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Cathedral city in Kent, England
Photo: Hans Musil, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Canterbury is a cathedral and university city in Kent, in the South East of England. Canterbury Cathedral is the seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Primate of All England and hence the Primus inter pares of the primates of each national church in the Anglican Communion and spiritual leader and senior clergyman of the Church of England.
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11 The Precincts. The burial place of King Henry IV and Edward the Black Prince, but most famous as the scene of the murder of Thomas Becket in 1170. The mostly Gothic-style cathedral is the seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Chief Primate of the Church of England and spiritual leader of the Anglican Communion. No photography is allowed in the crypt. Tickets are valid for repeat visits within 12 months.
An area surrounding the Cathedral around Green Court, including:
12th-century roofed steps.
It is a part of the World Heritage site (Roman Shrine). It is the oldest parish church in England still in constant use. If you look at the flint walls, you can still see the red brick that was used by the Romans. Worth seeing.
World Heritage remains preserved by English Heritage.
The ruins of a Norman castle built in the 11th century. As of Nov 2023, it is closed to repair dangerous masonry.
West Gate Museum
a small but fascinating collection of material about the tower and the history of Canterbury. The view from the open roof top is also excellent, allowing you to see up the high street all the way to the Cathedral.
A remarkable museum of Roman period Canterbury.
Canterbury Royal Museum and Art Gallery
With Buffs Regimental Museum, High Street. A splendid Victorian building housing decorative arts and picture collections, including a gallery for T.S. Cooper, England's finest cattle painter. The art gallery is the major space in the Canterbury area for the visual arts, with a wide-ranging annual program and exhibitions of both contemporary and historical work. The Buffs Museum - a branch of the National Army Museum in Chelsea, London - tells the story of one of England's oldest infantry regiments and its worldwide service. There is an extensive collection of medals with Victoria Crosses and other gallantry awards.
A Christ Church-linked university building, on the high street. Free entry. Combined music and art events often happen. Local art and merit gallery.
Guided river tour providing a light hearted commentary discovering some of Canterbury’s finest architecture set against outstanding views of natural scenery.
Kent CCC were relegated in 2024 so they play in the Second Division of the County Championship. The limited-overs team is known as Kent Spitfires.
Wildwood Kent
A collection of British animals in natural enclosures. Five European Bison were imported in 2022 as part of Blean Wilding Project, to act as ecosystem engineers.
A small restaurant located in an area that is sometimes referred to as "Little Italy". The Old Weavers is delightfully situated by one of the spurs of the River Stour and has patio area seating. The menu concentrates on minor variants of traditional English and Italian food. Main courses start from £4.95.
Housed in an airy converted engine shed, the adjoining farmers' market reassuring the visitor that the traditional cuisine will be of the best quality. Typical meals are the roast organic chicken with sorrel, chard and potatoes, or the vegetable platter, with mushrooms, black lentils, chard, hard-boiled egg, swede, tomato relish and salad leaves. Home-made desserts available also. Mains £8-16.
A small traditional pub in the city centre, offering excellent traditional British food.
Artisanal cafe in the Cathedral Quarter with vegan and gluten-free options.
A brilliant Mexican restaurant (with a French manager). A variety of fantastic Tex-Mex meals and very good frozen cocktails. Meals are not too cheap (starting at £8.95 for one course (or ~£5.95 for breakfast/lunch), but are very much worth it. Most locals will agree this is one of the best restaurants in Canterbury.
A very nice curry house, with excellent, friendly staff housed in a converted tudor building. They have a live musician on Saturday nights. Note that the curries are very tasty, but not too hot (unless you ask for them hot!). A very nice curry and rice generally costs ~£10 (£9 take away/£9.50 delivered).
Good Thai fare, tasty, but fairly expensive!
Italian Restaurant
One of Canterbury's oldest and most established bars, located opposite The Loft. Food is served during the day.
Next to the Orange Street music club, this bar is very popular but enforces an entrance policy to keep numbers down so it is reliably a quiet place to have a drink and a chat.
