Is Canterbury worth visiting? As is the case with many questions in life, the answer is – it depends! Canterbury is a small but very historic city, so if you enjoy the aesthetic beauty of a richly historic city, then Canterbury is a great option for you to visit with friends and family. There are plenty of high street shops and tasty places to eat also, so you won’t struggle for lack of options.
You can easily travel to Canterbury for a day trip or spend more time to enjoy the city and surrounding areas. The city is quite small, so it is a great day trip destination. Equally, there is plenty to do to warrant an overnight stay. So, let’s think about why you should visit Canterbury.
Canterbury Attractions
1. Canterbury Cathedral
Yes, the United Kingdom showcases many cathedrals, churches, and minsters of varying sizes and quality, but Canterbury Cathedral is only 1 of 4 British cathedrals that boasts UNESCO World Heritage Sites status. So to put it simply, Canterbury Cathedral is a world renowned cathedral that is beautiful to admire and amazing to consider its rich history. An original construction was built in 597 AD, but it was later rebuilt in the 1070s AD after a major fire. Some of the oldest surviving bits of the cathedral, like the crypt and the nave walls, are about 900 years old!
The cathedral in Canterbury is generally open from 10:00 – 17:00, Monday to Saturday and from 11:30 – 17:00 on Sundays. The grounds and shop only are open from 11:30 – 12:30 on Sundays. Prices vary slightly, depending on the time of year. From April – September, you can purchase tickets from £19.50 per person. Children under 17 go free with a maximum of 2 children per adult.
2. Canterbury City Walls
Whilst Canterbury Cathedral is the city’s most iconic site, the city walls in Canterbury are older. They were originally built by the Romans sometime around 270 – 280 AD. Centuries later after the Norman conquest in 1066, the walls were rebuilt and extended, but there are still visible signs of the original Roman stones. If you fancy more Roman history, then you should definitely visit the Canterbury Roman Museum, where you can view an original Roman mosaic that likely was constructed between 200 – 300 AD.
3. Charming Architecture
Canterbury is very pedestrian friendly, so you can freely and safely walk throughout the city centre. You’ll enjoy cobbled streets, quaint shops, and beautifully persevered medieval architecture. The Westgate Towers built in the 1300s AD is the largest surviving medieval city gate in England. There is a museum and viewpoint inside of it.
4. Great Stour River
Canterbury is very picturesque, and the Great Stour is a lovely feature that flows through two sections of the city centre. As you walk along the river, you can admire the Westgate Gardens. There is no entry fee for the Westgate Gardens. If you don’t wish to walk, then you can relax as you float down the river. There are several punting tours available in Canterbury.
5. Access to Countryside
Canterbury is in the county of Kent, and Kent is commonly known as the “Garden of England”. Did you know that famous white cliffs of Dover are only a 30-minute direct train journey from Canterbury? You can walk alongside the white cliffs with breathtaking views of the sea.
Planning Your Trip
Whether you’re travelling for the day or staying overnight, CitySpareSpace offers convenient luggage storage in Canterbury. From only £7 per item for the day (no added booking fees), you can easily book your bag storage in Canterbury in just 2 minutes. Canterbury East Station and Canterbury West Station do not offer luggage lockers. View our Canterbury luggage storage locations.
Transportation
Train
There are 2 main train stations in Canterbury: Canterbury West Station and Canterbury East Station. Both of these stations are only a very short walk to the city centre, 10 minutes or less.
From London: London St. Pancras offers the quickest, direct route from London in approximately 1 hour. There are also other direct trains from London Victoria Station and London Charing Cross, which take from 90 minutes to just under 2 hours.
From Dover: There are direct trains from Dover Priory Station to Canterbury East Station that are just under 30 minutes travel.
From Ashford: There are direct trains from Ashford International to Canterbury West Station that are only 15-25 minutes.
Bus / Coach
If you want a more budget friendly option, then travelling by coach is your best option. Typically when travelling with National Express or Megabus, you are allowed at least 1 free suitcase.
From London: At London Victoria Station, you can take a National Express coach. This option is more affordable than a train, but it will take longer to get there. The coach takes around 2 hours from Victoria Station to Canterbury.
From Dover: From Dover’s town centre, you can take the National Express coach directly to Canterbury, which takes approximately 1 hour.
From Ashford: Stagecoach buses provide a direct route to Canterbury, which takes about 45 minutes.
Car
There are plenty of car parks around Canterbury that are only a short walk away from the city centre. The A2 is nearby Canterbury, which runs directly from Dover to London.
Airport
London Gatwick is the closest passenger airport to Canterbury. The fastest way from London Gatwick to Canterbury is by car, which would take between 1 – 2 hours depending on traffic. Alternatively, you can get a quick train into the London, where you can then changeover to take the train to Canterbury.
Photo Credit
Canterbury Flowers & River: Alex Boschmans, @lexstok on Unsplash.com
Canterbury Cathedral: Mike Bird, @mikebirdy, on Pexels.com
Canterbury Structure & Garden: Mike Bird, @mikebirdy, on Pexels.com
Dover Cliffs: Vilmantas Bekesius, @vil_bek on Unsplash.com
