The present paper describes the results from experimental and theoretical modelling studies on the behaviour of continuous carbon-fibre/polymer matrix composites subjected to a relatively low-velocity or high-velocity impact, using a rigid, metallic impact or. Drop-weight and gas-gun tests are employed to undertake the low-velocity and high-velocity impact experiments, respectively. The carbon-fibre composites are based upon a thermoplastic poly(ether-ether ketone)matrix (termed CF/PEEK) or a thermoset toughened-epoxy matrix (termed CF/Epoxy), which have the same fibre architecture of a cross-ply [03/903]2slay-up. The studies clearly reveal that the CF/PEEK composites exhibit the better impact performance. Also,at the same impact energy of 10.5±0.3J, the relatively high-velocity test at 54.4±1.0m.s-1 leads to more damage in both types of composite than observed from the low-velocity test where the impact or struck the composites at 2.56 m.s-1.The computationally-efficient,two-dimensional, elastic, finite-element model that has been developed is generally successful in capturing the essential details of the impact test and the impact damage in the composites, and has been used to predict the loading response of the composites under impact loading.