Discover the best 25 things to do & see in Canterbury

Canterbury is one of the most visited town in Kent and rightly so! It’s a town full of history, quirky streets, independent shops, delicious cafes and beautiful gardens. From the iconic Canterbury Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, to the charming medieval streets, there’s something for everyone.

You can explore ancient ruins, enjoy scenic river tours along the Great Stour, and relax in beautifully maintained gardens like Dane John Gardens. My favourite places also include the Beaney House of Art & Knowledge, the historic Westgate Towers and the amazing Goods Shed farmers market.

Canterbury is a great place for a day out and it’s always the first place I recomend to my friends. I’ve got to know Canterbury rather well when I worked in nearby Faversham and now have the chance to go back in more leisurely way.

1. Canterbury Cathedral

Canterbury Cathedral is right in the centre of Canterbury and most people start their town exploration from there. The cathedral is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a definite must see attraction.

It was founded in 597 AD by St. Augustine and completely rebuilt between 1070 and 1077. You might remember the cathedral being mentioned together with the murder of Archbishop Thomas Becket in 1170, after which the cathedral become a major pilgrimage destination.

Apart from the central cathedral, you will be also able to see the abbey cloisters, cathedral houses around the area and remains of older parts of the church complex.

My favourite tip is to see the cathedral (for free!) after the evening service. You can arrive at the service to experience the cathedral and then have a look around the quiet cloisters and gardens around the cathedral complex. Since I’ve already visited the cathedral during day time before, this time I enjoyed the stillness of the cathedral complex in the evening with just a few people around.

• Location: Cathedral House, 11 The Precincts, Canterbury, CT1 2EH
• Opening Times: Monday to Saturday: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm (last admission at 4:00 pm), Sunday: 12:30 pm to 5:00 pm (last admission at 4:00 pm), Please note that between 11:30 am and 12:30 pm, access is limited to the Cathedral grounds and shop only
• Tickets: Adults: £17.00, Students (with valid ID): £14.00, Children (aged 5-18): £11.50, Family (2 adults, 2 children): £45.00, Children under 5: Free, Local residents with a Cathedral Pass can enter for free

2. The Beaney House of Art and Knowledge

The Beaney House of Art & Knowledge was established in 1899. It was funded by Dr. James George Beaney, a Canterbury-born physician who left £10,000 in his will for its creation. The foundation stone was laid by the Mayor of Canterbury, George Collard, on September 16, 1897 and the house was built based on a design by A.H. Campbell.

The building combines a museum, library, and art gallery. It has collections of Old Master drawings, 16th-century paintings, local archaeological artefacts, and Saxon jewellery. I found it fascinating to see the rose marble pillars, which are probably from the tomb of Thomas Becket.

My favourite picture is the ‘Little Girl at Door’, but you can also see a collection of Rupert Bear books and toys as the author Mary Tourtel lived in Canterbury.

• Location: 18 High Street, Canterbury, CT1 2RA
• Opening Times: Tuesday to Saturday: 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, Sunday: 11:00 am to 4:00 pm, Closed on Mondays
• Tickets: Admission to the museum is free

3. St Augustine’s Abbey

St Augustine’s Abbey, founded in 598 AD by St. Augustine of Canterbury, was established as part of his mission to convert the Anglo-Saxons to Christianity. For centuries it was a Benedictine monastery and burial place for the Kings of Kent.

The abbey was expanded significantly under Abbot Wulfric in the late 10th century. It suffered damage during Viking raids but was rebuilt. The abbey was dissolved in 1538 during the Dissolution of the Monasteries under Henry VIII. It is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and definitely worth the visit.

If you don’t have the time for the complete tour, I’d suggest to walk around the main gates (now part of the King’s College) and then seeing the remains of the abbey from the side.

• Location: Longport, Canterbury, CT1 1PF
• Opening Times: Monday – Sunday 10:00 am to 5:00 pm (4 pm in winter)
• Tickets: Adults: £10.00, Children (5-17 years): £6.00, Concessions: £9.00, Family (2 adults, up to 3 children): £26.00

4. Sir John Boyes House & Bookshop

This leaning corner house was originally called Sir John Boys Houses, but it’s also called the Crooked House. It was built in 1617 and called after Sir John Boys, an important political figure in Canterbury of its time.

