England · getting around

Getting around Canterbury & Kent

We have not yet assessed getting around Canterbury & Kent. The official links below, and the region guide, are the place to start.

Facts last checked Oct 25, 2026. Britlens is independent: see our editorial policy.

Not yet assessed Our reading of the sources below, not an official rating.

Margate Harbour Arm, Margate and Broadstairs
Margate Harbour Arm, Margate and BroadstairsPhoto: No Swan So Fine, CC BY-SA 4.0
The south-west front of Canterbury Cathedral, seen from the precincts
The south-west front of Canterbury Cathedral, seen from the precinctsPhoto: Hans Musil, CC BY-SA 4.0
Fishing boats moored in Whitstable harbour, with black-boarded harbour buildings behind
Fishing boats moored in Whitstable harbour, with black-boarded harbour buildings behindPhoto: Michael Garlick, CC BY-SA 2.0

Stations, bridges and harbours from our guide where we hold a photo; each links to the area page that lists it.

Without a car

Getting here

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. 1

Southeastern: trains to Canterbury (opens in new tab) · Southeastern: trains to Margate (opens in new tab) · Southeastern: trains to Dover (opens in new tab) · National Rail Enquiries (opens in new tab)

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. 2

Visit Canterbury: plan your journey (opens in new tab) · Visit Thanet: getting here (opens in new tab)

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. 3

White Cliffs Country: getting here (opens in new tab) · Port of Dover (opens in new tab) · Ports and ferries (opens in new tab)

Once you are there

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.

Stops near each area

From our area guides (Canterbury & Kent): the stations and stops listed for each base. See each area's Getting there page for more.

Canterbury
  • Canterbury West: Southeastern high-speed trains to London St Pancras (51 minutes, according to Southeastern) and trains to the coast. The Westgate, St Dunstan's and the High Street
  • Canterbury East: Mainline trains to London Victoria and to Dover. The city walls, Dane John Gardens and the south of the centre
  • Canterbury bus station: Stagecoach buses, including route 8 to Thanet according to Visit Thanet. St George's Street and the shopping centre
  • Park and Ride: Visit Canterbury lists three Park and Ride sites. Driving in without parking in the walled centre

Canterbury: getting there

Whitstable
  • Whitstable: Southeastern high-speed trains to London St Pancras (around 1 hour 15 minutes, according to Southeastern) and trains to Margate. The town centre and the harbour, less than 10 minutes' walk to the beach
  • Harbour Street bus stops: Stagecoach buses to Canterbury and Herne Bay. Getting to Canterbury without the train

Whitstable: getting there

Margate and Broadstairs
  • Margate: Southeastern high-speed trains to London St Pancras (around 1 hour 30 minutes, according to Southeastern) and trains from London Victoria. Main Sands, Dreamland and the seafront
  • Broadstairs: Southeastern high-speed trains to London St Pancras (about 85 minutes, according to Visit Thanet). The town centre and Viking Bay
  • The Loop: Stagecoach bus between Margate, Broadstairs and Ramsgate, up to every 8 to 10 minutes according to Visit Thanet. Moving between the towns without a car
  • Viking Coastal Trail: A 32-mile walking and cycling route round Thanet, according to Visit Thanet. Walking or cycling between the bays

Margate and Broadstairs: getting there

Deal
  • Deal: Southeastern high-speed trains to London St Pancras (under 1 hour 30 minutes, according to Southeastern). The High Street and the seafront
  • Walmer: High-speed trains on the same line, according to White Cliffs Country. Walmer Castle and the south end of the seafront
  • Local buses: Stagecoach runs local buses, according to White Cliffs Country. Dover and Sandwich

Deal: getting there

Dover
  • Dover Priory: Southeastern high-speed trains to London St Pancras (around 1 hour 15 minutes, according to Southeastern). The town centre, about 2 miles from the white cliffs visitor centre
  • Port of Dover: Ferries to France with DFDS, Irish Ferries and P&O Ferries, according to White Cliffs Country. Crossings to Calais and Dunkirk
  • Pencester Road bus terminal: Stagecoach buses, according to White Cliffs Country. Deal and Canterbury

Dover: getting there

No schedules or fares are copied here: check the operator or Traveline for the day you travel. Taxis and ride-hailing apps operate in most towns, but we have no sourced coverage data for rural areas, so do not count on one at short notice.

With a car

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. 2

General rules (driving on the left, licenses, roundabouts, speed limits in mph, parking, tolls, EV charging): Driving in Britain. Charge points: Zapmap (opens in new tab).

To and from other regions

Straight-line distance from our region centers, and the fastest train time that National Rail publishes on its destination pages (not a schedule; it may include a change). Where we found no figure we say so. The full table is on getting between regions.

Distance and fastest published train time from Canterbury & Kent to other regions
To or fromStraight lineFastest train (National Rail)Notes

Figures retrieved Oct 25, 2026 for the intercity data. Schedules change.

Official links

More on Canterbury & Kent: Canterbury & Kent guide · how to get there

Questions people ask

Can I get around Canterbury & Kent without a car?

We have not yet assessed getting around Canterbury & Kent. The official links below, and the region guide, are the place to start.

Do I need to check a driving zone in Canterbury & Kent?

We found no charging or low emission zone for Canterbury & Kent in the official pages we read. Check the council site before you drive in.

Sources

Fetched and read on Oct 25, 2026. Rules, prices and schedules change: check the source before you rely on it. Where a page blocked automated access we say so and link it.

  1. Southeastern: trains to Canterbury (opens in new tab), southeasternrailway.co.uk
  2. Visit Canterbury: plan your journey (opens in new tab), canterbury.co.uk
  3. White Cliffs Country: getting here (opens in new tab), whitecliffscountry.org.uk