Canterbury is among the most well-known historic cities in England, largely because of it’s UNESCO listed cathedral. However there’s rather more to this historic city than simply the cathedral and it’s the most effective locations to go to within the UK.
As I’ve been dwelling in Canterbury for some time now, I assumed it was about time I shared my high ideas for a wonderful weekend in Canterbury and Whitstable.
A Weekend in Canterbury & Whitstable – Suggestions from a Native
As a lot as Canterbury is a reasonably city steeped in historical past, it’s additionally a vibrant college city filled with fascinating impartial outlets and eating places.
Mix exploring this storied metropolis with the close by quaint seaside city of Whitstable, well-known for its oysters, for a beautiful weekend or brief break inside straightforward attain of London.
Friday Evening – Begin your weekend in Canterbury
Canterbury has two practice stations and could be reached in about 1 hour from London. In case you’re arriving into Canterbury West Station you’re within the good place to kick off your weekend in Canterbury with a chew to eat at The Items Shed, a classy and healthful farmers market, meals corridor and restaurant. Nicely, Canterbury is the guts of Kent – the backyard of England, so it might be impolite to not attempt the native, seasonal produce.
Subsequent amble by means of the historic streets of Canterbury and test into ABode. This 4 star, boutique resort is completely situated in a historic constructing in the midst of the pedestrianised excessive avenue so you’ll be able to profit from your weekend in Canterbury by being inside straightforward attain to all town has to supply. It’s solely 350 yards from Canterbury Cathedral and has an award successful restaurant and cocktail bar and stylish rooms.
It’s additionally reverse my favorite historic constructing in Canterbury – The Beaney Home of Artwork and Information. Canterbury’s museum, artwork gallery, library and customer data centre which is certainly value a glance.
Another choice is Canterbury Cathedral Lodge which provides snug and tasteful rooms with the refectory restaurant and terrace within the non-public and peaceable grounds of the well-known Cathedral itself.
Saturday Morning – Go to Canterbury Cathedral
In fact you’ll be able to’t have a weekend in Canterbury with out visiting Canterbury Cathedral! Make a beeline for one of many world’s largest, oldest and most well-known cathedrals within the morning earlier than the day trippers get there.
This necessary cathedral dates again to 597 nevertheless it’s been modified, broken and rebuilt significantly over time and is now a UNESCO world heritage web site and one of the vital well-known non secular websites on the planet.
Canterbury’s cathedral’s fame is basically because of the occasions of 1170, when Archbishop Thomas Becket was murdered within the cathedral by King Henry II’s knights after Henry is famously reputed to have exclaimed “Will nobody rid me of this turbulent priest!”.
Thomas Becket grew to become a martyr and Canterbury grew to become the most well-liked pilgrimage web site in England. The pilgrims purchased wealth and lots of tales which impressed well-known works like Geoffrey Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales. (Though the attraction of the identical title is now completely closed) Learn extra concerning the historical past right here
Canterbury Cathedral as we speak remains to be an awe inspiring and completely huge place to discover. The stained glass is especially stunning and dates again to the 1100’s making it among the oldest on the planet. though it may do with a bit extra signage and data boards so in case you are actually within the historical past I’d suggest taking a guided tour.
It prices £12.50 to go to the Cathedral (you’ll be able to’t actually see it from outdoors) and sadly there’s alot of scaffolding on the entrance for the time being nevertheless it’s nonetheless value a go to. Think about how tough and costly it’s to maintain only a advanced and historic constructing standing for therefore lengthy! Your entry price will assist preserve this necessary piece of historical past.
Lunchtime at The Westgate Gardens
One of many issues I like greatest about Canterbury is that you could see the imposing Westgate Tower as you stroll down the pedestrianised excessive avenue. It’s actually a beautiful place to walk across the historic streets shopping the impartial outlets and boutiques.
After exploring the cathedral head to my favorite place in Canterbury – the Westgate Gardens.
