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What to see in Canterbury -
top 7 sites
1. Canterbury Cathedral
The prime sight to see in Canterbury, one of England's largest cathedrals, and centre of the Church of England; also includes the ruins of the monastic buildings which were attached to it. Of particular note:
* Norman crypt, with intriguing carvings atop the columns
* wall paintings from the 1200's, in St Gabriel's Chapel on the south side of the crypt
* Black Prince's tomb (1376) with his breastplate and sword in a glass case 5 metres away
* stained glass from c. 1200 around the Trinity Chapel
* the site of Archbishop Thomas Becket's murder (NW Transept)
* the view straight up into the 'Bell Harry' Tower (250 feet)
2. Museum of Canterbury
The city's principal museum, housed in a beautiful 13th-century building which has at different times been a Poor Priests' Hospital ('hospital' meaning a place of accommodation) and a Workhouse. Of particular note:
* Roman & Anglo-Saxon jewellery & coins
* excellent 'cartoon-style' video relating the story of Becket
* model of the Cathedral when under construction
* Huguenot Bible from the 1580's
* 'Invicta' locomotive that ran on Canterbury-Whitstable railway in 1830's
3. Roman Museum
Opened in 1994, built around the partial remains of a private Roman house. Of particular note: * three mosaics in a section of floor that went around an inner courtyard * recreations of Roman scenes - market stalls; house interior * two Roman swords found in graveyard * the hinge from one of the Roman gates in the city walls
4. St Martin's Church
Founded in Roman times. The oldest continuously used church in Britain. Of particular note:
* Roman brickwork visible in outside (south) wall of Chancel
* Fine view of Cathedral from back of graveyard
5. St Augustine's Abbey ruins
Founded by St Augustine c. 600 AD. Of particular note:
* traces of three separate Saxon churches
* burial sites of the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Archbishops of Canterbury
* remains of large Norman church, cloisters and monastic buildings
* fine view of Cathedral from raised part of site
6. The Westgate, Castle, and City Walls
The Westgate can be the start of a walk around the walls in a clockwise direction, as far as the Castle ruins.
(a) The Westgate Museum provides the chance to get to the top of the tower
(b) North of Westgate two 14th-century towers remain; the rest of the wall here was demolished in the 1700's.
(c) Roman brickwork is visible in the north wall of St Mary Northgate church - Roman crenellations can be seen (approximately 15 feet / 5 metres from ground level) where the Roman wall was incorporated into the north wall of the church.
(d) From St Mary's the wall-top is not accessible until Burgate: you can see the wall by walking along Broad Street. Note the Roman brickwork visible in the frame of the now filled-in Queningate.
(e) Rejoin the wall at Burgate. The section beside the bus station was rebuilt after World War II bombing - the original 1380's wall restarts after the bridge over Watling Street.
(f) The empty shell of the massive Norman keep (the third largest in England) is impressive when viewed from inside: only the bottom two-thirds of it remains.
7. Greyfriars, Blackfriars, and Eastbridge Hospital
12th and 13th century buildings constructed beside/over the River Stour.
(a) A single building remains from the Greyfriars community (1267): this can be viewed from the footpath that crosses the River beside the Heritage Museum.
(b) Eastbridge Hospital, built c.1180 for pilgrims visiting Becket's shrine, has a chapel and undercroft open to the public; the attached almshouses span the River.
(c) Two buildings remain from Blackfriars: the Refectory east of the River, and the guest-house to the west. Neither are open to the public, but both can be seen close-to in the riverside gardens off St Peter's Lane.
Take your choice of our other Canterbury pages:
