Canterbury: Cathedral, History and Discoveries

Canterbury combines important religious buildings, Roman history, medieval pathways and green spaces to create a diverse destination. If you are looking for a holiday apartment or holiday home for a culturally focused city break, you can divide your days between historic sights, guided walks, museums and outdoor relaxation. Canterbury offers both deeper insights into English ecclesiastical history and experiences that can be enjoyed together with children.

Cathedral and Pilgrimage History

Canterbury Cathedral was founded by Augustine in AD 597. Its role as a pilgrimage destination is closely linked to the murder of Archbishop Thomas Becket on 29 December 1170. This connection between architectural history and religious tradition makes the cathedral an important destination for anyone who wants to experience Canterbury not merely as a historic city, but as a place with a distinctive spiritual past.

Free 15-minute Mini Talks are available every day between 10:00 and 16:00. The Inside Story Tour explores the architecture, medieval stained-glass windows and history of Canterbury Cathedral. Another way to put the historical connections into context is the Official Canterbury City Guided Tour: the 90-minute walk leads through medieval lanes and the historic Cathedral Precincts.

UNESCO Heritage and Several Historical Periods

St Augustine's Abbey was founded by Augustine shortly after AD 597 and marks the revival of Christianity in southern England. The abbey forms part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site recognised for its great importance to the history of Christianity in England. In its museum, you can see artefacts and stone carvings found during excavations at the abbey. The audio guide is included in the admission price and is available in English, French and Japanese.

Christ Church Cathedral is also one of the three components of Canterbury's UNESCO World Heritage Site. St Martin's Church is considered the oldest church in the English-speaking world still in use. Its architecture combines Roman, Anglo-Saxon, Norman and medieval elements. Those interested in different historical layers will therefore find several distinct ways to explore religious and architectural history in Canterbury.

Museums, Hands-On Activities and City Views

The Canterbury Roman Museum preserves one of the few surviving Roman floor mosaics in the United Kingdom in its original location. Children and adults can take part in interactive activities there, including trying on togas and creating mosaics. The Beaney House of Art & Knowledge complements the cultural offering as a free art gallery, library and visitor information centre in historic Canterbury.

A notable viewpoint is the Westgate Towers Museum & Viewpoint. The largest surviving medieval gateway in England offers views across the city. The Franciscan Gardens are a heritage site on the grounds of England's first Franciscan settlement, founded in 1224. For a holiday apartment in Canterbury, this combination of museums, architecture and urban history can be a good reason to keep your daily routine varied rather than focusing the trip on a single attraction.

Parks, Water and More Peaceful Breaks

Westgate Gardens is a public park known for its colourful floral displays. Paths lead along the river and through the park; it is also home to an Oriental plane tree more than 200 years old. Canterbury Westgate Punts offers boat trips from Westgate Bridge through Westgate Gardens, past the Binnan'ea Island nature reserve and onwards into unspoilt countryside.

Dane John Gardens is a historic park within Canterbury's city walls. Its hill offers views across the city. Well-maintained paths are suitable for visitors with pushchairs and wheelchairs. This also allows you to take different kinds of days into account when planning your accommodation: intensive museum and sightseeing days can be followed by time in the park or a boat trip.

More Destinations for Your Travel Planning

You can also discover Margate, Southampton, Herons Ghyll, Hailsham, Wadhurst, Lymington and Hastingsleigh as additional destinations.

For the higher-level travel overview: South East England.