Canterbury, a historic city in Kent, England, is steeped in rich heritage and boasts a captivating blend of medieval architecture, serene gardens, and cultural landmarks. It was a major pilgrimage site in the Middle Ages, made famous by Geoffrey Chaucer's Canterbury Tales. The city center is encircled by ancient walls, originally built by the Romans, and has cobbled streets lined with timber-framed houses.
Canterbury Cathedral: A UNESCO World Heritage Site, this magnificent cathedral stands as a testament to over 1,400 years of history, founded in 597 AD. Its soaring spires, intricate stained glass windows, and the hallowed halls echo tales of pilgrims, archbishops, and saints. It is the headquarters of the Church of England, and features Gothic and Romanesque architecture with stunning stone carving.
The doorway to the crypt is beside the altar. This cavernous space is the cathedral's highlight, the only survivor from the cathedral's last devastating fire in 1174, which destroyed the rest of the building. Look for the amazingly well-preserved carvings among the forest of pillars. The wealth of detail in the cathedral is immense and unrelenting, so it's well worth joining a one-hour tour (three daily, from Monday to Saturday) or taking a 40-minute self-guided audio tour.
In Canterbury you encounter stories of pilgrims, scholars, and artists. Whether you’re drawn to its ancient streets or seek solace in its green spaces, this city invites you to step back and savor its charm.
Dane John Gardens: Nestled within the city walls, these picturesque gardens offer respite from the bustling streets. Stroll along tree-lined paths, admire the vibrant flowerbeds, and ascend the Dane John Mound for panoramic views of Canterbury. It’s a tranquil oasis where history and nature converge.
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Canterbury Castle, a Norman castle with a motte and bailey keep, was constructed shortly after Canterbury submitted to William the Conqueror in October 1066. The castle declined in importance following the new castle at Dover, then Canterbury Castle became the county jail. While the keep itself is ruinous and partly restored, a substantial section of the town wall remains, and both keep and wall tell a story which long predates the arrival of William the Conqueror. The medieval wall followed the same two-mile long circuit as the wall constructed by the Romans in the 2nd century AD, when Canterbury was Roman Durovernum. Today, nearly all the walls that remain are of medieval date and are a 14th-century construction built against the threat of invasion by the French. The surviving bastions along its length have the keyhole gun ports that are typical of the early days of cannon use.
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Other attractions include:
The ruins of St Augustine's Abbey, another UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Beaney House of Art & Knowledge, which houses a collection of art, archaeology, and local history. 18 High St; h9am-5pm Mon-Wed, Fri & Sat, 9am-7pm Thu, 10am-5pm Sun)F This mock-Tudor edifice is the grandest on the main shopping thoroughfare, if not the most authentic. Formerly called the Royal Museum & Art Gallery, it has housed Canterbury's main library, a museum and an art gallery since 1899 – it's current name is in honour of the 19th-century benefactor who funded the original building. In addition to the city's main library and the tourist office, the mixed bag of museum exhibitions is worth half an hour between the main sights. There's also a good cafe and interesting temporary exhibitions (admission sometimes charged).
My hotel choice: The Sun Hotel
For more information see the Official Tourist Information website
Eastbridge Hospital 25 High St; adult/child £2/1; h10am-5pm Mon-Sat) A 'place of hospitality' for pilgrims, soldiers and the elderly since 1180, Eastbridge Hospital of St Thomas the Martyr is the last of many such buildings in Canterbury still open to the public. It's worth a visit for the Romanesque undercroft and historic chapel. The 16th-century almshouses, still in use, sit astride Britain's oldest road bridge, dating back more than 800 years.
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Greyfriars Chapel h2-4pm Mon-Sat Easter-Sep) You'll find Greyfriars Chapel in serene riverside gardens behind Eastbridge Hospital. The first monastery was built in England by Franciscan monks in 1267, and its grounds are a tranquil spot to unfurl the picnic blanket.
