We only spent a few hours here, but it was memorable, so follow our guide to have the best time.
Canterbury Cathedral
Start here. Everything in Canterbury leads back to the Cathedral in some way, so you might as well begin at the source.
Canterbury Cathedral is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most significant buildings in England, the seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury and the mother church of the entire Anglican Communion. It was founded in 597 AD, which makes it one of the oldest continuously functioning Christian sites in the country. Just let that number sit for a moment.
The Cathedral is most famous for the murder of Archbishop Thomas Becket, killed here in 1170 by four knights acting on behalf of King Henry II, who had reportedly complained “will no one rid me of this turbulent priest?” whether he meant it literally or not is still debated. Becket was made a saint just two years later and Canterbury became one of the most important pilgrimage destinations in medieval Europe.
⏰ Opening hours: Monday to Saturday from 9:00 AM, Sunday from 12:45 PM, last entry 5:00 PM (April to September).
🎟️ Tickets: £16 online (~19€), £17 at the door
The Crooked House
A short walk from the Cathedral on Palace Street. You’ll know it when you see it. The Crooked House leans, visibly and dramatically, in a way that makes you genuinely wonder how it’s still upright. It dates from around 1617 and the timber frame has settled unevenly over four centuries, giving it that distinctive wonky look that makes it one of the most photographed buildings in Canterbury.
Inside it is a shop, so go in look around. In Canterbury you will also find many gift shops, fudge, chocolate, vintage shops, something for everyone.
Westgate Towers
Keep walking and you’ll reach Westgate Towers, the largest surviving medieval city gateway in England. Built in 1380, it guarded the main entrance into Canterbury for centuries and was also used as a prison, which gives it a slightly more complicated history than its handsome exterior might suggest.
You can go inside and climb up to the top for views across the city and the surrounding Kent countryside. But even just walking through the arch is something, there’s a very specific feeling of arriving somewhere properly ancient when you pass under a 14th century gateway. On a horse it would be even more special I assume.
The River Stour & Westgate Gardens
From the Towers, walk down to the river. The River Stour runs right through the heart of Canterbury and the riverside is beautifully landscaped, flower gardens, historic buildings reflected in the water, willows trailing into the current. If the weather is being kind, punting along the River Stour is worth doing. It’s a flat-bottomed boat guided by a long pole, a bit like Venice but considerably more English about it. You get a completely different view of the city from the water. We watched several boats drift past and it looked lovely. We didn’t go ourselves but we wished we had.
And in the gardens, many people just lay on the ground and enjoy, it’s a perfect place for that.
The Canterbury Tales Experience
Geoffrey Chaucer wrote The Canterbury Tales in the 1380s, stories told by a group of pilgrims travelling from London to visit the shrine of Thomas Becket. It’s one of the most important works in English literature, and this city is the reason it exists.
The Canterbury Tales Experience reopened in spring 2026 with new technology that brings the pilgrims’ stories to life inside a genuinely historic space. It’s a good stop if you want some context for everything you’ve been looking at, and entertaining even if Chaucer was never exactly on your reading list. There’s also a bar at the end themed around the Chequers of Hope Inn, which is either a bonus or the main draw depending on how your day is going.
We visited in 2025 so it was still not opened, but do go and visit it.
Getting to Canterbury
By train from London St Pancras it’s around 55 minutes on the high-speed service, or about 90 minutes on the regular service from Victoria. By car it’s just under two hours from London via the M2. Canterbury is an easy day trip from London, but if you’re doing a UK road trip it makes a perfect first stop before heading further into Kent or down toward the coast.
Where to Park in Canterbury
Parking inside the city walls is residents-only. The good news is there are plenty of options just outside the centre.
The best option if you can find the spot is North Lane Car Park, ****it’s close to the city walls and you are right there.
Queningate Car Park is the closest to the Cathedral and old town. It’s just outside the city walls and a very short walk to everything.
Park and Ride is the also an option if you’re coming by car. Canterbury has three Park and Ride sites around the city, all well-signposted from the main roads, and buses into the centre take about 5 minutes. It’s significantly cheaper than city centre parking and removes the stress of finding a space. The Wincheap Park and Ride is particularly handy as you can also walk back into town along the river, which is a lovely route.
Where to Stay in Canterbury
We haven’t stayed in Canterbury but when preparing for this roadtrip we found a few cute accomodations that you will love:
- The Falstaff in Canterbury – this charming building dates back to 1403, close to the city gates https://booking.tpx.lt/X0jvoWox
- Canterbury Cathedral Lodge – you can stay on the grounds of Canterbury Cathedral, can’t beat that location https://booking.tpx.lt/ZMM6YHUo
- House of Agnes – an inn dating back to 15th century, it has beautiful boutique rooms https://booking.tpx.lt/R9GH4fZY
The old city centre streets are narrow, cobblestoned, and lined with independent shops, cafes, and buildings that have been here since the medieval period. The city walls are largely still standing and you can walk sections of them. There are quiet garden squares tucked behind the main streets. There are views of the Cathedral appearing unexpectedly between buildings.
Our version of visiting Canterbury was when you don’t go inside anything and just wander for a couple of hours. And it was still great! Until next time, be mesmerized 🩷
