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To Do in Kent
The River Stour and Westgate Gardens in Canterbury, with the medieval Westgate towers behind
Photo: Diliff, CC BY-SA 3.0

Things to do in Canterbury

Canterbury is a compact medieval city built around its cathedral, with museums, river punting and independent shops inside the old walls. Wildwood, Howletts and the coast at Whitstable are all close by.

Ask Doodle about CanterburyFilter everything nearby

Places in and around Canterbury

St Augustine's Abbey, from St Augustine's AbbeyImage: St Augustine's Abbey
History and heritageCanterbury · under 1 km

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.

English Heritage members go free, and the site is included in the Canterbury World Heritage Pass. Check the website for current prices.Directions
Canterbury Cathedral, from Canterbury CathedralImage: Canterbury Cathedral
History and heritageCanterbury · under 1 km

Canterbury Cathedral

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
Canterbury Roman Museum, from Canterbury Roman MuseumImage: Canterbury Roman Museum
MuseumsCanterbury · under 1 km

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
Canterbury Guided Tours, from Canterbury Guided ToursImage: Canterbury Guided Tours
History and heritageCanterbury · under 1 km

Canterbury Guided Tours

Canterbury Guided Tours runs the city's official walking tour, a 90-minute stroll through medieval lanes past old pilgrim inns and into the Cathedral Precincts. Qualified Green Badge guides share the city's history and hidden corners along the way. It suits first-time visitors, couples and families who want the highlights in a short time.

Ticket prices are shown when booking online. Gift vouchers are available.Directions
The Canterbury Tales Experience, from The Canterbury TalesImage: The Canterbury Tales
Indoor and rainy dayCanterbury · under 1 km

The Canterbury Tales Experience

The Canterbury Tales Experience is an immersive walk-through attraction that follows Chaucer's pilgrims from the Tabard Inn to the Chequers of Hope Inn in Canterbury. Handcrafted sets, sound and effects bring the stories to life, and the whole attraction was refurbished in 2026. It suits families, teens and visitors to the city and lasts 45 to 60 minutes.

£25 to £50Directions
The River Stour and Westgate Gardens in Canterbury, with the medieval Westgate towers behindPhoto of Canterbury: Diliff, CC BY-SA 3.0
History and heritageCanterbury · under 1 km

The Canterbury Ghost Tour

The Canterbury Ghost Tour is a 90-minute evening walk through the city's darker side with local historian and ghost hunter John Hippisley, mixing history, humour and haunting tales. Meet outside Alberrys on St Margaret's Street and follow the streets after dark. It suits teens, couples and groups looking for a fun night out.

£10 to £25Directions
The Beaney House of Art and Knowledge, from The Beaney House of Art & KnowledgeImage: The Beaney House of Art & Knowledge
MuseumsCanterbury · under 1 km

The Beaney House of Art and Knowledge

The Beaney is Canterbury's free museum, art gallery and library on the High Street. Browse the art and museum collections, join a spotlight tour, and pick up visitor information for the city. It is an easy indoor stop between the cathedral and the shops.

FreeDirections
St Martin's Church, from St Martin and St PaulImage: St Martin and St Paul
History and heritageCanterbury · under 1 km

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
The River Stour and Westgate Gardens in Canterbury, with the medieval Westgate towers behindPhoto of Canterbury: Diliff, CC BY-SA 3.0
Arts and cultureCanterbury · under 1 km

The Marlowe Theatre

The Marlowe is Canterbury's main theatre, on The Friars in the city centre, with a programme of performances, events and creative activities across three spaces: the Main House, the Studio and The Kit on Stour Street. Pre-book a meal at the Green Room before the show. It suits a family treat or an evening out in the city.

