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August, 3, 2020 | Guest post by: Patrik Horvath
Canterbury is a historic town situated in the county of Kent in the southeast of England. This cathedral city has always been an important part of England’s history and culture. Travelers from far and wide have traveled here since middle ages. Thanks to the Cathedral and events that took place there, Canterbury has been a popular place of pilgrimage for centuries.
In modern days, however, there is much more to offer than just the Cathedral. There are popular spots for travelers all over the city, ensuring that there is always something to do or to see for everyone.
It is clear at first glance that this site is full of history and has a lot to offer not only to history buffs. What is now the ruins of a monastery, used to serve as a burial place of Anglo-Saxon kings of Kent and played an important part in re-establishing Christianity in Kent. The abbey was established in the 6th century by St. Augustine, after whom it was named, and it was one of the most important monastic sites in England. During the middle ages, the St. Augustine Abbey was occupied by Benedictine monks, as well. It is now listed as a World Heritage site.
Within the ruins of the abbey you can find a museum, gift shop, St. Anne’s Chapel, Church of Sts Peter and Paul, chapel known as Porticus of St. Gregory as well as Norman Crypt and much more. The abbey is located just a short walk from the town center and High Street while also being close to the bus station and Canterbury East station provides good accessibility.
Canterbury Cathedral is by far the most popular site in Canterbury and possibly the whole of Kent. Thanks to the murder of Thomas Becket, archbishop of Canterbury in the middle ages, the cathedral has been an important pilgrimage site. Thousands of pilgrims travel to Canterbury to visit the archbishop's shrine.
Nowadays, the Canterbury Cathedral is still one of the most important cultural and religious sites in England, due to the fact that it still functions as a church and is the seat of the head of the Church of England, the Archbishop of Canterbury. The Cathedral is still available for visitors during the opening times (10am - 5pm) every day. There is plenty to see, whether you are interested in architecture or history, or you want to visit the tombs of important historical figures, such as Edward the Black Prince.
Canterbury is often referred to as a student city, due to the fact that there are quite a few universities relative to its small size. Thanks to this, the city is filled with students and young people in general, which means that there is also a busy nightlife. Whether you want to have fun in a big nightclub or prefer a pint with few friends in a small pub, Canterbury has you covered. There are absolutely loads of pubs and bars dotted around the city, so you can party all night to your heart's content.
For many travelers, an important part of any destination is the food. Although England has a somewhat negative reputation when it comes to cuisine, you won’t be disappointed when visiting Canterbury. No matter where you go in the city, there is a high chance you will find a restaurant nearby. Especially on or nearby the High Street you’ll have a wide choice of restaurants specializing in cuisines from many different countries. So don’t hesitate and dig into whatever your stomach desires.
If you are looking for a relaxing yet informative experience, you should definitely consider taking a river tour around the town. This trip on the River Stour is suitable for people of all ages. This is a good way of experiencing the town’s history and culture from a different perspective. Throughout the whole tour, you will be accompanied and educated by a friendly tour guide.
You can even choose what type of tour you prefer as they offer several different options. You can learn about the town’s history with a historic tour, relax during the evening tour, or listen to some darker stories from Canterbury’s dark past during Chilling Tales tour. The tours usually take around 45 minutes and are one of the most popular tourist activities in Canterbury.
If you take a turn from the High Street onto one of the small alleys, you will find the Canterbury Roman Museum. Although this is a small museum with only a few rooms, that doesn’t mean it’s not worth visiting. Especially if you are a fan of Roman history.
Inside, you can find different artifacts from Roman times found in the local area as well as ruins and foundations of original buildings and streets that stood there a long time ago. Thanks to its location and relatively small size, you will not find crowds of people or long queues, which makes the whole experience even more enjoyable.
These are only a few of the interesting places and activities you can do in Canterbury. No matter whether you are a history buff, party tourist, or just a casual traveler you will never regret visiting the lovely city of Canterbury.
Patrik Horvath is a 25-year old tourism freelance writer, whose passion for traveling led him to study tourism and explore many countries and destinations. You can learn more about Patrik on his website.
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We are Jacob and Taylor. Travel is our passion and we love sharing our experiences here at The Travelling Souk. Our hope is that you would be inspired by this little blog to try something new, embrace an adventure, and live life to the fullest.