The south-west front of Canterbury Cathedral with its towers, seen from the precincts

Canterbury & Kent

A cathedral city, oyster harbours, Thanet's sandy bays and the castles and white cliffs of the Channel coast

Browse the areasGetting there

East Kent is the corner of England closest to France. Canterbury sits inland on the River Stour, with its cathedral, medieval walls and the Westgate; Whitstable and its working harbour lie a few miles to the north, and the Isle of Thanet's resorts, Margate and Broadstairs, face the North Sea at the county's tip.

South of Thanet the coast turns towards the Channel: Deal has a long shingle beach, a pier and two of Henry VIII's artillery forts, and Dover sits under its castle between the white cliffs, beside the ferry port. High-speed trains from London St Pancras reach every town in this guide, so each works as a base or as a day out.

  • World Heritage SiteSince 1988Canterbury Cathedral, St Augustine's Abbey and St Martin's Church (UNESCO list entry 496)
  • London to Canterbury51 minutesHigh-speed Southeastern trains from St Pancras to Canterbury West, according to Southeastern
  • London to MargateAbout 1 h 30High-speed trains from St Pancras, according to Southeastern and Visit Thanet
  • Dover to FranceAbout 90 minutesFerry crossing time given by White Cliffs Country; check the ferry operators for each route

Areas

5 places to begin

Each area has its own mini guide with 64 sights, places to eat and drink, and where to stay across the city.

Canterbury: The south-west front of Canterbury Cathedral, seen from the precincts
18 sights · 30 places to eat

Canterbury

The cathedral, the medieval walls and the Westgate on the River Stour

Open the mini guide →
Whitstable: Fishing boats moored in Whitstable harbour, with black-boarded harbour buildings behind
7 sights · 30 places to eat

Whitstable

Oysters, a working harbour and a long shingle beach facing the Thames Estuary

Open the mini guide →
Margate and Broadstairs: Turner Contemporary gallery on Margate seafront, with people on the steps outside
20 sights · 26 places to eat

Margate and Broadstairs

Sandy bays, Turner Contemporary, Margate Old Town and Dickens's Broadstairs

Open the mini guide →
Deal: Deal beach of shingle with the pier stretching out to sea
8 sights · 18 places to eat

Deal

A shingle seafront, a pier and two Tudor castles

Open the mini guide →
Dover: Dover Castle from the air, above the town and the sea
11 sights · 15 places to eat

Dover

Dover Castle, the white cliffs and the busiest ferry port to France

Open the mini guide →

Sights

Highlights across Canterbury & Kent

A sight from each area. Every area guide lists the rest, with directions and official links.

Canterbury Cathedral, Canterbury
Canterbury

Canterbury Cathedral

Seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury and part of the World Heritage Site; Romanesque and early Gothic, partly rebuilt after a fire in 1174.

 Whitstable Harbour, Whitstable
Whitstable

Whitstable Harbour

Working harbour with fishing boats, food and gift huts, the South Quay Shed and boat trips.

 Turner Contemporary, Margate and Broadstairs
Margate and Broadstairs

Turner Contemporary

Contemporary art gallery on the harbour, named after J. M. W. Turner, who went to school in Margate and returned throughout his life.

 Deal Castle, Deal
Deal

Deal Castle

Artillery fort built by Henry VIII in 1539-40, with six inner and outer bastions, now run by English Heritage.

 Dover Castle, Dover
Dover

Dover Castle

Grade I listed castle founded in the 11th century on the cliffs above the port, run by English Heritage.

 Christ Church Gate, Canterbury
Canterbury

Christ Church Gate

Grade I listed gateway leading from the city centre into the cathedral precincts.

 Whitstable Castle, Whitstable
Whitstable

Whitstable Castle

Castellated manor house, also called Tankerton Castle, between the harbour and Tankerton; Visit Canterbury suggests it for afternoon tea.

 Margate Main Sands, Margate and Broadstairs
Margate and Broadstairs

Margate Main Sands

Sandy beach in front of the town, between the Harbour Arm and Dreamland.

Photos

Walmer Castle, Deal1 / 12

With kids in Canterbury & Kent

Animal attractions, railways, science centres, beaches and caves from our Canterbury & Kent guide, grouped by type. We hold no age ratings or child prices: check each place’s own site for age limits, height rules and family tickets.

Beaches and swimming

Caves and underground

Practical help: travelling with children and where to stay in Canterbury & Kent.

Itineraries

Plan your days

Short routes that stitch the areas together.

St Augustine's Abbey, Canterbury
1 day

Canterbury

  • Canterbury Cathedral — the cathedral and its precincts in the morning
  • St Augustine's Abbey — the abbey ruins and St Martin's Church, the other two parts of the World Heritage Site
  • The Westgate — the Westgate and Westgate Gardens along the Stour towards evening
St Martin's Church, Canterbury
2 days

Canterbury and the north coast

Margate Harbour Arm, Margate and Broadstairs
3 to 4 days

Round the coast

  • Margate — Margate's sands and galleries
  • Broadstairs — Viking Bay and the cliff-top walk
  • Deal — the seafront, the pier and the castles
  • Dover — Dover Castle and the white cliffs

Getting there

Arriving in Canterbury & Kent

Southeastern's high-speed trains from London St Pancras International serve every town in this guide, and slower mainline trains run from London Victoria and Charing Cross. Dover is also the arrival point for ferries from France. Always check the operators for current times, fares and disruption.

By high-speed train

Southeastern gives 51 minutes from St Pancras to Canterbury West, around 1 hour 15 minutes to Whitstable and to Dover Priory, around 1 hour 30 minutes to Margate and under 1 hour 30 minutes to Deal. Visit Thanet gives about 85 minutes to Broadstairs.

