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    Canterbury
    Diliff / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
    City

    Canterbury

    Canterbury in the county of Kent is one of England's oldest cities and has been a pilgrimage destination since the Middle Ages. At its heart is the Cathedral, seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury and a UNESCO World Heritage site.

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    9. Canterbury
    Canterbury in the county of Kent is one of England's oldest cities and has been a pilgrimage destination since the Middle Ages. At its heart is the Cathedral, seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Surrounding it is a walled Old Town with half-timbered houses, narrow lanes, and the River Stour, where you can be punted through the city.Canterbury is just under an hour by train from London and half an hour from Dover – a good stop on the way to the ferry or as a base for exploring the Kent coast.
    Canterbury, with around 55,000 inhabitants and two universities, boasts a young demographic and a vibrant pub scene for its size. The oval-shaped old town is about one kilometre long and still half encircled by the medieval city wall. The pedestrianised High Street runs through it from Westgate to St George's Tower.Almost everything worth seeing is either within the walls or just a few minutes away: the Cathedral in the northeast, St Augustine's Abbey and St Martin's Church to the east, Westgate and the gardens along the River Stour to the west. One day is enough for the main points; those staying two nights can include the coast near Whitstable or Dover.The eastern part of the old town was destroyed in an air raid in 1942 and simply rebuilt in the 1950s. This explains the contrast between the half-timbered lanes in the west and the shopping district in the east.

    Sights in Canterbury

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    Museum

    1Canterbury Cathedral

    The Cathedral is the Mother Church of the Anglican Communion and the reason why Canterbury has attracted pilgrims since the Middle Ages. The current building began in 1070 under the Normans; after a fire in 1174, the choir was rebuilt in Early Gothic forms, the tall nave followed in the late 14th century, and the Bell Harry tower around 1500.In the north transept, an altar marks the spot where Archbishop Thomas Becket was murdered by four knights in 1170. Also worth seeing are the Romanesque crypt with its capitals, the 12th and 13th-century stained-glass windows, and the tombs of the Black Prince and Henry IV. Admission is charged; for Evensong in the late afternoon, you can enter the choir without a ticket. Plan at least one and a half hours.
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    Museum

    2St Augustine's Abbey

    The Abbey was founded in 598 by Augustine, the missionary sent by Pope Gregory the Great to the Anglo-Saxons. It served as the burial place for the first archbishops and the Kings of Kent, and for centuries it was one of England's wealthiest monasteries until Henry VIII dissolved it in 1538.Preserved are the Anglo-Saxon church foundations, remains of the Norman abbey church and crypt. A small museum showcases site finds. The complex lies just minutes east of the city walls, is a UNESCO World Heritage site with the Cathedral, and is significantly quieter. English Heritage manages it.
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    Church

    3St Martin's Church

    St Martin's is celebrated as the oldest continuously used parish church in the English-speaking world. Even before the arrival of Augustine in 597, Bertha, the Christian wife of King Ethelbert of Kent, worshipped here; Roman bricks are incorporated into its very walls.The small church is situated on a hill east of the city centre, approximately a ten-minute walk past St Augustine's Abbey, and, together with them and the Cathedral, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is only open for a few hours on select days of the week; please check the times beforehand. The churchyard is accessible around the clock.
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    Museum

    4Westgate Towers

    The Westgate is Canterbury's only surviving city gate of the original seven, and England's largest medieval city gate. Built around 1380 when the city feared French attacks, it later served for centuries as a prison.Inside, a small museum tells the story of the gate and its old cells. From the platform on the battlements, you gaze over the rooftops to the Cathedral. The street still passes through its archway. Directly adjacent are the Westgate Gardens on the Stour, where boat tours depart.
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    Museum

    5Canterbury Roman Museum

    The museum is located below present-day street level on Butchery Lane, on the site of a Roman town house. Its mosaic floors and the remains of underfloor heating came to light when debris was cleared after the 1942 bombings.The exhibition guides visitors through Roman Durovernum Cantiacorum with finds such as glass, jewelry, tools, and silver, alongside reconstructed market scenes. The tour lasts about an hour and is well-suited for children.
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    Museum

