10 Best Things To Do In Canterbury That Make A Visit Worth It (+ map)

Wonder if Canterbury England is worth visiting? Aside from the famous Canterbury Cathedral and Canterbury Tales, it can be hard to decide if a day trip is worth it if you’ve never been. This is particularly true for expats or vacationers on short time in England when there is so much to see across the UK.

But I can attest that if you love York and enjoy top historical cities in England, then you’ll absolutely love Canterbury. Even if you only have an afternoon to explore, here are the 10 best things to do in Canterbury and why you really must go!

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Why Canterbury Is Worth Visiting

Truth be told my British friend discouraged me from visiting Canterbury in lieu of other places to see while living in England. Thankfully I went anyway (while still managing to see another top-recommended England travel spot) before repatriating to America. For anyone seeking reasons to visit Canterbury, here are my top 5:

If you love York, you’ll love Canterbury. The medieval vibe, city walls, and Westgate Tower are just a few similarities Canterbury has with York.
Canterbury is easy to get to – it’s not like driving narrow roads on the coast of Cornwall, or practically offroading in the Lake District. Pretty much a straight shot off the M2, within 1.5-2 hours from St Albans or London.
You can visit Whitstable, too. If you’re looking for things to do near Canterbury to make a road trip extra worth it, Whitstable and the famous Kent seaside is a short 15-minute drive away.
Crooked buildings and eye-catching English architecture are everywhere in Canterbury if that’s your thing (it is mine!).
Quirky pubs and contemporary cafes – from The Old Weavers House to the Skinny Cafe, there’s a foodie option for everyone.

10 Best Things To Do In Canterbury For A Half Day

If you’re unsure if Canterbury Cathedral alone is worth the visit, here are 9 more best things to do in Canterbury to solidify your England bucket list.

1 – Canterbury City Wall

The Canterbury City Wall is a surprise for anyone visiting Canterbury for the first time. Because the Cathedral is the city’s claim to fame, there is little mention of the wall that surrounds the city itself but definitely a highlight of the visit.

This is an old Roman wall built from locally quarried flint rock around 270-280 AD. The wall’s stature is prominent as you enter Canterbury and certainly a reminder of what it’s like visiting York. It’s 2.5m thick and goes all the way around the city.

Canterbury City Wall reminds me of York – except you can’t walk on it

2 – St. Augustine’s Abbey

St Augustine’s Abbey is a monastery established by King Ethelbert after the arrival of Augustine (sent by Pope Gregory) and his monks to convert Britains to Christianity. The Abbey served as an important pilgrimage point during the Anglo-Saxon period and is where many Kings of Kent and the first archbishops of Canterbury were buried.

3 – Parrot Pub

Parrot Pub, established in 1370, is one of the oldest pubs in Canterbury. Aside from its impressive exterior that captures the attention of anyone over 5’8” tall, there’s something more to look out for. An inscription about parrots by Geoffrey Chaucer in his Canterbury Tales is printed on the building.

Top pub in Canterbury – considered the oldest, too!

4 – Palace Street

For Canterbury’s best half-timbered houses marked with a Historic Building of Kent plaque, Palace Street is a must-do. Don’t miss:

Conquest House, the location of where the murder of Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, was planned.
8 Palace Street
The Crooked House…

Conquest House on Palace Street – where Thomas Becket’s murder was planned

5 – The Crooked House of Canterbury

The Crooked House (or also referred to as Sir John Boys House, King’s Gallery, and Old Kings Shop) is a half-timbered house at the corner where Palace Street meets King and Borough. The historical building might be the 2nd most popular photographed building in Canterbury after the Cathedral itself according to Britain Express. It’s certainly obvious why after a glance at its vibrant red front door.

Above the main entrance, you can read a rather fitting quote from Charles Dickins: “a very old house bulging over the road…leaning forward, trying to see who was passing on the narrow pavement below….”

While Canterbury reminds me more of York, it’s The Crooked House of Canterbury that is more like Windsor.

Chimney alterations caused the building to move sideways

6 – The Buttermarket Square

For the best thing to do in Canterbury that combines a quick visit for food, shopping, and a glimpse of the atypical Cathedral entrance, visit Buttermarket Square. It’s a lively little square just outside the Cathedral entrance with a mix of souvenirs, specialty shops, and places to eat unique to Canterbury. The colorful pottery shop is impossible to miss, with its popular next-door neighbor The Old Buttermarket.

Colorful Buttermarket Square to shop & eat

7 – Canterbury Cathedral

The Canterbury Cathedral is a World Heritage site and likely the spark to want to visit Canterbury in the first place. It not only represents one of the most important Christian structures in England where St Augustine started to influence conversion to Christianity but did you also know?

