A cathedral that has drawn pilgrims for a thousand years, a medieval city wall and river tours through the old streets: Canterbury is Kent’s historic heart.
Canterbury is one of the most important places in the history of English Christianity. In 597, a monk called Augustine arrived here, sent by the Pope to bring Christianity to the Anglo-Saxons, and he founded a cathedral and an abbey in the city. Ever since, Canterbury has been the seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury, the leader of the Church of England.
It became one of the great pilgrimage sites of Europe after the murder of Archbishop Thomas Becket in 1170, and Geoffrey Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales made the journey famous. Today its narrow medieval streets, timber framed houses and city walls make it one of the most atmospheric cities in England. This guide covers six things to see, with tips for the best visit.
1. Canterbury Cathedral
Canterbury Cathedral is the mother church of the Anglican Communion, and one of the oldest and most famous Christian buildings in England. A cathedral has stood on this site since Augustine founded one in 597. The building you see today was begun after the Norman Conquest and rebuilt and extended over the following centuries, blending Romanesque and Gothic styles.
The cathedral’s most famous story is the murder of Thomas Becket. In December 1170, four knights, believing they were acting on the wishes of King Henry II, killed the archbishop inside the cathedral. Becket was made a saint, and his shrine drew pilgrims from all over Europe until it was destroyed on the orders of Henry VIII in 1538.
Today a single candle burns where the shrine once stood, and a striking modern sculpture marks the spot where Becket was killed. Look out for the tomb of Edward, the Black Prince, with his armour hanging above it, and for the medieval stained glass windows, some of the oldest in the country. The crypt, with its carved Romanesque columns, is one of the most peaceful places in the building.
The cathedral is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, together with St Augustine’s Abbey and St Martin’s Church. There is a charge to visit, except for services, and it is worth staying for Evensong, sung by the cathedral choir. Guided tours and audio guides bring the stories to life. Allow at least two hours.
2. St Augustine’s Abbey and St Martin’s Church
St Augustine’s Abbey, just outside the city walls, was founded by Augustine soon after he arrived in 597. It became one of the most important monasteries in England, and the burial place of the early Anglo-Saxon kings of Kent and the first archbishops. After Henry VIII closed the monasteries in the 1530s, much of it was destroyed.
Today the ruins are looked after by English Heritage. You can walk among the foundations of the great church and the monks’ buildings, and a museum tells the story of the abbey with objects found on the site. It is a quiet, reflective place, far less busy than the cathedral.
A short walk further on is St Martin’s Church, the oldest church in England still in use, and the oldest in the English speaking world. Parts of it date back to Roman times. Before Augustine arrived, Queen Bertha, the Christian wife of the Anglo-Saxon King Ethelbert, worshipped here.
St Martin’s is a small, simple church, but its age and story make it very moving. It is usually open at certain times of the week, so check before you visit. Together, the cathedral, the abbey and the church tell the story of how Christianity returned to England.
3. The city walls and the Westgate
Canterbury’s city walls were first built by the Romans and rebuilt in the Middle Ages. More than half of the medieval circuit survives, making them among the most complete city walls in England. You can walk along a long stretch of them, looking down on the city and its gardens.
The Westgate, at the western end of the old city, is the largest surviving medieval city gate in England. It was built in the late fourteenth century and served as a prison for many years. Today it houses a small museum, and you can climb to the roof for views over the city.
Next to the Westgate are the Westgate Gardens, lovely public gardens beside the river, with a huge old plane tree and colourful flower beds. They are a lovely place to rest.
On the other side of the city, the Dane John Garden has a tall mound, which may be a Roman burial mound, with views over the walls. The gardens are free and open to all. Walking the walls is a good way to get your bearings in the city.
4. River tours on the Stour
The River Stour runs through the middle of Canterbury, and a short boat trip along it is one of the most relaxing ways to see the city. Boats leave from several points in the centre, rowed or punted by guides who tell stories about the buildings along the way. Trips usually last around half an hour to forty five minutes.
You glide past gardens, old houses and medieval buildings, and under low bridges that you have to duck beneath. One of the most famous sights is the Weavers’ Houses, a row of timber framed buildings where Protestant weavers from France and the Low Countries settled in the sixteenth century. A ducking stool, once used to punish people, still hangs above the water.
The river trips are gentle and suitable for all ages, and they give a view of the city that you cannot get from the streets. Guides are full of local knowledge and good humour.
The boats run mostly in the warmer months, and it is best to book on the day at the landing stages. Bring something warm, as it can be cool on the water even in summer. It makes a lovely end to a day of sightseeing.
5. The Canterbury Tales and the Beaney
Geoffrey Chaucer wrote The Canterbury Tales in the late fourteenth century, telling the stories of a group of pilgrims travelling from London to Becket’s shrine. The book is one of the great works of English literature. Canterbury leans happily into the story.
The Canterbury Tales attraction, in a former church in the city centre, recreates the pilgrims’ journey with costumed guides, sets and sounds. It is fun and full of the rude humour of the original, and it suits families. It is a good introduction to the medieval city.
The Beaney House of Art and Knowledge, on the High Street, is the city’s museum, gallery and library, in a grand Victorian building. It has art, archaeology and curiosities from around the world, and exhibitions that change through the year. Entry is free.
The Marlowe Theatre is named after the playwright Christopher Marlowe, who was born in Canterbury in 1564, the same year as Shakespeare. It stages big touring shows, musicals and pantomimes. Canterbury is a lively university city as well as a historic one, with plenty going on in the evenings.
6. Whitstable and the Kent coast
Whitstable, a small seaside town about seven miles north of Canterbury, is famous for its oysters, which have been harvested here since Roman times. Its harbour is full of fishing boats and seafood stalls, and its seafront is lined with colourful beach huts. It is one of the most charming towns on the Kent coast.
Whitstable holds an oyster festival every summer, with parades, music and plenty of oysters. The high street is full of independent shops, galleries and cafés. The pebble beach is lovely for a walk, especially at sunset.
Further along the coast are Herne Bay, with its long pier, and Margate, with its sandy beach and the Turner Contemporary art gallery. To the south east, Dover has its famous white cliffs and a great medieval castle. Sandwich is a well preserved medieval town with golf courses nearby.
All of these are within an easy drive of Canterbury, and a driver by the hour makes it possible to see several in one day. Kent is known as the Garden of England, and the countryside between the towns is full of orchards and vineyards.
Where to eat and drink
The streets around the cathedral are full of independent cafés, tea rooms and restaurants, many of them in medieval buildings. There are good pubs along the river and in the old streets, some with gardens. Kent is famous for its fruit, hops and wine, so look out for local produce on menus.
For seafood, Whitstable is just up the road, with oysters, fish and chips and seafood restaurants by the harbour.
Getting there and getting around
Canterbury has two stations. Canterbury West has high speed trains from London St Pancras in under an hour, and Canterbury East has trains to London Victoria and Dover. Both are a short walk from the centre.
The port of Dover and the Channel Tunnel terminal at Folkestone are each around twenty to thirty minutes by road, making Canterbury a popular first or last stop for travellers to and from France. Gatwick and Heathrow are around an hour and a half to two hours away by road.
The city centre is small and much of it is closed to traffic, so park and ride sites on the edge of the city are the best option for drivers. A car booked ahead is the easiest way to travel between Canterbury, the airports, the ports and the Kent coast.
Ride with ZeroLanes. From your door, the station or the airport to anywhere in Canterbury, at a price fixed before you confirm. Travelling between cities? Get a fixed price for the journey, or keep a car and driver for the day with hourly hire.