Culture for Children 1

The city itself is compact and filled to the brim with child friendly attractions, shops and places to eat, ensuring that you will never run out of things to keep your children captivated and entertained. Canterbury is best explored on foot and due to its pedestrainised streets it is a safe place to visit with your children. Musuems are certainly not boring with each one offering something to suit all the family's needs. To get an idea about what to visit why not buy a Canterbury Attractions Passport for each member of the family and receive a discount and entry into some of the many fascinating things to see and do within the city.

Morning

No visit to Canterbury would be complete without a visit to Canterbury Cathedral. Full of fascinating things for kids and adults of all ages to explore. Try the Creatures Great and Small trail which is available from the Welcome Kiosk, or enjoy roaming round the impressive precincts surrounding the Cathedral. Next stop is the exciting and engaging Canterbury Tales. Children will really love the authentic smells and sounds in this accurate re-creation of medieval England life. Taking you and your family on an enjoyable adventure tracing the pilgrimage from The Tabard Inn in London to the Shrine of Thomas Beckett in Canterbury Cathedral. Along the way you can listen to the different tales on headphones and the children can choose their own child friendly style commentary too.

Canterbury Attractions Passport at Canterbury Visitor Centre

You can save money by purchasing an Attractions Passport Ticket, which gives you free entry into Canterbury Cathedral, the Canterbury Tales, Canterbury Heritage Museum and the Canterbury Roman Museum.

Canterbury Cathedral

Motherchurch of the Anglican Communion, seat of the Archbishop. Stunning stained glass. Eleventh Century Crypt, Twelfth Century Quire, Fourteenth Century Nave.

Canterbury Tales

Step into medieval Canterbury and accompany Geoffrey Chaucer and his colourful characters on their magical pilgrimage from London to Canterbury.

Lunch

Eating in the city could not be easier. Canterbury's café and restaurant culture are as child friendly as the attractions with most catering for children with special menus and those little extras such as activity/colouring books to keep the children amused throughout lunch. Or if you fancy getting back to nature the Dane John Gardens provide the perfect space to enjoy a picnic.

Dane John Gardens

Canterbury's most popular park has been transformed into attractive gardens with monuments and memorials, a bandstand for summertime concerts, a central fountain, a tearoom and children's maze.

Afternoon

After all this excitement it may be time to wind down your day and enjoy a relaxing tour through the city along the River Stour.

Canterbury Historic River Tours

Flowing through the heart of historic Canterbury, the river is the perfect way to escape the hustle and bustle of one of the country's busiest city centres.

Canterbury Punting Co.

Escape the busy pavements and lay back into the cushions, meander down the river and see the City as you never could on foot. Listen to historic Canterbury's rich and fascinating story as you sip champagne and view medieval buildings.

Canterbury Westgate Punts

Relaxing River Stour Tours through public gardens, breathtaking countryside and the city. A choice of short, long and city trips available.

Canterbury Cathedral

Canterbury Cathedral has a tradition of visitor welcome that reaches back to the days of medieval pilgrimage. To all visitors we extend a warm welcome and hope that they too will enjoy sharing with us the beauty of one of the great holy places of Christendom.

Canterbury Cathedral, together with St Augustine's Abbey and St Martin's Church make up Canterbury's World Heritage Site.

The Cathedral and its history:

St Augustine, sent by Pope Gregory the Great, arrived in 597AD as a missionary and became the first Archbishop, establishing his seat (or 'Cathedra') in Canterbury. In 1170 Archbishop Thomas Becket was murdered in the Cathedral and ever since, the Cathedral has attracted thousands of pilgrims, as told most famously in Geoffrey Chaucer's Canterbury Tales.

The Cathedral houses a Romanesque Crypt, dating back to the 11th century, a 12th century early Gothic Quire and a 14th Century Perpendicular Nave. Beautiful medieval stained glass windows illustrate miracles and stories associated with St Thomas.

Visitor facilities range from guided tours and audio tours to private evening tours and 'behind the scenes' tours to the Stained Glass Studio, Archives and/or Library.

The Cathedral is very much part of the local community. It is used regularly for local, regional and/or national services and events. Some or all of it may, therefore, at times be closed for general visiting. Please contact the Cathedral Visits Office before visiting to check up-to-date opening times and possible closures.

Please note that the east end of the Cathedral, including the Quire, will close every day in preparation for Evensong from 16.30 (Monday-Friday) and from 14.30 (Saturday & Sunday).

For information on Cathedral closures please visit the website or view the pdf.

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Contact

Cathedral Visits Office
Tel: 01227 762862

visits@canterbury-cathedral.org

www.canterbury-cathedral.org
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Venue

Canterbury Cathedral

The Precincts, Canterbury, CT1 2EH

CT1 2EH www.canterbury-cathedral.org

See location of Canterbury Cathedral on Google maps. See location on Google maps. Map reference: TR 151578
Lat: 51.27878 Long: 1.08343
The Cathedral is located in the centre of Canterbury, within walking distance of both Canterbury East and West stations. Canterbury is only 30 minutes drive from Dover (continental ferries) and Folkestone (Eurotunnel), making it an ideal stop-over en route to London. Fast speed trains bring passengers from Canterbury to London within 56 minutes.