Stained glass in Canterbury Cathedral. Photo © rossmagri
Canterbury is a great city to visit for a short Travelodge weekend away or a longer family holiday. The picturesque town has plenty of places to shop and lots of things to do and see. But one of Canterbury’s highlights is its rich history.
Canterbury is home not only to a famous cathedral, but also to ruins dating back to Roman times – and an amazing riverside pub restaurant with a medieval past.
Here’s our selection of sites where you can immerse yourself in the city’s interesting history:
1. St Augustine’s Abbey
St Augustine’s Abbey is one of Canterbury’s most-visited sites and for good reason. Originally built as a burial place for the Anglo-Saxon Kings of Kent, St Augustine’s Abbey, along with the Cathedral and St Martin’s Church, has been made into a World Heritage Site.
St Augustine’s Abbey. Photo © AlexKozlov
Tickets for the Abbey also include access to the museum and a free audio tour. Entrance costs just £5.40 for an adult and you’ll find the Abbey very near to the Canterbury Chaucer Travelodge Hotel.
2. Canterbury Castle
Canterbury Castle is a Norman Castle built a few years after the Battle of Hastings in 1066. It was one of three Royal castles in Kent that were created to keep William the Conqueror safe on his route from Dover to London.
The original castle was built of wood, part of which may still be seen in the Dane John Gardens. However, the stone ruins that remain today were mainly built during the reign of Henry I.
Canterbury Castle is free to visit and it’s worth wandering through the gardens and climbing partway up one of the towers to get some good photographs.
3. Roman Bath Ruins
Less well known are the remains of some original Roman baths that can be viewed from the basement of the Canterbury Waterstones, underneath St Margaret’s Street. The viewing spot is well positioned next to the history section!
The Roman baths were originally a public bath house, and were built around AD 200. They were an integral part of day to day life for Romans, and people would come here to wash, relax and socialize.
4. Canterbury Roman Museum
Built around the ruins of a Roman town house, Canterbury Roman Museum provides an interesting insight into real Roman life.
The museum houses some incredible local finds including Roman swords, the Roman tombstone of a 6-year-old girl, hand blown glass, beautiful floor mosaics and original underfloor heating.
Adult tickets cost just £8 and a visit is a great way to round off your historical trip to Canterbury.
5. Eat and drink
Looking for somewhere with real atmosphere to match your historic tour? Stop by the Old Weavers’ House on St Peter’s Street. You can’t miss the half-timbered house right on the river.
Medieval pub on the river. Photo © Paul Sturmey
The building’s foundations date from the 12th century, but it’s name comes from the Huguenot weavers who escaped France in the 16th century and settled in Canterbury (among other places). Have a full meal in the restaurant or a drink at the bar, then take a look at the medieval ducking stool at the back of the building. It was used to dunk ‘scolds’ in the river!