In the summertime the Westgate Gardens are stuffed with vibrant flowers and are one of the best place to chill out watching the punts float by within the shadow of the Westgate Tower – the most important surviving medieval gateway within the UK. You’ll be able to go up the tower for an excellent viewpoint over town, additionally inside is a museum and escape rooms.
In case you’re feeling hungry in any case this historical past and exploring head over the river from the Westgate Gardens to Cafe Des Amis – it’s household owned and my go to for tasty Mexican meals by the river and gardens.
Saturday Afternoon – Calm down on a Canterbury River Tour
One other factor you gained’t wish to miss on a weekend in Canterbury is a river tour. By now you’ll in all probability have seen the punts floating alongside and, in case you’re something like me, are in all probability eager to get on the river your self!
You’ve acquired two choices for exploring Canterbury’s Nice Stour River; Westgate Punts undergo the picturesque Westgate Gardens, or study extra about Canterbury’s fascinating historical past and discover the opposite a part of the river that runs by means of the guts of town on the unique Canterbury Historic River Excursions.
I felt the later was extra fascinating and loved the humorous means our information, John, informed us tales and details concerning the historical past of Canterbury, however I gained’t spoil it for you by telling you an excessive amount of right here.
The assembly level for the river tour is by the gorgeous Previous Weavers Home and restaurant on the excessive avenue, close to the witches ducking stool!
On the tour you’ll journey previous this, below one of many oldest working highway bridges in Britain and as much as the mysterious Greyfriars’ Island, as soon as the house to the Franciscans (one among Canterbury’s many non secular orders) whilst you study all about Canterbury’s storied previous.
I even acquired to have a go rowing. John made it look really easy – however the currents imply it’s really actually tough!
Anybody for Afternoon Tea?!
One other factor I really like about England is afternoon tea; mini sandwiches, dainty muffins, freshly baked scones with butter, strawberry jam and clotted cream and a pot of heat, comforting tea. Splash out and add a glass of glowing prosecco for an additional deal with.
My favorite place to go for afternoon tea in Canterbury is the quintessentially English Tiny Tim’s Tearoom. I really like the historic constructing it’s situated in too. In case you go ensure you go upstairs to the toilet – it’s an journey in itself the place you would possibly discover a shock.
Saturday Afternoon – Extra historical past or really feel good buying?
In case you thought you had been completed with historic sights then you definately’d be flawed. Canterbury has 2 extra websites that, along with the Cathedral, earned town it’s UNESCO itemizing. So if you wish to discover extra historical past additionally try St Augustin’s Abbey and St Martin’s Church.
St Augustine’s Abbey is now principally ruins, aside from this gatehouse pictured above which is now the doorway to The King’s College, the oldest faculty in Britain. The Abbey was based shortly after AD 597 by St Augustine, who the Pope despatched over from Rome, on a mission to transform the Anglo-Saxons to Christianity.
Entrance to St Augustine’s is free for members of English Heritage or £7.90 and consists of an fascinating audio tour and entrance to the museum.
Do you know that small and humble St Martin’s Church in Canterbury has been a spot of worship since no less than the sixth century making it the oldest church in steady use within the English talking world. You’ll be able to visibly see the completely different constructing supplies and methods within the church, however the opening occasions are restricted. Examine their web site first.
Or really feel good buying
Canterbury has loads of impartial outlets to discover, particularly across the King’s Mile which is devoted to them. In case you like to buy and in addition get the texture good issue there are a few fascinating locations in Canterbury to take a look at.
On the excessive avenue try Unboxed Kent – an progressive, zero waste retailer that doesn’t use any plastic packaging. Convey a container, purchase one there or replenish paper baggage with on a regular basis necessities, eco merchandise and treats like sweets and even vegan wine.
Take a wander down the Kings Mile to take a look at the Crooked Home, a delightfully skewed seventeenth century half-timbered three story constructing on the far finish of Palace Avenue. It’s now a second hand bookshop run by volunteers that fundraises for native charity Catching Lives which helps homeless and weak folks.
