Canterbury is one of England’s great cathedral cities — the structure dates from the Anglo-Saxon period, and is World Heritage Listed. Surrounding the cathedral is a picturesque tangle of medieval streets, riverside gardens, and Tudor buildings, all held together by the city’s ancient walls. These days there’s also a lively university population, so instead of just elegant guesthouses and stately B&Bs, our picks for the best places to stay in Canterbury include some more contemporary style hotels.
Famously not bombed badly by WWII — because its cathedral had been an important site for pilgrims since Thomas Becket was martyred here in the 12th century — Canterbury also has England’s oldest parish church, St. Martin’s, a ruined Norman castle, and an abbey founded by the same saint sent from Rome to found the cathedral. Canterbury’s museum, in Westgate, is a good place to start if you’re interested in finding our more about the town's dramatic past. But its charms are not all historic. With the university and large student population, Canterbury is kept up to date when it comes to food, music, and entertainment generally, and the local calendar of events is packed with variety. Canterbury is also just 15 minutes from the coast, and surrounded by glorious Kent countryside.
Canterbury may not be a major pilgrimage centre anymore, but it’s still a year round destination, with its cathedral being one of the most visited sites in England — it’s the mother church of the Anglican religion, and more then three services are held here each day. Because of this, the best places to stay in Canterbury get very busy. So you need to be organised and book well ahead.