    6Eastbridge Hospital

    The Hospital of St Thomas the Martyr was founded in the late 12th century to accommodate poor pilgrims visiting the shrine of Thomas Becket. It stands directly on the High Street over an arm of the Stour, hence its name, Eastbridge.Highlights include the vaulted undercroft where pilgrims slept, the dining hall with a 13th-century mural, and the chapel with its ancient roof timbers. The building continues to serve as an almshouse for the elderly and is therefore only open at restricted times. A visit takes approximately half an hour.
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    Restaurants in Canterbury

    1

    The Refectory Kitchen

    A breakfast and brunch spot on St Dunstan's Street, a few steps from Westgate and near Canterbury West train station. The menu features Full English, Eggs Benedict, pancakes, and lunch dishes, plus good coffee. On weekends, a queue often forms; it's only open during the day.
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    2

    Café des Amis

    A long-standing Mexican restaurant right by Westgate. Inside its vibrant, art-adorned rooms, enjoy Fajitas, Enchiladas, Paella, and sharing dishes, plus Margaritas. Lively and popular with locals and students; reservations are recommended for evenings.
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    3

    The Corner House

    A restaurant in an old inn on Dover Street, just outside the city walls. The cuisine is modern British, featuring Kentish produce such as lamb, coastal fish, and seasonal vegetables. The Sunday Roast is popular; a few rooms are also available on-site.
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    4

    Olive Grove

    A Mediterranean restaurant on Best Lane, right in the heart of the Old Town, a stone's throw from High Street. The menu features Mezze, grilled dishes, pasta, and fish. With over two thousand reviews, it is one of the city's most visited establishments.
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    Food and Drink

    Kent calls itself the Garden of England, and Canterbury benefits from this: Fruit, hops, wine, and fish come from the local area. At The Goods Shed market hall by Canterbury West station, regional producers sell daily except Mondays.

    Oysters from Whitstable

    The oyster beds off Whitstable, just ten kilometers north, were already used by the Romans. Many restaurants in Canterbury feature them on the menu.

    Ale from Kent

    Kent is England's classic hop-growing region. In the local pubs, you'll find beers from Shepherd Neame of nearby Faversham and from small regional breweries.

    Gypsy Tart

    A very sweet cake made from condensed milk and dark sugar on shortcrust pastry, which originates from Kent and is sold in local bakeries and cafés.

    Wine and Cider

    Along the chalk slopes of the North Downs, several wineries produce sparkling and still wines. Local apple orchards also provide cider.

    Culture and History

    Cradle of English ChristianityThe Romans founded the city of Durovernum Cantiacorum here. In 597, the monk Augustine landed in Kent on behalf of Pope Gregory, baptised King Ethelbert, and became the first Archbishop of Canterbury. Since then, the city has been the spiritual centre of the English Church. The Cathedral, St Augustine's Abbey, and St Martin's Church are jointly listed as a World Heritage Site.Becket and the PilgrimsOn December 29, 1170, four knights of Henry II murdered Archbishop Thomas Becket in his cathedral. He was canonised three years later, and his shrine made Canterbury one of Europe's great pilgrimage destinations. Geoffrey Chaucer's Canterbury Tales features a group of travellers on their way here telling stories. Henry VIII had the shrine destroyed in 1538.Marlowe, Weavers, and the WarPlaywright Christopher Marlowe was born in Canterbury in 1564; the city theatre bears his name. In the 16th and 17th centuries, Flemish and Huguenot weavers settled here, commemorated by the Old Weavers' House on the Stour. During the air raid on June 1, 1942, a large part of the old town burned down, but the Cathedral remained largely unscathed.