Everyone takes a picture of this house, because it looks like it’s going to fall on its side. The house structure is stable now, but the door had to be cut to a slanted shape to fit the quirky doorway.

Inside, you will find second-hand book shop spread across two floors. Any purchase supports Catching Lives, a local charity helping the homeless.

• Location: 28 King St, Canterbury CT1 2AJ
• Opening Times: Monday – Sunday – 9 am – 5pm
• Tickets: Free to enter, it’s a book shop

5. The Parrot Pub & St Radigund’s garden with Roman Wall

This little square a place where St. Radigund’s garden originally was with remains of a Roman wall is like a complete set for historic film.

And of course, right next to the gardens, you can find the The Parrot Pub, which is the oldest pub in Canterbury. It’s in a building dating back to the 14th century, originally called St. Radigund’s Hall. It was built on Roman foundations and the structure is a typical Wealden Hall House with jettied upper floors. In 1987, it became a pub called Simple Simon’s before being renamed The Parrot in 2008. The pub is now a Grade II listed building.

I remember coming here first with my friends on a day trip to Canterbury and like proper pilgrims, we sat inside the pub next to a roaring fire.

• Location: 1-9 Church Lane, Canterbury, CT1 2AG
• Opening Times: Monday to Saturday: 12:00 pm to 11:00 pm, Sunday: 12:00 pm to 10:30 pm

6. Lose yourself in the quirky streets of Canterbury

No matter which street you turn in the centre of Canterbury, you will find something interesting to look at. Beautiful timbered houses, pretty shops, old town gates, gardens, churches and city walls. The best time to discover the city for yourself is early in the morning or later in the afternoon when the day tourists leave the town and it’s a bit quieter.

7. St. Martin’s Church

St Martin’s Church is very special, because it’s the oldest church in continuous use in the English-speaking world, dating back to the 6th century. It was originally the private chapel of Queen Bertha of Kent before St. Augustine’s arrival in 597 AD.

The church walls are also built with Roman bricks, which suggest even earlier Roman structures. St. Augustine used it as his mission’s base church before he started to build the nearby St Augustine’s Abbey. The church is part of the Canterbury World Heritage Site, recognized for its historical significance in the early Christianization of England.

• Location: North Holmes Road, Canterbury, Kent, CT1 1PW
• Opening times: Wednesday to Sunday: 11:00 am to 3:00 pm, Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays
• Tickets: There is no admission fee to visit St Martin’s Church; entry is free

8. Westgate Towers

The Westgate Towers is apparently England’s largest surviving medieval gateway. It was built in 1380 and over time it was used not only as a gate, watchtower but also as a prison. But, today, you can find a small museum here with displays about the Canterbury’s wartime history and the tower’s past as a gaol.

The best thing is that you can climb one of the towers and get great panoramic views of the historic centre of Canterbury.

• Location: 1 Pound Lane, Canterbury, CT1 2BZ
• Opening Times: Sunday to Friday: 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm, Closed on Saturdays
• Tickets: Adults: £4.00, Concessions: £3.00, Children: £2.00

9. Riverside Gardens

Take a leisurely stroll through Westgate Gardens, a peaceful green space along the River Stour. It’s a perfect place to admire the colourful flower beds and capture great views of Westgate Towers framed by pretty plants. And of course, it’s the perfect place to have a picnik or have a rest after exploring the town.

10. Take a boat trip on the River Stour

You can also experience Canterbury from a boat or by taking a punting tour along the River Stour. You can just sit and enjoy the slow ride through the town with a skilled guide that will not only navigate the shallow boat using a long pole but also tell you Canterbury history and point out the best places on the way.

• Opening Times: Daily tours 10 – 5 pm (later in the summer) there are several different companies
• Tickets: from £15 per person

11. Visit the farmers market at the Goods Shed

The Goods Shed was founded in 2002 by Suzanne Atkins in a Victorian railway storage shed originally used for coal close to Canterbury West train station. It’s been my favourite place to pop in for a coffee and fresh bread every time I’m in town. It’s always perfect for a special lunch or dinner out. The market always has fresh, organic, and local ingredients and there are sometimes different stallholders depending on the season.

