Canterbury walking tour & city guide

Canterbury Cathedral

Canterbury Cathedral, part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of the oldest and most beautiful churches in England, with a soaring nave, medieval stained glass and the spot where Becket was killed. The cathedral is entered through the ornate Christ Church Gate, and its peaceful precincts include cloisters and gardens.

St Augustine's Abbey and St Martin's Church, the oldest church in continuous use in the English-speaking world, complete the World Heritage Site.

The medieval city

Canterbury's center is enclosed by Roman and medieval walls, much of which survive. Narrow lanes such as Mercery Lane and the leaning, timber-framed Sun Street are lined with old houses. The Westgate, the largest surviving medieval city gate in England, guards the western entrance, and the River Stour flows through the center, where boats offer punting trips.

A classic walk through Canterbury

Start at the Westgate and its gardens beside the river, then walk along St Peter's Street and the High Street, crossing the river at the old Weavers' houses. Turn into Mercery Lane to reach the Christ Church Gate and visit the cathedral.

Afterwards, walk along the city walls from the Dane John Gardens, and finish at St Augustine's Abbey just outside the walls. The walk is about 3 kilometers.

Visiting tips

Canterbury is about an hour from London by high-speed train. The white cliffs of Dover, Leeds Castle and the seaside town of Whitstable, known for oysters, are all close by.