Destination guides > Europe > England > Southeast England > Kent > Canterbury
Canterbury
This medieval town with its Tudor architecture and Roman city walls is a popular day trip from London. It is particularly famous for its cathedral, which was made famous in Chaucer's Canterbury Tales and T.S. Eliot's Murder in the Cathedral.
Practical information
Canterbury Tourist Information Centre
The Buttermarket, 12-13 Sun Street, Canterbury
Tel (01227) 378 100
Website www.canterbury.co.uk
Open Mon-Sat 9.30am-5.30pm, Sun 10am-4pm
Coming & going
Canterbury has two train stations. East station is located south of the town centre and has trains to London Victoria and West station, northwest of the town centre, has trains to London Charing Cross and Waterloo.
National Express and Stagecoach buses stop at Canterbury bus station on St Georges Lane. National Express (tel 0870 580 8080) has buses to London and Stagecoach run local buses to destinations in Kent. Useful Stagecoach bus routes include bus 112 to Dover via Sandwich and Deal and route X82 to Ramsgate, Broadstairs and Margate.
Hostel accommodation
Canterbury YHA
Ellerslie, 54 New Dover Road, Canterbury, Kent CT1 3DT
Tel (01227) 462911
Kipps
40 Nunnery Fields, Canterbury
Tel (01227) 786 121
Sightseeing, museums & tourist attractions
Canterbury Cathedral
Canterbury's major attraction is this cathedral that was founded in 597. It contains the tomb of the Black Prince and was the site of Thomas Becket's martyrdom. The cathedral was the subject of TS Eliot's Murder in the Cathedral and played a central role in Chaucer's Canterbury Tales.
The Precincts, Canterbury
Tel (01227) 762 862
Website www.canterbury-cathedral.org
Admission £7.50
Open summer Mon-Fri 9am-6pm, Sun 9am-4pm; winter Mon-Fri 9am-4.30pm, Sun 9am-4pm
Canterbury Roman Museum
Canterbury's Roman Museum shows what life was like in Canterbury during Roman times. The museum displays the remains of a Roman house featuring mosaics.
Longmarket, Butchery Lane, Canterbury
Tel (01227) 785 575
Website www.canterbury-museums.co.uk
Admission £3.10
Open Jan-May Mon-Sat 10am-5pm; Jun-Oct Mon-Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 1.30pm-5pm; Nov-Dec Mon-Sat 10am-5pm; (last entry 4pm)
The Canterbury Tales
This tourist attraction, inside St Margaret's Church, has displays depicting the characters and storyline of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales.
St Margaret's Street, Canterbury
Tel (01227) 479 227
Website www.canterburytales.org.uk
Admission £7.75 (students £6.75)
Open Jan-Feb 10am-4.30pm daily; Mar-Jun 10am-5pm daily; Jul-Aug 9.30am-5pm daily; Sep-Oct 10am-5pm daily; Nov-Dec 10am-4.30pm daily
Museum of Canterbury & Rupert Bear Museum
This museum tells the story of Canterbury from its medieval origins up to the present day and it incorporates a museum dedicated to one of Canterbury's most popular characters, Rupert Bear.
Stour Street, Canterbury
Tel (01227) 452 747
Website www.canterbury-museums.co.uk
Admission £3.60 Museum of Canterbury & Rupert Bear Museum; £2.30 Rupert Bear Museum only
Open Jan-May Mon-Sat 10.30am-4pm; Jun-Oct Mon-Sat 10.30am-4pm, Sun 1.30pm-4pm; Nov-Dec Mon-Sat 10.30am-4pm
St Augustine's Abbey
This World Heritage site marks the birthplace of English Christianity and it is where St Augustine first established a monastery in 598. In addition to the ruins of the monastery, there is a museum on site.
Longport, Canterbury
Tel (01227) 767 345
Website www.english-heritage.org.uk
Admission £4.30
Open Jan-Mar Wed-Sun 10am-4pm; Apr-Sep 10am-6pm daily; Oct-Dec Wed-Sun 10am-4pm
St Martin's Church
Before establishing his own monastery, St Augustine worshipped at St Martin's Church, which is the oldest parish church still in constant use.
North Holmes Road, Canterbury
Tel (01227) 786 072
Admission free
Open Tue & Thu 10am-3pm, Sat 10am-1pm
West Gate Towers
The West Gate Towers of Canterbury's city walls are considered to be among England's finest fortified gatehouses. The museum features armour exhibits plus scenic views from the battlements
St Peter's Street, Canterbury
Tel (01227) 452 747
Website www.canterbury-museums.co.uk
Admission £1.30
Open Mon-Sat 11am-12.30pm & 1.30pm-3.30pm