• Location: Station Road West, Canterbury, CT2 8AN
• The opening times: Market: Tuesday to Saturday from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm, and Sunday from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. Restaurant: Tuesday to Saturday from 8:00 am to 9:30 pm, and Sunday from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm

12. Roman Museum

This is a fairly compact museum, but it’s pretty good at explaining the Roman history in Kent. The museum is even set in the remains of a Roman courtyard house and one of the highlights is a Roman pavement, uncovered during World War II bombing. There are lot of other Roman history sites in Kent, such as the Richborough Roman Fort, Lullingstone Villa at Eynsford or Reculver Towers & Roman Fort.

• Location: Longmarket, 11A Butchery Lane, Canterbury, CT1 2JR
• Opening times: Monday to Sunday from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
• Ticket prices: Adults (age 16 – 59): £11.00, Concessions (Age 60+, full-time students, visitors with disabilities): £9.00, Children (Age 5-15): £5.50, Children under 5: Free

13. Dane John Gardens

Dane John Gardens were created between 1790 and 1803 by Alderman James Simmons. The gardens are built around a historic mound, originally part of the city’s Roman defences and later a Norman motte. The name “Dane John” is derived from the Norman French “donjon,” meaning a fortified mound.

In the 18th century, the area was transformed into a public park with a memorial on the mound’s summit. The houses around the gardens look very pretty and in the summer there are often fairs, markets and festivals held here.

• Location: Watling Street, Canterbury, CT1 2RN
• Opening Times: daily from dawn until dusk, with no specific closing hours
• Tickets: There is no admission fee; entry to the gardens is free

14. Browse the independent handmade gifts shops

When I visit Canterbury I always like to browse the local gift shops full of beautifully handmade things. There are so many brilliant independent shops and every time I discover a new one!

This is definitely not the complete list, but my favourite shops includes: Walrus & Oyster Emporium, Sowley, Canterbury Glass Art, Canterbury Pottery, Whirligig Toys, Siesta and Wrapped! There are also independent food shops, such as the traditional fudge shop ‘Fudge Kitchen or artisan chocolates by Madame Oiseau.

15. Marlowe Theatre

If you are staying in Canterbury for the evening, it’s always worth checking out what’s on at the Marlowe Theatre. This modern theatre is named after Canterbury-born playwright Christopher Marlowe, and the venue puts on a variety of performances including plays, pantomimes, concerts and stand-up comedy.

• Location: The Friars, CT1 2AS, Canterbury
• Opening Times: The Box Office is open for phone and in-person bookings Monday to Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm
• Ticket Prices: Tickets from £15 to £50 depending on the type of seat and show

16. Brewery Tour at the Foundry

This is a great opportunity to see the brewery and distillery that’s run by an independent family business. Foundry makes beer, whisky, rum and gin, including flavoured gins, such as Blackcurrant & Honey Gin or Herb Garden Gin.

If you can’t make the tour times (it’s just one tour a week on Saturday afternoon), you can also visit the Foundry Brewpub any time. The menu looks super tasty and all the ingredients are sourced locally. So much so, that where you see ‘mushrooms’ on the menu, these are grown on-site using the used barley that’s initially used for making beer and whisky. Super genius, right?

• Location: 77 Stour Street, Canterbury
• Tour Times: Saturday’s: 4.30 pm (tour lasts 90 minutes)
• Tickets: £25 per person (includes beer & spirits tasting)

17. Have a Coffee at one of the independent cafes

There are so many lovely cafes in Canterbury, that it’s hard to pick only one or two favourite ones. I try to do my best to visit a different place every time I’m in town, such as: Micro Roastery Coffee House (they also roast their own coffee!), Teastones (deliciously homebaked cakes), King & Guild (great views of the cathedral from the first floor) or Garage Coffee Roasters.

18. Conquest House

Conquest House dates back to the Norman period and has amazing timber-framed architecture typical of the 13th century. It is reputedly the place where the four knights—Reginald FitzUrse, Hugh de Morville, William de Tracy, and Richard le Breton—met on December 29, 1170, before proceeding to Canterbury Cathedral to murder Archbishop Thomas Becket.

You can also visit Conquest House inside, but as it’s used as an art gallery and event space, so you won’t see an actual display of the house history, but it’s still worth looking in.

• Location: 17 Palace Street, Canterbury, CT1 2DZ
• Opening Times: Wednesday to Saturday: 11:00 am to 5:00 pm, Sunday: 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm, Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays
• Tickets: There is no admission fee; entry to Conquest House is free

19. Canterbury Castle

Canterbury Castle was built shortly after William the Conqueror’s victory in 1066 and is one of England’s oldest Norman castles together with castles such as the Rochester Castle. It was built on the Roman city wall and the original motte-and-bailey structure was replaced by a stone keep around 1120.