High St, St George's St, at the east end of Main Street shopping centre. For mainstream stores head for the High St, St Peter's St west end of and the so-called 'King's Mile' (Palace St, Borough and Northgate) are happy hunting grounds.
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Roman Museum Butchery Lane, Daily 10am–5pm • Charge • 01227 785575, adult/child £6/free; h10am-5pm) Given a facelift in 2013 after a reprieve from council cuts, this fascinating subterranean archaeological site gives an insight into Canterbury's everyday life almost two millennia ago. Visitors can stroll a reconstructed Roman marketplace and rooms, including a kitchen, as well as view Roman mosaic floors. Everything you see here was only discovered after WWII bombs did a bit of impromptu excavation.
St Augustine’s Abbey Longport, April–Sept daily 10am–5pm; Oct daily 10am–5pm; Nov–March Sat & Sun 10am–4pm • Charge • http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/st-augustines-abbey St Augustine’s Abbey, founded as a monastery by Augustine in 598, was vastly altered and enlarged by the Normans before being destroyed in the Dissolution. Today, it is an atmospheric site, with more to see than its ruinous state might suggest.
St Martin's Church www.martinpaul.org; North Holmes Rd; h11am-4pm Tue, Thu & Sat Apr-Sep, to 3pm Oct-Mar) This stumpy little building just off the road from Canterbury to Sandwich is thought to be England's oldest parish church in continuous use. It's also where Queen Bertha (wife of the Saxon King Ethelbert) welcomed St Augustine when he arrived in England in the 6th century. A medieval refurbishment has swallowed up the original Saxon church but is still worth the walk out of town to see.
West Gate Towers; St Peter's St. The city's only remaining medieval gateway has become Canterbury's most-discussed sight in recent years. Under threat from council cuts in 2011, it was taken over by a local businessman who spent lavishly turning it into a family attraction.
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Canterbury Tails Cat Cafe VeganVegan 4 8 Mercery Ln Canterbury England Add a phone number Mon 10:00-18:00 Wed-Sat 10:00-18:00 Sun 10:00-17:00 Vegan Cat café based in the heart of Canterbury and run by vegan owners. Offers a range of vegan dishes and drinks. Houses over twenty cats.
ASK, Italian 4 24 High St Canterbury England +44-1227767617 Mon-Thu 11:00-22:00 Fri-Sat 11:00-23:00 Sun 11:00-22:00 Vegan-friendly Lacto Ovo Pizza Italian Mediterranean Delivery Take-out Non-veg Serves meat vegan options available. Casual dining Italian restaurant chain with outlets across the UK. Offers separate vegan menu list of appetizer breads & nibbles salads pasta pizza dessert sorbet and vegan chocolate torte as well a kids' section. Uses vegan cheese.
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Azouma, 4 4 Church St St Paul's Canterbury England +44-1227760076 Mon-Sun 05:00-23:00 Lacto Mediterranean Take-out Catering Middle Eastern African Non-veg Serves meat vegan options available. North African and Arabian restaurant serving all you can eat vegan mezze. Also offers vegan falafel hummus baba ghanoush and more. Has belly dancing on Friday's.
Bill's, 4 6-8 Rose Lane Canterbury England +44-1227479552 Mon-Sat 08:00-23:00 Sun 09:00-22:30 Lacto Ovo Beer/Wine British Non-veg Serves meat vegan options available. Restaurant chain offering extensive menus with vegan options marked (VE). Includes items like acai breakfast bowl breakfast coconut porridge toast with avocado or beans roasted garlic & herb ciabatta toasted focaccia with hummus & olives butter squash lentil salad wild mushroom soup cauliflower steak butternut squash with turmeric & coconut curry and a dessert brulee.
