Five reasons to fall in love with Canterbury

Canterbury Cathedral is one of the world’s most famous religious buildings. A pilgrimage site for 800 years, it’s well worth checking out when you’re in town. But it’s also far from Canterbury’s only fascinating historical relic.

Wander around this medieval walled city and you’ll happen upon the oldest church in the English-speaking world (St Martin’s), one of the oldest working bridges in Britain (King’s Bridge), the oldest continuously operating school in the world (The King’s School), the Grade I-listed medieval Westgate and three UNESCO World Heritage Sites in one. And that’s just a fraction of the storied stuff to see and do in the city, from the gloriously wonky 400-year-old Crooked House to whacky Victorian-era museum the Beaney House of Art and Knowledge. Phew.

Canterbury has one of the greatest pub rosters of any UK city. Here there’s a boozer for every taste, whether that be 14th century institution The Parrot (the city’s oldest pub) or shiny new(ish) taproom Floc. Our pick is The Dolphin – a no-fuss classic pub with a huge outdoor area – though classic drinkery The Shakespeare and microbrewery The Foundry are also Time Out faves. All the more reason to visit by train rather than drive (FYI, last trains back to London are usually just before 10.30pm).

In Roman and medieval times, the Great Stour connected Canterbury with mainland Europe. These days the river is one of the best ways to see the city, offering views of Canterbury’s ye olde architecture that you won’t get anywhere else. Canterbury Punting Company and Westgate Punts are the two most popular tours, and while neither will let you punt without a boatman, isn’t sitting back and doing nothing all part of the appeal?

The Stour isn’t only worth exploring by boat. A more all-weather alternative (punting is best enjoyed in the summer sunshine) is by foot or bike. You’ll likely have spotted some of the natural beauty of Kent’s rolling countryside during your train ride to Canterbury, and the three-mile Great Stour Way is an excellent way to explore it further. It traces the river from Canterbury to Chartham and opens up the Stour Valley and the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Nature-lovers can work the Way into a visit to city centre green spaces like the Westgate Parks and Franciscan Gardens.

Canterbury is rarely touted as a foodie spot but there's plenty of excellent grub to tuck into in the city. When cosy Best Lane eatery the Olive Grove says ‘Mediterranean’, it really means the whole region, spanning Moroccan tagine, Lebanese grill, slow-cooked meats, pizza and pasta. Cafe des Amis is a Mexican resto with Spanish and French flair, while aforementioned ‘brewpub’ The Foundry has a hearty British menu that prioritises local ingredients. Beyond those, other foodie spots are hyped brunch spot The Refectory Kitchen, resplendent farmer’s market The Goods Shed, artisan confectioner Fudge Kitchen and gourmet doughnut spot Sumo Donuts.

The King’s Mile is more than just a pretty face. This network of streets sitting in the shadow of the cathedral is picture-perfect with old-fashioned shopfronts and overhanging buildings, but inside those buildings is everything from local crafts (Siesta) and handmade jewellery (Yi Lin) to legendary cheesemongers (Paxton & Whitfield) and retro video games (Level Up Games). Heading down to Canterbury on a Southeastern train means you’ll be able to put a few quid into your shopping fund too, thanks to savings you could make with their great value ticket options. Buy your tickets in advance and choose a specific train to travel to make some serious savings; the earlier you buy, the cheaper your fare could be. And if you’re planning a day trip with your pals, GroupSave is the way to go: groups of three to nine people travelling together by train could save 1/3 on the price of selected individual adult tickets. And doesn’t that make a day trip even sweeter? 

Buy your train ticket direct from the Southeastern website and pay no booking fees. Terms and conditions apply to ticket types mentioned. Visit the Southeastern website for details.