The castle played a crucial role in controlling the travel route between Dover and London. In the 13th century, it stopped to be used as a royal residence and was used as a prison until the 17th century. The castle fell into disrepair by the 19th century, and today, you can see just the outer walls and remaining ruins.

• Location: Castle Street, Canterbury, CT1 2PR
• The castle is currently closed to the public for safety and conservation reasons. There are no regular opening times or ticket prices available at this time, but you can see the castle ruins through the scaffolding from the street.

20. Canterbury City Walls

Canterbury City Walls were originally built by the Romans between 270 and 290 AD. They were largely reconstructed in the 14th century using medieval techniques and materials.

The walls are approximately 1.5 miles long and originally enclosed the historic city centre, including defensive towers and gates, such as the Westgate. The walls were important in protecting Canterbury from invasions and local conflicts. You can walk around the walls or where the walls would have been to give you an idea what Canterbury would have looked like in medieval times.

21. Fyndon Gate & Cemetery Gate

Fyndon Gate is also sometimes called St. Augustine’s Gate, because in medieval times it used to be the main entrance to St. Augustine’s Abbey. The gate was constructed between 1301 and 1309 during the time Abbot Thomas Fyndon was in charge of the abbey.

The gatehouse is a prime example of early 14th-century Gothic architecture that has a large central arch flanked by two smaller pedestrian arches. The structure was part of the abbey’s extensive rebuilding program, when a lot of other buildings were re-built.

Today, Fyndon Gate is the main entrance to the grounds of The King’s School. Other buildings with roof such as the Cemetery Gate, that were originally part of the abbey were also incorporated into the school campus. Cemetery gate was blocked up and turned into a house.

• Location: Monastery Street, Canterbury, CT1 1PF
• Private gate, but you can see the front of the gate from the road and walk around from the outside

22. The Canterbury Tales Interactive Experience – coming back soon!

The Canterbury Tales was an interactive visitor attraction based on Geoffrey Chaucer’s famous 14th-century literary work of the same name. It was opened in 1988 in the historic St. Margaret’s Church and it was totally my favourite attraction to visit in Canterbury.

You followed pilgrims on their journey from London to Canterbury, who were sharing stories. There were costumed figures, detailed scenes from the Canterbury Tales and also authentic smells! It was a great place and everytime I took somebody to visit Canterbury I always took them there. So, I was sad, when I found out that in April 2020, the Canterbury Tales announced they will be closing down.

But, the good news is that the attraction was bought by another company, which is now finishing the internal rooms and hoping to re-pen soon (late 2025 or early 2026 ?) with modern additions to the Canterbury Tales. I can’t wait to visit again!

23. Blean Woods National Nature Reserve

Just outside the Canterbury, you can find the Blean Woods National Nature Reserve,which is one of the largest ancient woodlands in England, covering over 11 square miles. The area history goes back to the Domesday Book of 1086, so it’s a pretty special place.

The nature reserve is now looked after by the RSPB and Kent Wildlife Trust and as you walk through the reserve you can see ancient coppice and high forest which supports rare species such as the nightingale and heath fritillary butterfly.

24. Walk along the river Stour

You can also see quite a bit of the town by walking next to the River Great Stour. The river was used from the Roman times as an important trade route. The river flows through the Weald, past Ashford, and into Canterbury and Sandwich.

The Stour Valley Walk follows the river and you can see the historical sites like Westgate Gardens and St. Augustine’s Abbey. It doesn’t matter which way you walk it, but the walk to Fordwich is very easy and green all the way.

25. Crab & Winkle Way

The Crab and Winkle Way, originally the Canterbury and Whitstable Railway, opened in 1830. It was built by George Stephenson, it was one of the earliest passenger railways in England. The line connected Canterbury to the port of Whitstable and it was six miles long.

It had the first steam-hauled passenger service and the world’s first railway tunnel. The trains stopped running in 1953 and the route was gradually transformed into a cycle and walking path. If you choose to walk it you can get bus back to Canterbury from Whitstable or get a train back to London or Thanet.

This blog post was originally published on 2 November 2024 and last updated on 2 November 2024