Boho, 43 St Peter's St; snacks £4-14; h9am-6pm Mon-Sat 10am-5pm Sun)The Ambrette 14–15 Beer Cart Lane http://theambrette.co.uk. Smart nouvelle Indian cuisine with a strong focus on local produce with delicious flavours infusing everything from quinoa and mushroom biryani to goat stew with jasmine rice. £££
Burgate Coffee House, 4 43 Burgate Canterbury England +44-1227764946 Mon-Fri 08:30-17:30 Sat 10:00-17:30 Sun 10:00-16:30 Lacto Ovo Beer/Wine British Non-veg Serves meat vegan options available. Coffee house offering vegan lunch dishes as well as a selection of vegan cakes and oat bars. Coconut oat almond and soya milk available for coffee.
Cafe Chambers, 5 59 Palace St Canterbury England +44-1227464285 Mon-Sun 10:00-17:00 Vegan-friendly Lacto Ovo American Fast food Take-out British French Gluten-free Honey Breakfast Non-veg Serves meat vegan options available. American pancake house tucked behind Canterbury Cathedral. Serves plenty of vegan pancakes and also offers two vegan milkshakes three smoothies an all day vegan breakfast stack vegan sausage butty and a house-made vegan meatloaf burger on the lunch menu. The menu states that all pancakes can be made vegan or gluten free when requested and other recipes can be adapted too.
Cafe des Amis, 95 St Dunstan’s St http://cafedez.com. Lively Mexican/Tex-Mex/South American place with eclectic carnivalesque decor and delicious food. Try the paella followed by a bubbling chocolate fundido. £££ 7 St Margaret’s St
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SocialiteCanterbury. Opened in 2022 this shiny new rooftop restaurant is already making waves on Canterbury’s dining scene. Though the sleek hangout is poised atop the Hilton a separate entrance and lift will whisk diners straight up to Socialite. The menu will showcase locally sourced seafood and meat.
Cafe du Soleil, 1 5 Pound Ln Canterbury England +44-1227479999 Mon-Thu 12:00-21:00 Fri-Sat 12:00-21:30 Sun 12:00-21:00 Lacto Ovo Pizza Italian Mediterranean Beer/Wine Non-veg Serves meat vegan options available. Mediterranean restaurant located in an eighteenth century mill. Offers clearly marked vegan choices such as sourdough bruschetta with cannellini bean puree cauliflower fritters pizza with roasted butternut squash & vegan cheese and a chocolate & date brownie for dessert.
Chapter Canterbury, 4 11-12 Burgate Canterbury England +44-1227809198 Mon-Fri 12:00-22:00 Sat 11:00-22:00 Sun 11:00-20:00 Lacto Pizza Italian Delivery Take-out Non-veg Serves meat vegan options available. Pizza dough in vegan and made in-house. Carries vegan mozzarella which can substituted on any pizza. Option to build your own pizza. No written on the menu is a vegan banana bread with black current sorbet.
City Fish Bar, 6 30 St Margaret’s St Canterbury England +44-1227760873 Mon-Sat 10:00-19:00 Sun 10:00-16:00 Vegan-friendly Lacto Ovo Fast food Delivery Take-out British Non-veg Serves meat vegan options available. Traditional fish and chips which was awarded the best in the south east and the best in Canterbury. Offers a vegan menu since Nov 2019 which includes vish and chips tofu bites vegan battered sausage battered mushrooms and battered Oreos. Note that vegan items are reported to be cooked in the same oil as non-vegan items. Located next door to The Canterbury Tales.
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Cosy Club, 1 20-21 Saint Margaret's Street (at Whitefriars Canterbury) Canterbury England +44-1227387046 Mon-Wed 09:00-23:00 Thu 09:00-00:00 Fri-Sat 09:00-01:00 Sun 09:00-23:00 Vegan-friendly Lacto Ovo Italian Mediterranean Beer/Wine Asian British European Fusion Gluten-free Honey Breakfast Non-veg Serves meat vegan options available. British all-day-dining restaurant with separate vegan menus for breakfast lunch and dinner. Choices include vegan brunch dirty breakfast butty shakshuka massaman cauliflower vegan cheeseburger and chestnut mushroom risotto.
