Out & About in Canterbury

Canterbury is a large city situated in Kent, The Garden of England. It is 66km from London and 23km from Ashford. It is the home to the prestigious University of Kent and the world famous Canterbury Cathedral. Apart from these famous landmarks, Canterbury is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is home to no less than six museums and two castles. Canterbury is, however, probably best known for The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer.

Shopping

Canterbury is a haven for the most earnest of shoppers, with the Whitefriars development. Whilst not being a now traditional indoor shopping centre, Whitefriars encompasses the spirit of traditional Canterbury, with its street style shopping, but with all the biggest names in shopping centre faces. Much of Canterbury's city centre is now pedestrianised to allow people to walk safely from the Whitefriars area to the older areas of the city, Westgate Towers and St. Dunstan's area, where antique and collectable's shops can be found. This same theme continues in the opposite direction as you continue out towards the King's Mile and Northgate.

Food and Drink

You will never need to be hungry or thirsty during your visit to Canterbury with its vast array of hostelries and eateries to choose from. Whatever it is that you like to eat, Canterbury has something to offer: Chinese, Indian, Arabic, Greek, American, Italian, Thai, Mexican and of course English. Augustine's offers fine dining in a cosy, yet comfortable atmosphere, close to St. Augustine's Abbey. Alternatively, The Kings Head in Wincheap is a traditional pub, selling real ales, wines and spirits and traditional pub meals.

Arts and Entertainment

You will never be short of something to do during your visit to Canterbury. There are a wealth of art galleries and dealers who will be only too happy to let you browse. Barnsole Vinyard is a working vineyard that welcomes visitors to tour the vineyard and sample the wines or you can join a walking ghost tour around the city to hear lots of spooky stories. The list of things to do in Canterbury is endless. Whatever it is that you enjoy doing, you will be sure to find somewhere in Canterbury that can cater for your needs. However, no visitor should leave Canterbury without making a visit to the world famous Canterbury Cathedral. The Cathedral has stood on this site since the Middle Ages and can boast a wealth of historical events, not least the murder of Archbishop Thomas Becket in 1170. Thousands of people continue to make the pilgrimage to the Cathedral every year. Another attraction that should not be missed during your visit to the historic city of Canterbury is the Canterbury Tales. The Canterbury Tales experience allows visitors to experience the sights, sounds and smells of medieval England as they accompany Geoffrey Chaucer and his band of merry men on their travels from The Tabard Inn to the Shrine of Thomas Becket at the Cathedral. Commentary is available in a variety of languages and the experience is said to be extremely realistic of life and times in medieval times.

Hotels

There is no shortage of places to stay both within the city of Canterbury and in the surrounding towns and villages. Whatever your budget, you will be able to find somewhere that suits both your needs and your budget. Ranging from campsites through to luxury hotels, Canterbury has a huge range to choose from. There are campsites that can cater for both tents and caravans, self catering properties that can be hired for short term lengths or extended periods, bed and breakfast establishments ranging from three to five stars and of course a full range of hotels. The hotels in Canterbury come in a variety of styles to suit all tastes and budgets. Some are of historical interest (Cathedral Gate Hotel) whilst others are very modern (Express by Holiday Inn). There is also a hostel that has a few bed spaces for those who are just passing through.

Travel

Much of Canterbury city centre is pedestrianised, so when you visit be sure to bring a pair of good walking shoes. If walking is not for you, you could hire a bicycle and cycle your way around the city. Getting to Canterbury could not be easier. It is well served by both road and rail links from all over the South East. From London or the South coast, Canterbury can be reached easily by road using either the M2 or the M20, both of which are accessible from the M25. By rail, Canterbury is served by two mainline stations; Canterbury East and Canterbury West, with trains arriving from London Charing Cross or London Victoria in the North and Dover Priory and Ramsgate in the South. You could also arrive by Eurostar from Paris and get the train from Ashford.