Last Updated on October 10, 2026 by Tavernier’s Travels
Canterbury is a city you could say we’re fairly well-acquainted with, having lived there for some time, although that was about fifteen years ago now. It had been quite a while since we’d last visited, so we thought it was about time we popped down for a visit and saw how much it had changed since.
Although some of the shops we once frequented were no longer there, and buildings such as the local library are no longer housed in the same place, many of the things that had drawn us to move there in the first place have remained the same. And, during our day trip, we discovered some new favourites too.
Canterbury is one of the oldest cities in the county of Kent, and can be reached from London by train in under an hour. Its history dates back to the Roman era, and having visited York in North Yorkshire this summer, I found myself reminded of the city – only, dare I say, more charming, with perhaps even more medieval streets than York had to offer? (No offence to York – I do still love you!)
Canterbury makes for a relaxing day trip in a part of England steeped in more than a little history, or an ideal short stay if you’d like to explore more of what the city has to offer, including England’s oldest cathedral and plenty of other historic gems.
Here’s how we spent a relaxed day in Canterbury.
How to get to Canterbury, Kent
From London, the journey can take anywhere from under an hour to almost two hours, depending on which train you take. Trains leave from London Charing Cross, St Pancras and Victoria, with services arriving at both Canterbury West and Canterbury East.
If you can, Canterbury West is the slightly better station to arrive at, as it’s just a short walk into the city centre, taking you through the main historic gates, Westgate Towers.
Westgate Towers
If you do arrive in the city from Canterbury West train station and walk towards the town centre, you’ll no doubt approach the historic gates that lead into the city. What I love most about the towers is that, while they’ll have you reaching for your camera, they’re still very much in use today, with cars driving straight through them.
The towers were built around 1380 as a defensive fortress during the Hundred Years’ War, when the townsfolk were concerned about a possible invasion from France. However, that attack never came, and the towers were never called upon to defend the city in such a way. They did, however, go on to be used as a jail for more than 400 years, complete with a special cage where prisoners could beg passersby for spare change.
Just off one of the turnings is Westgate Gardens, which runs along the River Stour and offers some picture-perfect views of the towers.
The Crooked House
This has always been a favourite of mine. The Crooked House is quite literally what it says on the tin – a leaning building that miraculously still stands.
Dating back to 1617, this timber-framed house was built with a larger upper floor to maximise living space while paying less ground tax, as the ground floor was smaller than the one above it. Attempts to alter the building in the 1850s caused the frame to begin leaning, and subsequent attempts to repair it only made matters worse. Thankfully, Canterbury City Council stepped in during the 1980s to save it from collapse.
Today, the building is home to a bookshop and has become something of an icon in the city – and a firm favourite with tourists.
Conquest House
A historic house that, for years when we lived there, stood empty and is now, I believe, a vintage shop (although it wasn’t open when we visited on this occasion). I know it more as the building my mother was once considering leasing – and as the place where the men who murdered St Thomas Becket, the Archbishop of Canterbury, stayed on the night of 29th December 1170, before carrying out the murder in Canterbury Cathedral. It was here that they reportedly planned the attack, stored their weapons and finalised the details.
Walking along the King’s Mile, where both Conquest House and the Crooked House are situated, it’s so easy to feel as though you’re walking through time. The house also played a part in the wedding celebrations of King Charles I, following his marriage to Henrietta Maria of France in Canterbury Cathedral in 1625. It was during the Victorian era that the building’s façade was made to look Tudor, although inside, its medieval interior has reportedly been wonderfully preserved.
St Thomas Becket Church
This is a place where you can once again find a shrine to St Thomas Becket in Canterbury, after it was returned from continental Europe in the 1950s. The shrine had been taken abroad for safekeeping during the Reformation, before Henry VIII ordered its destruction.
St Magdalen Tower still stands here today and is the only remaining part of the former medieval church that once stood on the site. The church itself was rebuilt during the Victorian period in the Gothic Revival style, giving the site the rather fascinating mix of medieval history and Victorian architecture you’ll find in so many parts of Canterbury.
Canterbury Cathedral
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Canterbury Cathedral was founded in 597 AD by St Augustine. It was the first cathedral to be built in England and remains one of the country’s most visited religious sites to this day. The cathedral had long been an important place of pilgrimage, but following the murder of Thomas Becket in 1170, and the shrine that was later installed in his honour, its importance grew considerably. After Henry VIII ordered the destruction of the shrine during the Reformation, a single candle has continued to burn to mark the spot where it once stood.
The cathedral is perhaps the most recognisable landmark in the city, and certainly one of the most beautiful. As we only had part of the afternoon, we didn’t feel we had enough time to properly explore the cathedral and its grounds, particularly when factoring in the cost of admission. Regardless, the cathedral’s presence and dominance over the city can be felt simply by walking through its streets. Peering down many of the surrounding medieval streets offers the opportunity for some potentially stunning photographs – I attempted a few myself, but the sun was blazing down at the time, so they didn’t quite come out as I’d hoped!
Then there is, of course, Christ Church Gate, with its Tudor-Gothic design. It has stood in its current position for more than 500 years, having been built to commemorate the marriage of Catherine of Aragon and Prince Arthur, the elder brother of Henry VIII. Details such as the Tudor Rose and pomegranates, a symbol associated with Catherine, can still be seen in the decoration.
It’s a beautiful landmark, and one that will have you taking picture after picture from Buttermarket Square, trying to do it justice!
Where to eat in Canterbury
Wilding
This was such a charming café that we couldn’t help but be drawn to it. It has been so beautifully decorated, with a little bit of the countryside brought indoors, and we made sure to double back here after exploring a little more of the city.
I’ll admit, I was initially fearful that it might be one of those places that is beautiful, charming and utterly whimsical on the surface, but where the food and drinks are a little disappointing. Thankfully, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the food we ordered was lovely, reasonably priced, and I especially enjoyed my rose latte.
Even popping to the loo was something of an experience, with higgledy-piggledy stairs leading up and down to them!
The owners were lovely, and all in all, it was a lovely independent café to visit while in the city.
A. T. Patisserie
This was another café we made sure to double back to, having been drawn in by the patisseries in the window. It was our last stop of the day, where we decided to enjoy a slice of cake and a drink before heading back to the train station to catch our train home.
It’s lovely and charming, tucked away from the beating heart of the city centre, along the King’s Mile, the road leading towards both the Crooked House and Conquest House. It’s definitely worth a visit if you’re after a sweet treat and somewhere to rest for a little while as you explore.
Weavers
Weavers was once one of our favourite haunts while living in Canterbury. Sitting on the edge of the River Stour, perhaps the name and location is a giveaway that among the other diners, it wasn’t uncommon to be joined by eight-legged friends. While spiders are neither of our favourite creatures, it says a lot that we returned time and again anyway. No doubt, it’s a testament to how delicious their bacon burgers were!
On this visit, however, we didn’t get the chance to venture inside. A queue had already begun to form before the doors had even opened, and it seems our much-loved burgers have since disappeared from the menu anyway. Over the years, Weavers has also become something of a favourite among tourists looking to capture a quintessentially Canterbury scene, which perhaps isn’t surprising considering what a beautiful 16th-century building it is (although its foundations date from much earlier).
Whether you’re visiting for its fascinating history, picturesque streets, riverside walks or simply a good bite to eat, Canterbury has plenty to keep you occupied. It’s a city best explored at a leisurely pace, with plenty of time to wander, stop for a coffee and discover a few hidden gems along the way. And if our latest visit has reminded us of anything, it’s that Canterbury is always worth coming back to.
