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Cathedral
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.
Directions Website Report a problem with Canterbury Cathedral
A mini guide to
Canterbury
The cathedral, the medieval walls and the Westgate on the River Stour
Photos
1 / 10Welcome to the area
The cathedral, the medieval walls and the Westgate on the River Stour
Canterbury is a walled city on the River Stour and the seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury. The cathedral, the ruins of St Augustine's Abbey and St Martin's Church together form a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and much of the medieval centre still sits inside the line of the city walls, entered from the west through the Westgate.
The centre is small and flat. The High Street and St Peter's Street run from the Westgate to the cathedral's Christ Church Gate, with the Beaney museum and the visitor information centre on the way; Canterbury West station is just outside the Westgate and Canterbury East is beside the walls on the south side.
Highlights
Start here
If you only have a few hours, these are good places to begin.
Historic building
Christ Church Gate
Grade I listed gateway leading from the city centre into the cathedral precincts.
Ruined abbey
St Augustine's Abbey
Ruins of a Benedictine monastery founded in 598 and dissolved in 1538, now looked after by English Heritage.
Directions Website Report a problem with St Augustine's Abbey
Church
St Martin's Church
A working parish church on the eastern edge of the city, part of the World Heritage Site with the cathedral and the abbey.
Historic building
The Westgate
The largest surviving medieval city gate in England, built of Kentish ragstone around 1379; the road still runs between its drum towers.
Park
Westgate Gardens
Riverside gardens on the Stour next to the Westgate.
Find your way
On the map
The map shows Canterbury and the streets around it. The Getting there page lists nearby stops and stations.
Insider tips
Before you go
1
Book or arrive early at the cathedral
The cathedral opens to sightseers from 10.00 Monday to Saturday and the church from 12.30 on Sundays, according to its website; services can close parts of it.
2
Use both stations
Canterbury West suits the Westgate end of the city and the high-speed line; Canterbury East is closer to the walls and the south side.
3
Walk the walls
A stretch of the medieval wall near Canterbury East and Dane John Gardens can be walked on top; it is a quick way between the station and the cathedral.
4
See all three World Heritage parts
St Augustine's Abbey and St Martin's Church are a short walk east of the cathedral, outside the walls.
Tips from the Britlens editors
Canterbury & Kent
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A shingle seafront, a pier and two Tudor castles
Open the mini guide →Photo credits
- Canterbury (area photo): Hans Musil, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Canterbury Cathedral: Hans Musil, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Christ Church Gate: Tony Hisgett from Birmingham, UK, CC BY 2.0, source
- St Augustine's Abbey: Rob Farrow, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- St Martin's Church: Oosoom, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- The Westgate: Tony Hisgett from Birmingham, UK, CC BY 2.0, source
- Westgate Gardens: G Laird, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Canterbury city walls: Ymblanter, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Dane John Gardens: Richard Nevell, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Canterbury Castle: John Fielding from Norwich, UK, CC BY 2.0, source
- The Beaney House of Art and Knowledge: Tilman2007, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Canterbury Roman Museum: Linda Spashett (Storye book), CC BY 3.0, source
- Eastbridge Hospital: ABrocke, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Greyfriars Chapel: Kim Fyson, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- St Dunstan's Church: Tilman2007, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Marlowe Theatre: Adam Bishop, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Kent Museum of Freemasonry: Pre36sunbeam, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Whitstable: Michael Garlick, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Margate and Broadstairs: DeFacto, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Deal: Nilfanion, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Dover: Chensiyuan, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Photos from Wikimedia Commons, used under the licences shown. All photo credits
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