You possibly can even have a espresso or chew to eat at Lily’s Social Kitchen close by. It’s a not for revenue cafe that gives coaching and work expertise to weak folks or those that are sometimes ignored for employment alternatives.
Saturday Evening in Canterbury
Begin off Saturday evening with award successful incarceration themed cocktails on the terrace or in your individual non-public cell at The Pound, an atmospheric bar set within the metropolis’s outdated jail subsequent to the Westgate Tower.
Go for dinner in close by Cafe du Soleil a superb Mediterranean restaurant located in a former 18th century wool retailer on the river Stour. In case you really feel like dancing and cocktails in all probability one of the best place to go is The Cuban though I don’t actually fee Canterbury’s nightlife lately.
Sunday – Discover Whitstable
What higher solution to spherical off a weekend in Canterbury than spending a lazy Sunday strolling alongside the seafront within the quaint fishing city of Whitstable. A roughly 30 minutes drive or bus experience.
You possibly can even rent a motorbike and experience the 7.5 miles from cloisters to oysters on the Crab and Winkle Means – it runs alongside the route and takes the title of the primary railway line in Britain.
Whitstable is legendary for its oysters. When in Whitstable one of the best factor to do is to easily wander alongside the seafront and absorb the sights and smells of this cute seaside city, and naturally, attempt some oysters or deal with your self to a yummy seafood lunch.
There’s a path that runs just about all the best way alongside the pebbled seashore seafront, by means of the harbour and as much as the grassy slopes and vibrant seashore huts at Tankerton.
Whitstable Harbour is a spotlight the place you’ll discover fishing boats, recent seafood eating places and little black huts promoting domestically made artwork, crafts and souvenirs.
You can even take a ship journey out to see the Purple Sands Sea Forts. These eerie forts, constructed as defences within the 2nd World Conflict, are actually deserted and appear like one thing straight out of Conflict of the Worlds. You’ll be able to see them from the boat however you’ll be able to’t really go inside them.
In case you don’t wish to splash out on the costly seafood platters within the eating places there’s a kiosk within the harbour the place you’ll be able to attempt an oyster for less than £1. Whitstable oysters are so well-known they even have their very own oyster competition. You’ve acquired to attempt no less than one when in Whitstable!
For lunch the Whitstable Oyster Firm Restaurant is among the greatest serving recent oysters, fish and seafood on the seashore with a view of the corporate’s oyster grounds.
Additionally ensure you head off the seashore path and onto the excessive avenue and get a photograph of the lovely, pink Wheeler’s Oyster Bar. The meals’s actually good right here however the restaurant is small however you’ll be able to pre order cold and warm picnic bins for a tremendous deluxe picnic on the seashore.
In case you’re not so into seafood then Harbour Avenue Tapas can be my choose. Stroll off lunch by persevering with down the trail previous the quirky picket seafront huts and homes and cease for a drink within the Previous Neptune Pub, the place the beer backyard is definitely on the seashore.
Whitstable can be an excellent place to observe the sundown – it’s one of many few locations in England the place you’ll be able to see the solar touching down within the sea. Watch it from Tankerton Slopes whilst you day dream about proudly owning a seashore hut or with sundowners within the beachy beer backyard of the Previous Neptune pub.
My High Canterbury and Whitstable Journey Tip
If you’re touring by practice to your weekend in Canterbury and Whitstable it is likely to be extra handy so that you can e-book your tickets into Canterbury and out of Whitstable.
Regardless of the Crab and Winkle line between the Canterbury and Whitstable being one of many first passenger railway traces within the UK, they’re not on the identical line. So to get from Canterbury to Whitstable by rail it’s important to change in Faversham.
I hope you discovered this publish useful. It’s been nice to indicate you one of the best from my new UK residence base and I’m trying ahead to performing some weekend journeys within the UK.
Have you ever acquired any extra ideas for a weekend in Canterbury and Whitstable? I’d love to listen to them within the feedback beneath.
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