This classic one day itinerary for Canterbury will take you on a tour that encompasses the magnificence of this historical city.
Morning
What better way to start the day with a river tour where you will discover hidden secrets of the River Stour, a focal point of the city's heritage.
Alternatively why not take a walking tour of the city. Choose from a guided tour or a self guided tour.
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.
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.
Enjoy a fascinating 90 minute tour of historic streets AND Cathedral Precincts with knowledgeable, entertaining guides to address your questions and special interests. All for £6.50 or less! Tours daily from the Buttermarket.
The perfect way to explore some of the well known historic sites of Canterbury, plus some of the hidden gems - available in 8 languages. Enjoy an audio tour & travel at your own pace. 20 attractions and local city landmarks are featured.
Lunch
Choose from a variety of restaurants that cater for all appetites and tastes. From sandwiches to pizzas and three course meals, you will find many restaurants serve fresh and local produce from Kent.
Afternoon
Refreshed from lunch a real must is a visit to Canterbury Cathedral, a World Heritage Site and one of the world's most important pilgrimage centres. The Cathedral dates back to 597AD when St Augustine became the first Archbishop establishing his seat in Canterbury. You will see where its most famous Archbishop Thomas Becket was murdered in 1170 and view the numerous tombs and monuments including those of Edward the Black Prince and King Henry IV. Marvel at one of the cathedral's greatest glories; the stained glass collection which dates back to the 12th and 13th century, depicting miracles, royal connections and biblical stories and regarded as the finest in the country. For a guided tour allow 90 minutes.
The Canterbury Tales is ideal for all the family. Join Chaucer and his colourful band of Pilgrims on their journey from London to Canterbury in this entertaining re-creation of life medieval England. Allow 45 minutes.
After this visit you may wish to wander at your lesure. If you like shopping or want to buy some souvenirs there is a choice of venues from the modern Whitefriars centre to the old charm of the Buttermarket and niche shops along The King's Mile, Palace Street and St Margarets Street.
If you crave more culture there are several museums to visit; the Roman Museum takes you underground to the level of the buried Roman town of Durovernum Cantiacorum and the Museum of Canterbury that incorporates Rupert Bear Museum. Alternatively you may wish to relax over a drink at one of the numerous cafés or pubs situated in the heart of Canterbury.
You can save money by purchasing an Attractions Passport Ticket, which gives you free entry into Canterbury Cathedral, St Augustine's Abbey, the Canterbury Tales and one of the city's museums (Museum of Canterbury with the Rupert the Bear Museum, the Roman Museum or the Westgate Towers).
Motherchurch of the Anglican Communion, seat of the Archbishop. Stunning stained glass. Eleventh Century Crypt, Twelfth Century Quire, Fourteenth Century Nave.
Explore the Roman town beneath your feet. Canterbury's underground Roman Museum is built around the remains of a Roman town house with mosaics preserved where excavated.
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 Audio Tour at Canterbury Audio Tour
Something new and exciting has come to Canterbury!
Canterbury Audio Tours invites you to explore Canterbury's sites with a self guided tour of this historic city, which is taken at your own pace. No other tour covers as much ground or includes as many benefits! Available in 8 languages, and suitable for all ages, you can take a tour at any time of day to suit you.
Escape the crowds of traditional walking tours, and ensure you hear every word with a personal, easy to use audio player, earphones and specially designed 'Kent Tours' keep-sake map of the city. The audio player and earphones are yours to hire for the day.
With the option to pause, rewind or skip to your favourite parts, Canterbury Audio Tours allows complete flexibility on your trip to the city. This allows you to stop for lunch, browse the local shops, or stop to visit an attraction that interests you, whilst enjoying your tour of Canterbury. And getting around couldn't be easier; with two pre-set audio guided routes to choose from, or the option to choose your own, this is a tour that you can tailor to your own perferences.
The audio tour gives you a chance to explore the areas of Canterbury otherwise missed by traditional tours. Featuring 20 landmarks and attractions, it guides you past famous must sees such as the stunning Canterbury Cathedral and St Augustine's Abbey, as well as local favourites such as the Westgate Towers, the Norman Castle and Greyfriars island.
In addition, Canterbury Audio Tours also includes discounts for featured Canterbury attractions and restaurants; making this audio tour the ideal starting point for all trips to Canterbury.
Approximate tour times: Route 1 approx 45 minutes Route 2 approx 1 hour/1 hour 15 minutes Total for routes 1 and 2 approx 2 hours.
Tours are available in eight languages, including; English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Dutch, Chinese and Japanese.
The tour is available at any time of day, great for all ages and available in all weathers.
To hire your audio player for the day, visit our shop in Canterbury City Centre, located next door to the Canterbury Heritage Museum and new Visitor Information Centre, or book online www.canterburyaudiotours.co.uk to receive an online discount.