The Canterbury Cathedral was originally called Christ Church.
A fire destroyed the Cathedral in 1067…and partially again in 1174.
The Murder of Archbishop Thomas Becket organized at the Conquest House on Palace Street happened inside the Cathedral in 1170, ordered by King Henry II. This subsequently made the Cathedral a top pilgrimage location in Europe.
The income from pilgrims paying homage to Becket’s shrine in the Trinity Chapel is what primarily supported the rebuilding of the Cathedral after the 1174 fire.
Geoffrey Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales narrates the story of pilgrims making their way from London to Becket’s shrine.
Edward, the Prince of Wales, son of Edward III, also known as the Black Prince, is buried in the Cathedral in front of Henry IV and his queen, Joan of Navarre. The Black Prince, named after the color of his armor in battle, is famous for his military leadership at just 16 years old.
Some of the stained glass windows in Canterbury Cathedral may be the oldest in the world.

Some stained glass is among the oldest in the world!

8 – The Old Weavers’ House

The Old Weavers House is in fact named after the craft that took place for many centuries before ultimately becoming a current-day restaurant. The impressive five-gabled half-timbered building sits along the River Stour making it a very impressive place to eat in Canterbury.

The Old Weavers House sits along River Stour

9 – Westgate Tower

After centuries of invasions and wars, Westgate Tower is the only gate that remains of the original 7 (some records suggest up to 10) gates built into the Canterbury City Wall.

Visit Westgate Tower for views of the city & a peek in the museuem

10 – Westgate Gardens

One of the best things to do in Canterbury before heading back to the car park is a stroll through Westgate Gardens. In addition to its peaceful picturesque gardens along River Stour, there is a tree that looks like a troll about to come to life like in a DreamWorks movie.

According to Parks & Gardens, this tree is an Oriental Plane that’s 200 years old and believed to have swallowed an iron seat that used to surround it. This explains its 7.6-meter girth when you see it!

In addition to the fascinating troll tree, there are two war memorials and a Tower House. The Westgate Gardens is free to enter.

Can you imagine the iron seat that used to go around it?

BONUS – Canterbury Castle

Although we didn’t see the Castle on our visit to Canterbury, we wish we had. Truthfully, we didn’t know about Canterbury Castle until after we visited. If our kids hadn’t been ready to call it a day (4 hours of walking can be a lot even for an 8 and 11-year-old), we would have discovered it. It’s 1 of the 3 Royal castles originally built in Kent and also along the route of William the Conqueror in 1066.

Short Walking Map of Canterbury England

For a 4-hour visit, covering 3.5 miles, here’s a self-guided walking map of the 10 things to do in Canterbury listed in this post. Canterbury Castle is not included since my kids were tired at that point. However, I highly recommend adding it to the beginning or end of your visit to Canterbury.

Where To Park in Canterbury

21 Lower Bridge St, Canterbury CT1 2LX

Queningate Car Park is located at CT1 2LX. This is a perfect location to start exploring Canterbury because it’s easily accessible to attractions located inside and outside the city walls. It’s named after where the former Queningate Gate (or “Queen’s Gate” for former Princess Bertha) once stood.

Things To Do Near Canterbury UK

While you’re visiting Canterbury UK, consider a short 15-minute drive to the seaside town of Whitstable. Go for a coastal walk, see the colorful boats floating or resting in Whitstable Harbor, and be sure to try famous Whitstable oysters. The mussels are pretty good, too!

Whitstable Harbour

Use postcode CT5 1BZ for the Gorrell Tank Car Park situated near Whitstable Harbour for easy access after a day of walking around Canterbury.

If you have more time to explore, check out these other seaside places and things to do near Canterbury UK, read:

Final Tips On What To Do In Canterbury UK

For weekend brunch with girlfriends or a warm top-up while visiting Canterbury with family on a chilly day, check out the Skinny Kitchen. If you like London’s pretty pink cafes, you’ll enjoy Canterbury’s too.

Pretty pink cafe for brunch or drinks

Be sure to visit the Cathedral Shop to purchase your very own Canterbury Tales (the shop sells a current-day version “Usborne Classics Retold”), The Black Prince, and The Lord’s Prayer. Then you have bragging rights that your version is actually from the Canterbury Cathedral itself.

If you can’t snag this view from Butchery Lane, purchase from Simply Katy Prints on Etsy

Lastly, visiting in the summer to combine a Canterbury visit with Whitstable or another Kent seaside village doesn’t necessarily imply warm beach weather. So don’t wait. Just go any time of year. Pack a coat and see for yourself why Canterbury is 100% worth visiting.

Have you been to Canterbury? Post your favorite thing to do in Canterbury in the comments. x

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