Cote, Chain Rating 2 Longmarket City Centre Canterbury England +44-1227786386 Mon-Fri 09:00-22:00 Sat-Sun 10:00-22:00 Lacto Ovo Mediterranean Beer/Wine European French Breakfast Non-veg Serves meat vegan options available. French brasserie chain with a Normandy atmosphere offering a separate vegetarian and vegan menu. Labeled vegan dishes include mushroom pate soup Moving Mountains burger and a chickpea tabouleh. Also has sides and vegan ice-cream for dessert. Also offers vegan breakfast and brunch options.
Don Juan Sabor, Latino 1 Dane John Gardens Canterbury England +44-1227378100 Sat 10:30-17:00 Sun 10:30-16:00 Fast food Argentinian South American Latin Non-veg Serves meat vegan options available. South American cafe set in a park. Uses fresh ingredients with log fire for cooking food. Will cook a vegan meal using a separate pan when you ask. Ask for the vegetable mix in cornflour bread.
Fordwich Arms, 2 King St Canterbury England +44-1227710444 Wed-Sat 12:00-14:30 18:00-21:30 Sun 12:00-17:00 Lacto Ovo Beer/Wine British Honey Non-veg Serves meat vegan options available. Michelin star rated pub & fine dining restaurant with a separate vegan menu.
Goods Shed, Station Rd West http://thegoodsshed.co.uk. It doesn’t get any more locally sourced than this – a buzzing shabby-chic Modern British restaurant in the fabulous Goods Shed farmers’ market where most of the ingredients are provided by the stalls themselves. The regularly changing menu might feature dishes such as pressed leek and goat curd with herb salad or steamed hake with wilted chard. Great breakfasts too. £££ Farmers market food hall and fabulous restaurant rolled into one this converted warehouse by the Canterbury West train station is a hit with everyone from self-caterers to sit-down gourmets. The chunky wooden tables sit slightly above the market hubbub but in full view of its appetite-whetting stalls and daily specials exploit the freshest farm goodies England has to offer.
Happy Samurai, 5 4 Butchery Ln Canterbury England +44-1227472727 Mon-Sat 11:30-21:30 Sun 11:30-16:00 Lacto Ovo Japanese Beer/Wine Catering Non-veg Serves meat vegan options available. Japanese restaurant offering vegan sushi and main dishes that can be made vegan upon request.
Kitch, 18 4 St Peter's St Canterbury England +44-1227504983 Mon-Fri 08:30-17:00 Sat 09:00-17:00 Sun 10:00-16:30 Vegan-friendly Lacto Ovo Organic Juice bar Take-out British European Breakfast Non-veg Serves meat vegan options available. Makes food to-order with some dishes which are or can be made vegan marked VGN. Breakfast all day. Lunch starts 12pm. Juice smoothies coffee and tea. Sources from local suppliers.
Lanna Thai , 4 2 Dover St Canterbury England +44-1227462876 Tue-Sun 12:00-11:00 Thai Non-veg Serves meat vegan options available. Thai food restaurant where you could get dishes with tofu.
Lily's Bistro, 5 15 Palace St (at Near Canterbury Cathedral) Canterbury England +44-1227769555 Tue-Fri 10:00-16:00 Vegan-friendly Lacto Ovo Delivery Take-out Catering European Non-veg Serves meat vegan options available. Many vegan choices on the menu & more by request. Holds some 'vegan pop-ups' when the menu is entirely vegan.
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Micro Roastery 1 4 Saint Margaret's St Canterbury England +44-1227636776 Mon-Fri 08:00-18:00 Sat 09:00-18:00 Sun 10:00-17:00 Lacto Ovo Bakery European Breakfast Non-veg Serves meat vegan options available. An independent cafe which offers multiple vegan milks (soy two types of oat) & vegan food. Often has a vegan special too as well as vegan cakes.
