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St Augustine's Abbey

Canterbury, East Kent

St Augustine's Abbey, from St Augustine's AbbeyImage: St Augustine's Abbey

Image: St Augustine's Abbey

Founded in AD 598, St Augustine's Abbey marks the return of Christianity to southern England and is part of Canterbury's World Heritage Site. Walk the extensive ruins, from the Saxon monastery to the Norman rebuild and the later Tudor royal palace, then visit the site museum. It sits just outside the city walls, a few minutes from the cathedral.

Highlights

  • Ruins of one of England's oldest monasteries
  • Site museum covering Saxon, Norman and Tudor phases
  • Part of the Canterbury World Heritage Site
  • Family games around the site

Good to know

  • A Halloween history tour runs on 31 October and 1 November 2026, 4pm to 5pm

Getting there

St Augustine's Abbey, Longport, Canterbury, Kent, CT1 1PF

Get directions

Checked on 15 October 2026 against english-heritage.org.uk. Details change, so please confirm with the venue before you travel. How we check

Nearby

Canterbury Cathedral, from Canterbury CathedralImage: Canterbury Cathedral
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Canterbury Cathedral is the historic heart of the city, a vast medieval cathedral with centuries of stories to uncover. Explore the nave, crypt and stained glass at your own pace with a media guide, or join a guided tour or mini talk, then wander the precincts. Your ticket works as an annual pass, so you can come back within the year.

£10 to £25Directions
St Martin's Church, from St Martin and St PaulImage: St Martin and St Paul
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St Martin's Church

St Martin's is the oldest church in the English-speaking world still in use, and part of Canterbury's World Heritage Site with the cathedral and St Augustine's Abbey. Walk up to the church, look inside and wander the churchyard. It is about a ten minute walk from the city centre and an hour is plenty.

FreeDirections
Canterbury Roman Museum, from Canterbury Roman MuseumImage: Canterbury Roman Museum
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Canterbury Roman Museum

Canterbury's Roman Museum sits below street level around the excavated remains of a Roman town house, a scheduled ancient monument in the city centre. The star is a Roman floor mosaic still in its original position, one of very few left in the UK. It is a compact, family-friendly look at life in Roman Britain and an easy wet-weather stop near the cathedral.

£10 to £25Directions