that it costs nearly £30,000 per day to keep the Cathedral open to all, and we typically receive no funding from government or the Church of England.

“This is why we introduced admission charges for sightseers. Income from sightseers is our principal source of revenue, and the Cathedral simply couldn’t survive without it.

“Our six-week Free Precincts Trial is intended to test the feasibility of balancing free access to large parts of the Cathedral estate with our need to attract paying visitors in order to cover the substantial costs of running and maintaining this unique site and community.”

At the end of 2022, it was revealed that city residents would need to pay to enter for the first time ever.

Officials previously said the complementary “Precincts Pass” granting free access for those living or working nearby was no longer sustainable.

It is still free to attend a service of worship or to come in to pray.