No. 35, 2 35 Saint Margaret's St Canterbury England +44-1227637300 Mon-Sat 09:00-17:00 Sun 09:00-16:00 Lacto Ovo Beer/Wine British European Breakfast Non-veg Serves meat vegan options available. An independent cafe that offers plant-based milk for drinks as well as vegan cakes and pastries such as vegan chocolate cake victoria sandwiches and croissants. Also serves vegan breakfast which may include avocado on toast and a breakfast plate with tofu scramble. Lunch options may include a vegan burger and BBQ wrap.
Notorious, BRG 10 72 Castle St Canterbury England +44-1227787318 Mon-Sat 11:00-22:00 Sun 12:00-21:00 Vegan-friendly Lacto Ovo American Fast food Beer/Wine Delivery Take-out Catering Honey Non-veg Serves meat vegan options available. Has a separate vegan menu. All items have a vegan alternative. Includes burgers fries mac and cheese and milkshakes. Uses Beyond meat and has vegan bacon and vegan cheese. 1 of 2 locations.
Olive Grove, 2 12 Best Lane Canterbury England +44-1227764388 Mon-Wed 12:00-22:00 Thu-Sat 12:00-23:00 Sun 12:00-22:30 Lacto Ovo Italian Mediterranean Middle Eastern Honey Non-veg Serves meat vegan options available. Moroccan and Italian restaurant with plenty of vegan dishes as well as the option to have non-vegan options made with vegan cheeze.
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Oscar & Bentley', 7 10 Guildhall St Canterbury England +44-1227454544 Mon-Tue 10:30-17:00 Wed-Sat 10:30-21:00 Sun 10:30-17:00 Lacto Organic Western Beer/Wine British Gluten-free Non-veg Serves meat vegan options available. Gluten free restaurant with a separate vegan menu with dishes including a lentil burger risotto potato salad starters and desserts.
Pilgrims Hotel, 2 18 the Friars Canterbury England +44-1227464531 Mon-Wed 12:00-21:00 Fri-Sat 12:00-22:30 Sun 12:00-21:00 Lacto Ovo Beer/Wine British French Non-veg Serves meat vegan options available. The hotel's restaurant serves classic French & English cuisine with several vegetarian choices and can make a vegan Pilgrim's pie (call head to order).
Pinocchio's, 1 64 Castle St Canterbury England +44-1227457538 Tue-Fri 12:00-15:00 17:00-22:00 Sat 12:00-22:30 Sun 12:00-21:00 Lacto Italian Beer/Wine Non-veg Serves meat vegan options available. Italian dining. Will make vegan meals upon advanced order.
The Veg Box Café, VegetarianVegetarian 91 17B Burgate Canterbury England +44-1227456654 Mon-Wed 08:30-17:00 Thu-Sat 09:00-17:00 Sun 09:00-16:00 Vegan-friendly Lacto Ovo Organic Western Take-out British Restaurant serving lunch afternoon tea and snacks daily plus dinner. Companion animal friendly. Reported to offer dishes containing eggs and/or dairy September 2023.
Tiny Tim’s, 34 St Margaret’s St http://tinytimstearoom.com. This incongruously named elegant 1930s-inspired tearoom offers some thirty blends of tea as well as all-day breakfasts light lunches cakes and filling afternoon teas. In good weather sit in the cute back garden. £ This hip eatery in a prime spot on the main drag is extraordinarily popular and you'll be lucky to get a table on busy shopping days. Cool tunes lilt through the chic retro dining space while chilled diners chow down on humungous burgers full-monty breakfasts and imaginative owner-cooked international mains. Boho doesn't do bookings so be prepared to queue.
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Thomas Ingoldsby
Travelodge Canterbury Chaucer Central
Number 8
The Sun Hotel
Cathedral Gate Hotel
ABode
Canterbury Cathedral Lodge Hotel 4star
Hampton by Hilton Canterbury
Coach House Canterbury
Corner House
