Escape the hustle and bustle of London by taking a day trip to Canterbury, the historic gem of Kent. Steeped in history dating as far back as the Roman times, Canterbury has some of the oldest churches and buildings in all of England! Take a step back in time as you stroll through the picturesque cobbled streets lined with timber-framed Tudor style buildings.
Canterbury is conveniently located 1 hour by train from London’s St. Pancras station making it the perfect day out in Kent. Packed with quaint old pubs, loaded with stunning photography spots, and enough history to blow your mind, this ancient town takes its place as one of my top picks when it comes to day trips from London.
After having spent the last 2 years of my life living in Ashford, Kent (15 mins from Canterbury by train), I’ve taken many little day trips to Canterbury and seen something new and exciting each time. I’ve found it to be the perfect place to immerse myself in old English history and culture.
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Gateway to the Canterbury Cathedral
Table of Contents
The Top 10 Best Things to do on a Day Trip to Canterbury
After exploring and learning about this beautiful town over the years, I’ve put together the perfect guide with everything you could possibly need to know to have the best day trip to Canterbury!
When travelling from London, the train will drop you off at the Canterbury West station. Starting the day off with the closest attraction to the train station, make your way over to the Westgate Gardens.
Westgate Gardens
A short 8 minute stroll from the Canterbury West train station will take you to the lovely Westgate Gardens which is one of the oldest parks in England. Apart from being really old, it’s also very scenic and the perfect place to ease your way into a day of sightseeing.
These gardens are situated at the entrance to the old town along the Great Stour River and they’ve been a public space since the middle ages. Enjoy the peaceful nature and the historic buildings and ruins that are present among the gardens.
As you walk through the gardens, you will come across the remnants of a medieval archway which is thought to have been brought here from the ruins of St Augustine’s Abbey.
The stunning Westgate Gardens
A peaceful scene in the Westgate Gardens
Westgate Towers Canterbury
After the gardens, head straight over to the well preserved medieval gatehouse that stands at the entrance to Canterbury’s high street. This epic tower dates back to the 14th century and is the largest surviving city gate in all of England. This impressive gatehouse is actually a replacement from the original Roman wall that circled the city around the year 300 AD.
Explore the museum inside the towers to learn all about their defense role during the wars over the centuries. Enjoy spectacular city views from the battlements at the top of the towers. Tickets for the Westgate museum cost £4 per person.
The Old Weaver’s House
One of the most iconic buildings in Canterbury which you will inevitably walk past as you wander down the high street. The Old Weaver’s House is a classic timer-framed Tudor style house perfectly placed next to a canal. Its name comes from the Flemish weavers who fled France to escape religious persecution in the 16th century.
It’s now home to a popular restaurant where you can dine on the patio outside next to the river. During the summer months, they offer a special of £20 for a traditional English lunch followed by a 40 minute river tour. Boats depart directly from the restaurant and take you around the canals in traditional punting style.
Canterbury River Cruise
One of the highlights of your day trip to Canterbury will be taking the historic river cruise. This is probably the most popular attraction of the city so you won’t want to miss out on this enjoyable experience!
Escape the bustle of the high street and embark on a journey through time as you cruise along the River Stour passing beautiful, ancient buildings. You’ll learn the most fascinating history and stories told by your guide who will also be the chauffeur.
Canterbury boat tours run between 10am and 5pm daily and operate between April 1st and November 7th. You can find the Canterbury Historic River Tours staff located on the Kings Bridge right next to the Old Weaver’s House. The boat tours run throughout the day and you can either show up on the day or reserve your ticket online in advance.
Click here to find prices and book your tickets online. It doesn’t hurt to book the river cruise online in advance especially during the high season when it gets quite busy.
Crooked House of Canterbury
”..a very old house bulging over the road…leaning forward, trying to see who was passing on the narrow pavement below…” Charles Dickens, 1849
A short walk from the high street will take you to the famous crooked house of Canterbury which is a must on your day trip itinerary! The 17th century crooked house is also known as Sir John Boy’s House, named after an MP and the first recorder of Canterbury from the 1600’s. Its skewed façade makes it look like the building could collapse at any given moment.
It is said that the house gets its crooked appearance from chimney alterations gone wrong which caused the entire building to slip sideways. After attempts to fix the slippage, the building became even more crooked and is now internally stabilized by a steel frame.
The house has seen many different owners over the years but as of today, it is a book shop and is open to the public. Stop here briefly to snap some photos and stick your head inside for quick look, you’ll notice that it’s just as crooked on the inside! Take note of the extremely crooked door which adds to the quirkiness of the house.
Not too far away from the crooked house is the Parrot Pub, where we recommend making your way to for lunch.
Have Lunch at the Parrot
Stop for a lunch break at Canterbury’s oldest pub, established in the year 1370. The Parrot is not only the town’s oldest pub but it’s is also one of the oldest buildings in Canterbury built on Roman foundations in the 14th century. Stepping into this pub really feels like taking a step back in time with its huge medieval beams and oak floorboards.
We stopped here to have lunch in their outdoor patio area one sunny afternoon and really enjoyed it. We ordered gourmet sandwiches and they were both delicious. The staff were very friendly and service was quick even though it was a busy day when we visited. This is our top pick for pubs in Canterbury and definitely worth a stop for the history and great food.
The outdoor seating area at the Parrot Pub
Canterbury Cathedral
A day trip to Canterbury is not complete without visiting it’s most iconic symbol, the incredible Canterbury Cathedral which is one of the oldest and most important Cathedrals in the history of Britain. During the middle ages, Canterbury Cathedral became one of the most important pilgrimage sites in Europe. I wasn’t lying when I said Canterbury is packed with fascinating ancient history!
The cathedral’s origins can be traced back to the year 597 AD when St. Augustine first arrived on the shores of Kent and established a church on the site. He was sent by Pope Gregory the Great from Rome as a missionary to England and became the first Archbishop of Canterbury.
Over the centuries, the Cathedral has seen many changes to its appearance, eventually taking shape as the Cathedral that we see today. As of present day, it has been under serious restoration since we first arrived in the UK in 2017. Other than the obvious scaffolding placed around it (sadly ruining any photos from the outside), the restoration doesn’t stop visitors from entering the Cathedral.
Tickets: £17/adult, free/child
Opening Hours: 9am – 4pm daily (11:30am – 4pm on Sundays)
➤Get your ticket to Canterbury Cathedral + audio guide online before you go
Beautiful ceiling of the Cathedral’s cloister
View from inside the Cathedral grounds
Canterbury Roman Museum
The history of Canterbury stretches far back beyond the medieval times to the days of Roman invasions of Britain late in the 1st century. The Romans took over an existing Celtic settlement and built a new town calling it Durovernum Cantiacorum. In Roman Canterbury, there were temples, public bath houses, a theatre, a town hall and streets laid out in a grid pattern protected by a town wall with 7 gates.
In the 19th century, workers made an exciting discovery while digging trenches for a drainage system. Below the street level, they found a well preserved Roman floor mosaic! Further discoveries were made after the Second World War uncovering the remnants of a Roman town house, an ancient underground heating system and other interesting findings.
Learn all about life in Roman Britain at the Canterbury Roman Museum located on Butchery Lane just off the high street.
Tickets: £10.50/adult, £5.35/child
Opening Hours: 10am – 5pm daily