A wild, packed pub, full of a mix of locals, students and weirdos. Always busy and spilling out onto the streets. Everyone is welcome. They have a selection of real ales, continental beers and local cider. Try a pint of the Biddenden's cider (or two if you dare/want to fall over!) The place is a dive, but the regulars and staff are friendly, and the drinks are all well kept.
A South American-themed bar and restaurant conviniently located on the high street. Food is reasonably priced and a wide variety of drinks are available from the bar, including a good range of cocktails and bottled beers. Operates as a nightclub in the evening.
A quiet pub, with a few real ales and a selection of fruit wines. Friendly staff and great pub food. Has a selection of games to play, and also a pub garden, which has draconian rules!
Rock pub, expensive, around £3 a pint of standard beer, but makes up for it with its atmosphere. Popular with students and locals alike, doesn't have a lot to cater for the more mainstream crowd though, busier at weekends. Has a wide range of lagers, and a few real ales and three ciders of differing strengths. Pool table and beer garden, the former reserved for the pool team on Wednesday evenings, and the latter usually closed early in Winter, so everyone has to smoke out front, after a certain time only plastic glasses allowed, and after midnight no drinks whatsoever.
A classic example of one of the many "traditional" pubs that Canterbury is famous for. Some good ales on tap along with the obligatory range of lagers. Prone to get very crowded.
Previously Simple Simons
Often has live jazz music and a cozy bohemian atmosphere. One of the oldest pubs in the country.
The Queens Head
A Green King pub.
Large but not too noisy, well-suited for a casual drink and chat rather than partying. A Wetherspoon pub.
Small pub opposite Canterbury's theatre (The Marlowe). The Canterbury Tales is tucked away down many of the city's streets and regularly has live music. Often full of theatre-goers.
Caseys
A small Shepherd Neame pub with a wine bar.
Canterbury's biggest nightclub, spanning three floors each with their own theme of music. Regular student night on Mondays. Saturdays are more of a locals' affair, higher prices reflect this.
Serves good (but expensive) cocktails in a trendy environment. Attracts a young professional crowd.
Yes you guessed it.
Cocktail bar.
A large, brick-built Shepherd Neame pub.
A 15th-century free house that is Canterbury's oldest coaching inn.
A small pub, in a converted terraced house, so there is a 'living room feel'. During term time, due to proximity of the Christ Church music department, it is frequented by many music students (and their lecturers).
Sign of the Gate.
Canterbury's finest and most traditional tea room serving authentic cream teas, afternoon teas, cakes, scones and lunches.
69-bed hostel about a mile from the city centre.
Converted fire-station just outside of the city.
Tranquil comfy B&B. Five rooms are in the Burgate building, on second floor with no lift and no cathedral view. No dogs.
Family owned hotel with indoor pool and serviced apartments, parking, gardens and restaurant.
Restaurant and country pub with 8 rooms. Some noise from within and from busy road outside. Dogs welcome throughout.
Stylish member of the Pig group with 30 rooms - 7 are "hop pickers huts" on stilts by the river. Great service and cuisine.
Has brought many new outlets into Canterbury making it a great shopping destination.
Sells fantasy merchandise. It is mostly Harry Potter related hence the name and decor, but there is also Game of Thrones and Lord of the Rings merch too. There is no website but they frequently post to Instagram.
By train
Canterbury is served by two railway stations. Fare and timetable information are available from Southeastern, +44 345 748 4950:
By bus
National Express operate coaches to Canterbury from London Victoria Coach Station and also from Dover.
By plane
Canterbury does not have its own airport. The nearest major international airports to Canterbury are London Gatwick (LGW) about 66 mi away and London Heathrow (LHR), about 96 mi away.
By bicycle
Cyclists are welcome in Canterbury; the first stage of the 2007 Tour de France finished in the city. However, dedicated cycle paths are relatively few.
By bus
Canterbury is well-served by buses which terminate at the main bus station at the end of the high street. Buses serve most destinations in East Kent.
By taxi
Taxis in Canterbury are regulated by the city council. Charges are imposed uniformly by this regulation. Thus, £2.50 is the minimum charge for all taxis operating under the City Council of Canterbury.
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