About Canterbury

History & Heritage

Canterbury and the surrounding area has a whole host of history and heritage for you to come and discover. Canterbury is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and has two castles, six museums and an attraction that lets you step back in time to the Middle Ages are some of what is on offer here in historic Canterbury.

The Cathedral, St Augustine’s Abbey and St Martins church form the trio of World Heritage Sites in Canterbury. The Abbey was founded in 597AD, and St Martin’s Church is the oldest parish church in England still in constant use. Along side these, there is Canterbury Tales, where you can step back into the Middle Ages and join the pilgrims on their journey from London to Canterbury Cathedral. The museums are full of artefacts and fun things for all the family to do. The West Gate Towers Museum has one of the best views of the City.

Whitstable has a rich maritime history and is famous for its oysters, with a working harbour bringing in the daily catch. The town has a rich alleyway network, which were used by the smugglers as convenient escape routes, as Whitstable was, like most Kentish coastal towns, awash with illegal trade.

Herne Bay was founded in the early nineteen hundreds and was a popular holiday destination for Londoners. It remains popular to this day and is full of people enjoying themselves by the sea in the summer months.

Go Shopping & Dining

The district has some exceptional shopping to offer for all tastes so be sure to spend some time perusing the shops and soaking up each town’s unique ambience.

In Canterbury itself, the Whitefriars development offers many popular retailers in one spacious and well-designed location. This recently opened venue has helped to ensure the city offers some of the best shopping opportunities in the county. The modern recently rebuilt Marlowe theatre offers great entertainment for all tastes including fantastic touring west end shows.

Heading towards Westgate Towers and the St Dunstan’s area, you will come across a range of specialist, privately run emporia offering everything from antiques and collectables to classical music. That theme continues as you walk in another direction, this time along the King’s mile, a continuation of the city centre’s pedestrianised area, and on towards Northgate. When the evening sets in, the district is alive with theatregoers, foodies and those enjoying a relaxing drink in one of the city’s many pubs and bars.

Head to Whitstable and you will find Bohemian charm in abundance. Move on to Harbour Street for independent art galleries, boutiques and individual gift shops offering all the essentials and more with good old-fashioned service.

In Herne Bay, there are bargains to be had along the pedestrianised High Street from independent shops selling a vast range of goods including furniture and clothing – as well as those vital buckets and spades for the beach!