    Nightlife

    1

    The Parrot

    A pub in a 14th-century timber-framed house on a quiet lane north of the Cathedral, one of the city's oldest buildings. Under low beams, Kentish ales and pub dishes are served; in summer, you sit in the courtyard. An atmospheric spot for the evening, away from the High Street.
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    2

    The Foundry Brewpub

    A brewpub located in a former iron foundry on Stour Street. Beer is brewed directly behind the bar, and they serve Canterbury Brewers' own beers, alongside cider and spirits from their own distillery. Food includes burgers and pub classics.
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    Arrival and On the Way

    By TrainCanterbury has two train stations. From Canterbury West station, high-speed trains reach London St Pancras in under an hour. Canterbury East is on the line from London Victoria to Dover; from there, Dover is less than half an hour away. Both stations are a ten-minute walk from the city centre.By CarThe old town is largely car-free, and car parks on the ring road are expensive. Park-and-Ride facilities on the outskirts are more convenient, with buses connecting to the city centre. From Dover, Canterbury is reachable via the A2 in about 30 minutes.On Foot, By Bike, and By BoatWithin the city walls, everything is accessible on foot. Guided tours by punt and rowing boat are offered on the River Stour. The Crab and Winkle Way is a cycle path running about twelve kilometres to Whitstable along one of the world's oldest railway lines. Buses connect the city with Whitstable, Herne Bay, Sandwich, and Dover.

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    Nearby

    Whitstable

    Whitstable

    Whitstable is a fishing town on the north coast of Kent, ten kilometres north of Canterbury, and has been known for its oysters since Roman times. Fish stalls and black-tarred fishermen's huts line the harbour; behind the shingle beach, rows of colourful beach huts extend west to Tankerton.The main street is almost free of chain stores and full of small shops, galleries, and cafés. On summer weekends, many Londoners visit; during the week and off-season, the town is quieter. At low tide, the water recedes far, and at sunset over the Thames Estuary, everyone gathers on the beach.
    Deal & Sandwich

    Deal & Sandwich

    Deal and Sandwich are located on the east coast of Kent between Dover and the Isle of Thanet, ten kilometres apart. Deal is a port town without a harbour: Ships used to anchor in the roadstead off its pebble beach, where today a long promenade, a pier, and two fortresses of Henry VIII stand.Sandwich was in the Middle Ages one of England's most important ports until the river silted up. The town remained small and has retained its street network, its town gates, and hundreds of old houses. Together, both places offer a tranquil contrast to the ferry traffic in Dover.
    Dover

    Dover

    Dover is England's most important ferry port to the continent: From here it's only about 35 kilometers to Calais. Above the town rise the white chalk cliffs, the White Cliffs of Dover, and Dover Castle, one of England's largest castles, with Second World War tunnels in the rock below.Many only experience Dover in transit. If you plan half a day, you can hike along the cliffs to the South Foreland Lighthouse or visit the castle before continuing by ferry.
    Rye & Camber Sands

    Rye & Camber Sands

    Rye is located in eastern East Sussex on a sandstone hill that was once a peninsula in the sea. As an ancient town, it was part of the Cinque Ports confederation and thrived on fishing, trade, and smuggling. Then the bay silted up, the coast receded, and Rye was left approximately three kilometers inland. This economic insignificance preserved its medieval layout.What remains today is a dense network of cobblestone lanes, half-timbered houses, and Georgian brick facades. Mermaid Street, with its crooked gables, is the most famous. From the tower of St Mary's Church, you can overlook the rooftops and the flat marshland of Romney Marsh.A few kilometers to the southeast begins Camber Sands, the only extensive dune beach in East Sussex. At low tide, the sand stretches out for several hundred meters. Together with the neighboring town of Winchelsea, a 13th-century planned settlement, this area offers excellent opportunities for exploring on foot over one or two days.
    Côte d'Opale (Opal Coast)

    Côte d'Opale (Opal Coast)

    The stunning Opale Coast stretches along the English Channel and enchants with dramatic chalk cliffs, wide sandy beaches, and charming coastal towns, perfect for hiking and relaxation.