Top 15 Attractions in Canterbury, Kent

England’s ecclesiastical capital, Canterbury is a city with two universities, a considerable amount of preserved Medieval architecture, and the oldest operating school in the world.

For centuries, Canterbury has been characterized by the Bell Harry Tower of the UNESCO World Heritage cathedral, which remains the tallest landmark in the city.

It was within the cathedral that Archbishop Thomas Becket was tragically martyred in 1170. Also included in the UNESCO ensemble are the oldest parish church in England and the Abbey that heralded the revival of Christianity in England at the conclusion of the 6th century.

The city is still partially encircled by a wall first constructed during Roman times and is situated along two branches of the River Stour, providing opportunities for leisurely walks and guided boat excursions.

Let us delve into the premier attractions in Canterbury:

1. Canterbury Cathedral

As the seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury, the leader of the worldwide Anglican Communion, Canterbury Cathedral constitutes England’s foremost Christian monument.

During the Middle Ages, it was the most revered pilgrimage destination in Northern Europe due to the tomb of Thomas Becket, the Archbishop who was murdered by followers of King Henry II near a doorway to the cloister in 1170. The cathedral was established in 597 and subsequently rebuilt in the 11th century.

This Norman structure suffered significant damage from a fire in 1174 and was restored in various Gothic styles.

Allocate ample time to appreciate the Perpendicular-style nave, featuring exquisite fan vaulting at the crossing, the magnificent 14th-century choir screen, the 14th and 15th-century cloisters, beautiful Romanesque side chapels, and stained glass windows dating to the 12th century.

2. St Augustine’s Abbey

Symbolizing the resurgence of Christianity in England, St Augustine’s Abbey was established by St Augustine, the first Archbishop of Canterbury, in 598. For centuries, it was the only prominent religious institution in Kent, a fact acknowledged by invading Danes and Normans, who constructed a Romanesque monastery to supplant the earlier Saxon buildings.

The abbey was abandoned during the Dissolution of the Monasteries in the 16th century, yet some Romanesque architecture can be seen in a series of semi-circular arches.

Visitors can also explore the graves of St Augustine and other early Archbishops, in addition to remnants of the Anglo-Saxon St Pancras Church.

The abbey’s remarkable 14th-century Gothic gatehouse, Fyndon’s Gate, remains intact, featuring a chamber where Charles I and Queen Henrietta Maria spent the night in 1625 following their marriage at the cathedral.

3. Beaney House of Art & Knowledge

Located in a Tudor Revival building on the High Street, this establishment serves as Canterbury’s primary museum, library, and art gallery.

The institution is named after James George Beaney, a surgeon born in Canterbury who emigrated to Australia and had a political career before bequeathing £10,000 to establish the museum.

Inside, there is an extensive collection of works by Thomas Sidney Cooper, a Victorian landscape painter from Canterbury, alongside several Old Masters, including a portrait of Sir Basil Dixwell by Anthony van Dyck.

The museum exhibits are arranged akin to a cabinet of curiosities, showcasing Egyptian and Greek artifacts, local Anglo-Saxon finds, ethnographic displays, minerals, and natural history specimens.

4. St Martin’s Church

Situated within the same UNESCO site as the cathedral and abbey, St Martin’s Church holds the distinction of being the oldest church in the English-speaking world.

This church dates back to the late 6th century but incorporates even older Roman elements such as a brick tomb.

The church was established by the pagan King Æthelberht of Kent to permit his Christian wife, Bertha, a Frankish Princess, to practice her faith.

In the stonework of the church, one can observe numerous Roman bricks, although it remains uncertain whether these derive from an existing Roman building or were repurposed in the Anglo-Saxon era.

The baptistery features an extraordinary Norman tub font made from Caen stone, adorned with carvings of arcades and interlocking circles.

5. Canterbury City Walls

The Romans were the first to construct walls around Canterbury towards the close of the 3rd century.

Although the layout of the city streets transformed throughout the Anglo-Saxon and Norman periods, the configuration of the walls has largely remained consistent.

These defenses endured numerous breaches between the 9th and 11th centuries, notably during a devastating Viking raid in 835 and an eleven-day siege by a Danish army in 1011. Over half of the circumference of walls still persists, built from flint and ragstone and primarily dating to between the 14th and 16th centuries, during a time of heightened fears of a French invasion amid the Hundred Years’ War.

There are 24 Medieval towers still visible, and at the former Queningate, sections of the Roman wall unearthed during excavations have been exhibited.

6. Westgate

The final of seven Medieval city gates fortifying Canterbury, the 18-meter Westgate is an imposing 14th-century construction located alongside the River Stour.

This gate is built from Kentish ragstone, a durable blue-grey limestone, and features a drawbridge still managed by a portcullis and wooden doors.

In the stonework of the two drum towers flanking the entrance, visitors can observe some of the UK’s oldest gunloops, totaling eighteen, along with machicolations beneath the battlements connecting the towers.

The gate houses a museum showcasing plaster maquettes of the bronze sculptures that adorn the Lords Chamber and Westminster Palace, representing the sixteen barons and two bishops who authorized the Magna Carta in 1215.

7. Westgate Gardens

A serene oasis in Canterbury, this historic garden lies alongside the Stour as it flows toward the Westgate.

This haven has been accessible since Medieval times, among the country’s oldest gardens.

The garden, with its well-defined flowerbeds, integrates a section of Canterbury’s Roman wall and the former London Road Gate.

