Things to Do in Canterbury

A riverside park along the River Stour beneath the medieval Westgate Tower, with flowerbeds, lawns, and a children's play area.

🕐 Open daily during daylight hours

💡 Bring bread for the ducks and swans — they're friendly but can be greedy. Best visited on sunny afternoons when local students picnic there.

A winding pedestrianised street of independent shops, bookshops, cafés, and galleries running from the cathedral to St. Dunstan's Church.

🕐 Shops typically 10:00–17:30, many closed Sundays

💡 Look for the tiny alley called 'Sun Street' — it leads to a quiet courtyard with a second-hand bookshop and a tea room that does a decent pot for under £3.

The oldest church in continuous use in the English-speaking world, dating from the 6th century, with Saxon brickwork and a medieval tower.

🕐 Open for visitors most days 10:00–16:00 (check library for key access)

💡 Key is kept at the nearby library (open 9:00–17:00 weekdays). Call ahead to check if volunteers are around — otherwise you can see the exterior for free anytime.

One of England's oldest and most famous cathedrals, a UNESCO World Heritage site with stunning Gothic architecture and the site of Thomas Becket's murder.

🕐 Mon–Sat 9:00–17:00, Sun 12:30–14:30 (services only)

💡 Skip the paid entry fee by attending a service — evensong is free and you get to hear the choir. Check the cathedral website for service times, as they vary daily.

Underground museum built on a Roman townhouse site, featuring mosaic floors, artefacts, and a reconstructed street scene — all beneath a modern shopping centre.

🕐 Mon–Sat 10:00–17:00, Sun 11:00–16:00 (last entry 30 mins before close)

💡 Entry is free for under 18s and for everyone on the first Saturday of each month, but it gets busy. Go mid-week for quieter viewing.