Ticket prices vary by show. Discovery Tickets and group and school rates are available.Directions

Coming up near Canterbury

Shadows of the Abbey: a Halloween history tour, from English HeritageImage: English Heritage
31 Oct to 1 Nov
HalloweenCanterbury · under 1 km

Shadows of the Abbey: a Halloween history tour

English Heritage runs a Halloween history tour of St Augustine's Abbey as the light fades on the last weekend of half term. The hour-long tour explores the ruins of one of England's oldest monasteries, within Canterbury's World Heritage Site.

Check the English Heritage website for tour prices and booking.Directions
Canterbury Christmas Market, from Visit CanterburyImage: Visit Canterbury
12 Nov to 24 Dec
Christmas marketsCanterbury · under 1 km

Canterbury Christmas Market

Canterbury's Christmas market fills the city's streets with wooden huts selling gifts, decorations and seasonal food, with stalls reaching into the Cathedral Precincts. Families can book a Santa's Grotto, breakfast with Santa or VR experiences, and live music runs through the season. The city's lights are switched on across four stages on Friday 13 November.

FreeDirections
The All New Adventures of Peter Pan (pantomime), from The MarloweImage: The Marlowe
27 Nov to 10 Jan
Pantomime and theatreCanterbury · under 1 km

The All New Adventures of Peter Pan (pantomime)

The Marlowe's big-budget panto this year is Peter Pan, written and directed by Paul Hendy. The cast includes Janette Manrara, Phil Gallagher and Ben Roddy. The run continues into January 2027.

See website for pricesDirections
Kent Cricket's Fireworks Evening, from Kent CricketImage: Kent Cricket
5 Nov
Fireworks and bonfiresCanterbury · 1 km

Kent Cricket's Fireworks Evening

Canterbury's largest bonfire night display takes place on 5 November itself at Kent Cricket's home ground. Expect fireworks over the outfield, live music and a food village.

Early bird tickets on sale in limited numbers; priority tickets have sold out.Directions
Howloween at Howletts, from Howletts Wild Animal Park (Aspinall Foundation)Image: Howletts Wild Animal Park (Aspinall Foundation)
23 Oct to 1 Nov
HalloweenBekesbourne · 5 km

Howloween at Howletts

Howletts runs a playful Halloween week where the animals get pumpkin treats and children follow a trick trail around the park. Free child tickets booked online make it one of the better-value half-term days in East Kent.

FreeDirections

If it rains

St Augustine's Abbey, from St Augustine's AbbeyImage: St Augustine's Abbey
History and heritageCanterbury · under 1 km

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.

English Heritage members go free, and the site is included in the Canterbury World Heritage Pass. Check the website for current prices.Directions
Canterbury Cathedral, from Canterbury CathedralImage: Canterbury Cathedral
History and heritageCanterbury · under 1 km

Canterbury Cathedral

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
Canterbury Roman Museum, from Canterbury Roman MuseumImage: Canterbury Roman Museum
MuseumsCanterbury · under 1 km

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

Free things to do

The Beaney House of Art and Knowledge, from The Beaney House of Art & KnowledgeImage: The Beaney House of Art & Knowledge
MuseumsCanterbury · under 1 km

The Beaney House of Art and Knowledge

The Beaney is Canterbury's free museum, art gallery and library on the High Street. Browse the art and museum collections, join a spotlight tour, and pick up visitor information for the city. It is an easy indoor stop between the cathedral and the shops.

FreeDirections
St Martin's Church, from St Martin and St PaulImage: St Martin and St Paul
History and heritageCanterbury · under 1 km

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
Dane John Gardens, from Canterbury City CouncilImage: Canterbury City Council
GardensCanterbury · under 1 km

Dane John Gardens

Dane John Gardens is a historic park inside Canterbury's city walls, dating back to 1551, with an avenue of lime trees, a fountain, a bandstand and an ancient mound you can climb for views over the city. You can also walk along the stretch of city wall that border the park, and there is a children's play area and public toilets. It suits everyone, from families with young children to anyone wanting a peaceful break from the shops, and an hour is enough.

FreeDirections