A beautiful Norman arch, relocated here during the Victorian era from the ruins of St Augustine’s Abbey, enhances its charm.

The Victorian Tower House, constructed in a Tudor Revival style, now serves as the residence for the Lord Mayor’s office.

Visitors can find a seat by the Stour to observe the punts and ducks, and be sure to seek out the 200-year-old oriental plane tree, notable for its massive trunk.

8. Christ Church Gate

The principal entrance to the cathedral was completed in the early 16th century and overlooks Canterbury’s Buttermarket.

There are numerous intricate details to note, including the elegant octagonal towers with Perpendicular Gothic tracery and the stonework within the archivolts of the Tudor arch at the main portal.

Above this arch, the coats of arms of the Tudor dynasty are displayed, including those of Catherine of Aragon, who married Prince Arthur and subsequently Henry VIII after Arthur’s untimely death.

The original depiction of Christ in the central niche was lost during the iconoclastic turmoil of the 16th century; the present bronze sculpture is by German artist Klaus Ringwald, cast in 1990.

9. Marlowe Theatre

Named in honor of the Elizabethan playwright, Christopher Marlowe, who was born in Canterbury, the Marlowe Theatre is the city’s premier venue for performing arts.

The building previously functioned as a cinema and underwent a multimillion-pound redevelopment at the beginning of the decade, reopening in 2011. The theatre features an extensive array of performances including concerts, drama, musicals, operas, ballet, contemporary dance, children’s shows, and acts by some of the UK’s favorite comedians.

It regularly hosts productions by esteemed companies such as the National Theatre, Theatre Royal Bath, Northern Ballet, and Glyndebourne Opera, guaranteeing that there is always something of interest to experience.

10. Canterbury Roman Museum

The origins of this museum trace back to 1868 when workers excavating the streets of Canterbury unearthed a Roman domus.

The museum was formally established in 1961, following additional discoveries made post-bomb damage during World War II.

Among its exhibits is a corridor featuring mosaics dating to 300AD, as well as remains of frescoes and a hypocaust located a few meters below street level.

Display cases feature pottery, glassware, construction fragments from a temple at Longmarket, and a Dea Nutrix figurine of a goddess.

One highlight is the Canterbury Treasure, a silver hoard from around the turn of the 5th century, minted in Milan, consisting of ingots, a toothpick, jewelry, five plain spoons, five decorated spoons, and two additional spoons with swan-shaped handles.

11. Eastbridge Hospital

Located on the King’s Bridge, this almshouse was established in the 12th century, shortly after the death of Thomas Becket, to accommodate impoverished pilgrims visiting his shrine.

The hospital continues to serve as an almshouse, providing housing for the elderly citizens of Canterbury.

During its history, Thomas Becket’s tomb transformed into a significant pilgrimage site until this practice was banned during the Reformation.

Visitors can explore the beautiful vaulted undercroft, which features exhibitions on Canterbury’s historical evolution.

Following that, one can pause in the tranquil Franciscan Gardens by the Stour before entering the Greyfriars Chapel, the last remnant of a 13th-century Franciscan friary and the oldest Franciscan monument in the UK.

12. Stour Boat Trip

Departing from a location below a replica ducking stool (an infamous Medieval instrument for punishing women), just off the High Street, the Canterbury Historic River Tours company offers 40-minute excursions along the Stour from March to October.

This journey, aboard a sizeable rowboat, provides a unique view of some of Canterbury’s Medieval landmarks.

During the trip, you will glide past the 13th-century Greyfriars’ Chapel and traverse beneath the 12th-century Eastbridge and King’s Bridge.

Additionally, you will encounter various Medieval industrial and religious structures, including weavers’ houses and the 14th-century Blackfriars’ Dominican priories.

Your trip will culminate with one of the most splendid perspectives of the cathedral before returning to the ducking stool dock.

13. Kent Museum of Freemasonry

Located directly opposite Canterbury’s Guildhall near the Westgate, the largest collection of Masonic materials outside of London resides here.

This free museum operates within a building designed expressly for its purpose, constructed in the early 1930s.

The exhibition serves as a repository for items that Freemasons throughout Kent have accumulated over the years, comprising an extensive array of regalia, glassware, ceramics, paintings, and books from various orders.

One of the standout features is a striking set of stained glass windows that were originally installed at the former 19th-century Freemasons’ Hall in London.

14. Canterbury Tales

Geoffrey Chaucer, the foremost English Medieval poet, selected this city as the backdrop for his famous work, the Canterbury Tales, which narrates the journey of a group of pilgrims traveling through Kent to Thomas Becket’s tomb.

The Canterbury Tales attraction features a series of animatronic tableaux that recreate the sights, sounds, and aromas of 14th-century Kent and Canterbury.

Accompanied by an audio guide, these scenes portray five of Chaucer’s tales, touching upon themes such as love, courtship, intrigue, infidelity, and mortality—all conveyed with Chaucer’s renowned wit.

15. Howletts Wild Animal Park

Ranked among the UK’s most frequented animal attractions, Howletts Animal Park is set within 100 acres of historic parkland on a former manor, located less than 15 minutes from Canterbury.

There are 44 species housed here, afforded ample space in glass-fronted enclosures and expansive wooded paddocks.

The park is particularly notable for housing the largest family of western lowland gorillas in the country, alongside the largest breeding herd of African elephants.

Other residents include Northern Chinese leopards, lemurs, lions, wolves, black rhinos, and many more species.

Visitors can gain insights into the animals through keeper talks, and the park also features a high ropes course and zip lines designed for children.