Canterbury is the UK's most important cathedral city and is home to 1400 years of Christian history. It's located in the far southeast of the country, surrounded by fertile green farmland. The city's ancient history cascades through a network of narrow cobbled streets, providing an old-world atmosphere that makes many visitors wish they came for more than just a day trip.
The World Heritage Canterbury Cathedral is the unmissable attraction and dozens of British monarchs are buried in its vault. Gothic spires act as compass points, guiding visitors into and around the city – there are few places in Canterbury where these spires are not in view. The cathedral is Southeast England's most visited attraction, enthralling thousands of visitors and pilgrims every day. Rich architectural detail fills the cathedral and there's a vibrant sense of spirituality and worship, combined with captivating stories of murder that whisper from the walls.
St Augustine's Abbey and St Martin's Church are smaller but equally important Christian monuments to visit in conjunction with the cathedral. Canterbury's maze of central lanes are easy to explore without a map, packed with antique stores, tea shops, and serene architecture. To fully understand the 14th century history visit the Canterbury Heritage Museum. Most visit Canterbury on a London day trip; spending the night allows visitors to experience the cathedral's evening choir song.
There are high-speed trains to Central London from Canterbury West Railway Station and the journey takes less than an hour. Canterbury East Railway Station has a wider choice of local train services. Both stations are less than 10 minutes walk from the city centre and Canterbury is easy to explore on foot.
For such a picturesque city Canterbury has a rather barbaric past. The cathedral was where Catholic Archbishop Thomas Becket was murdered in 1170 and is the final resting place of a series of disposed monarchs.