Things to do in Canterbury

No. 2 of Best Things to Do in Kent

Canterbury Cathedral

Canterbury Cathedral was built in AD 324 and is one of the oldest and well-known Christian buildings in Britain. In 1452, Nicholas V ordered to rebuild it. Porta and Carlo Martell successively presided over the design and construction, and finally completed the present appearance in 1626. It is the cathedral of the Archbishop of Canterbury, bishop of the Anglican Church. The official name of the church is "Canterbury Cathedral and Archbishop's Church". The church has been listed as a world cultural heritage. The Holy Trinity Chapel is in memory of Archbishop Thomas Beckett, who was killed here in 1170 AD. The whole church includes a monastery, a cloister, a monastery and a Norman water tower that have been handed down. Now Canterbury Cathedral has become one of the must-see attractions in the UK!

2026 Europe 50 - Family-friendly Attractions

Westgate Gardens

Westgate Gardens is an open riverside park. The park features expansive lawns and flower beds that change color with the seasons. Along the riverside paths, you will find a variety of trees, including redwood, ash, Scots pine, walnut, spruce, beech, and tulip trees. A particularly striking feature is an Oriental plane tree that is over 200 years old; it is believed to have grown around the iron seat that once encircled its trunk, and its thick trunk and wide canopy form an iconic view of the park. The tower house within the garden incorporates remnants of a 14th-century city wall tower, adding a rich medieval atmosphere to the scenery. The garden also includes a memorial garden dedicated to soldiers who received the Burma Star and Italy Star during World War II, a medicinal herb garden, and walking paths that extend along the river. You can enjoy a leisurely ride on a punt on the river, and you can even see underwater sculptures in the riverbed, adding a touch of contemporary art to this ancient riverside garden.

No. 1 of Best Things to Do in Kent

White Cliffs of Dover

White Cliffs of Dover are a stretch of chalk cliffs on the southeast coast of England, facing the English Channel. On clear days, the coastline of France is faintly visible across the channel. The white color of the cliffs comes from chalk formed by the long-term accumulation of marine organism remains and shell fragments, with black flint stripes interspersed between the rock layers. The white cliff faces, the green grass on top, and the blue sea below create a striking contrast, and they have long been an important landmark for sailors to identify the United Kingdom. The trail leads east to the South Foreland Lighthouse, a Victorian-era white lighthouse standing atop the cliffs. The cliff tops are also home to chalk grasslands, which host a variety of butterflies and insects rarely seen elsewhere in the United Kingdom, as well as unique plants adapted to the calcareous soil. The cliffs also carry military history. Wartime tunnels were carved deep into the chalk layers; among them, the Fan Bay Deep Shelter was built during World War II to protect soldiers during air raids, and graffiti left by soldiers at that time still remains on the tunnel walls. These underground spaces, along with the remains of gun batteries on the cliff tops, record the role of the cliffs as a national defense outpost.

No. 4 of Best Things to Do in Kent

Dover Castle

Dover Castle (DoverCastle) is a medieval castle located in Dover, Kent, England, England. It was built in the 12th century. Due to its defensive significance, Dover Castle is known as the "Key to England". Dover Castle is the largest castle in England and is a very iconic British castle that has been stationed on the British coastal border for nearly nine centuries.

Wingham Wildlife Park

The Marlowe Theatre

Howletts Wild Animal Park

St Augustine's Abbey

St. Augustine's Abbey, located in Canterbury, England, was built in AD 598. It is a well-known world cultural heritage and a paradise for history lovers.

Herne Bay Pier

Kent Downs National Landscape