By mainline train

Canterbury has two stations, West and East, both a short walk from the centre. Visit Thanet says trains from London Victoria to the Thanet towns take about 1 hour 50 minutes, and from Charing Cross and Waterloo East about 2 hours.

By ferry or Le Shuttle

White Cliffs Country says ferries cross between Dover and France in about 90 minutes, with DFDS, Irish Ferries and P&O Ferries, and that Le Shuttle takes 35 minutes between Calais and Folkestone. Some Dover routes carry vehicle passengers only: check before you book.

By car and coach

Visit Canterbury says the city is served by the M2 and has three Park and Ride sites. National Express coaches run from London Victoria Coach Station to the Thanet towns in about 2 hours, according to Visit Thanet.

Journey times on this page are the headline figures published by Southeastern and the local tourist boards (checked on 2 November 2026). We do not publish timetables or fares.

Trains along the coast

Southeastern's high-speed trains link Canterbury, Whitstable, Margate, Broadstairs, Deal and Dover, so most trips between the towns in this guide need no car. Check National Rail Enquiries for the route and any change of train.

Buses

Stagecoach runs most local buses. In Thanet, Visit Thanet says the Loop bus links Margate, Broadstairs and Ramsgate up to every 8 to 10 minutes, seven days a week, and route 8 runs to Canterbury.

Walking and cycling

Visit Thanet describes the Viking Coastal Trail, a 32-mile route for walkers and cyclists that joins Margate, Broadstairs and Ramsgate along the coast. The town centres in this guide are all compact enough to explore on foot.

Driving and parking

Canterbury's three Park and Ride sites save driving into the walled centre. Visit Thanet lists free Saturday parking at named car parks in Margate, Cliftonville, Broadstairs and Ramsgate: check the council before you rely on it.

Best time to go

Canterbury & Kent through the year

East Kent is busiest on summer weekends and in the school holidays, when the beaches, Canterbury and the Dover ferries all fill up. Check opening days before you go out of season: several attractions open only at weekends in winter.

SpringMarch to May

Quieter streets in Canterbury and good walking weather on the cliffs between Dover and Deal. Canterbury Cathedral's lower October to March ticket price ends in April.

SummerJune to August

The beaches at Margate, Broadstairs and Whitstable are at their busiest. Canterbury Cathedral charges its highest ticket price on weekends in July and August; book trains and rooms early.

AutumnSeptember to November

Calmer seafronts and lower cathedral prices from October. Some attractions cut their opening days: English Heritage listed Dover Castle as open at weekends only when we checked in November.

WinterDecember to February

A good time for Canterbury's cathedral and museums. Many seaside cafés and attractions keep shorter hours, so check before you travel to the coast.

Day trips

Beyond the city

Ideas for a day away from Canterbury & Kent. Check the operators for times and tickets.

The Barbican gate over the road into Sandwich
Medieval town

Sandwich

A former Cinque Port on the River Stour, now inland, which White Cliffs Country calls the most complete medieval town in England. It is on the high-speed line between Deal and Ramsgate.

White Cliffs Country: Sandwich →
Timber-framed and white-painted houses on cobbled Mermaid Street in Rye
East Sussex

Rye

A medieval hill town just over the Sussex border, once a Cinque Port and now about two miles from the sea, with cobbled Mermaid Street at its heart.

Visit 1066 Country: Rye →
Leeds Castle across its moat
Castle and gardens

Leeds Castle

A Grade I listed castle on islands in a lake formed by the River Len, south-east of Maidstone. Check opening times and tickets on the castle's own site.

Leeds Castle →

FAQ

Good to know before you go

Can I visit Canterbury as a day trip from London?

Yes. Southeastern's high-speed trains take 51 minutes from St Pancras to Canterbury West, and Canterbury East is about five minutes' walk from the centre. Visit Canterbury calls the city one of the easiest day trips from London.

Do I need to book Canterbury Cathedral in advance?

No: the cathedral says tickets can be booked online or bought on the day at its Visitor Centre. Services and private prayer are always free. Parts of the building can close for services or events, so check the cathedral's opening times before you go.

Which is the best seaside base for a short stay?

Margate has the most galleries, restaurants and nightlife; Broadstairs is smaller and quieter around Viking Bay; Whitstable is the closest to Canterbury; Deal suits a calmer stay near the castles. All four are on the high-speed line from London.

How do I get from Canterbury to the coast without a car?

Trains run from Canterbury to the Thanet towns and to Dover and Deal, and Visit Thanet says Stagecoach route 8 links Canterbury with Thanet. Whitstable and Herne Bay are about 15 minutes away, according to Visit Canterbury.

Can I walk on to a ferry at Dover?

It depends on the operator and route. DFDS says foot passengers are not permitted on its Dover to Calais and Dover to Dunkirk routes. Check each operator before you travel, and see our ports and ferries page.

Are the white cliffs easy to reach from Dover?

Yes, on foot. The National Trust's visitor centre is at Langdon Cliffs; the Trust says it is about 2 miles from Dover Priory station, a 40-minute walk following brown signs, with a steep climb to the cliff top. South Foreland Lighthouse is a further 2-mile walk.

Nearby places

Guides near Canterbury & Kent

Our closest other guides, by straight-line distance between centres. Road and rail distances are longer: check a journey planner.

More in England · Places A to Z · Getting between regions

Photo credits

Photos from Wikimedia Commons, used under the licences shown. All photo credits

Plan it properly

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