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Plan your journey

Planning your trip to Canterbury? Canterbury is easily accessible by road and rail with an excellent travel network, allowing you to reach the city quickly and easily, and we have plenty of guides and great visitor information centres to help you on your trip.

Take a look at our travel information and useful guides below to plan your trip.

If you are interested in venue hire for conferences, events or meetings in Canterbury, visit our Venue Hire Page

There are numerous options for sustainable travel with high speed rail links and well-connected bus and coach services, with two train stations just 5mins from the town centre. If you prefer to drive, Canterbury is also served by the M2 motorway direct from London and the Port of Dover and has 3 Park and Ride facilities for easy day trips. International visitors can reach us from the Port of Dover (20mins), Gatwick Airport (70mins) and Heathrow (90mins) by car or by public transport. 

Visitor Information Centres

If you’re visiting Canterbury, pop into one of our Visitor Information Centres where our friendly staff will help you find the information you need to make your visit complete. They can help with

  • Information about getting around the area
  • How to get tickets for top attractions
  • Booking guided tours
  • Options for parking
  • Maps, brochures and guides for the area

Canterbury

The Beaney House of Art and Knowledge
18 High Street
Canterbury, CT1 2RA
01227 862 162
canterburyinformation@canterbury.gov.uk 

Visit the website for up-to-date opening times.

Whitstable

The Whitstable Shop & Visitor Information Centre
34 Harbour Street
Whitstable, CT5 1AJ
01227 770 060

Herne Bay 

12 William Street
Herne Bay, CT6 5EJ
01227 361911

Find your way around

Every year, the team at Canterbury BID and their partners produce guides for every season in Canterbury to help visitors and residents to find things to do, new venues and seasonal fun in the city. These handy maps are available to download and keep, and keep an eye out for our festive and summer guides!

 

TRAVEL BY TRAIN

Where ever possible, we encourage our visitors to travel sustainably using our ample train and bus services. Southeastern’s high speed services will get you between London St Pancras International and Canterbury West in just 54 minutes, or you can travel to Canterbury East, located just five minutes' walk from the city centre.

There are plenty of other train routes between our towns and hundreds of other destinations.

Book your tickets today!

 

Popular routes 

  • Between Canterbury and Dover

    Reason to visit: Dover Castle and cliff walks
    Station: Canterbury East
    Time: 17-28 minutes

  • Between Canterbury and Margate

    Reason to visit: Amusements, Dreamland and that special seaside experience
    Station: Canterbury West
    Time: 30-36 minutes

  • Between Canterbury and Faversham

    Reason to visit: Classic market town and Kent's ale capital
    Station: Canterbury East
    Time: 11-14 minutes

  • Between Canterbury and Wye

    Reason to visit: Tranquil river setting and the famous Tickled Trout Pub
    Station: Canterbury West
    Time: 11-14 minutes

 

TRAVEL BY BUS OR COACH

Being in such a central location, Canterbury can be reached by Stagecoach buses running all over East Kent, so here are some of the key bus services going to and from Canterbury:

Direct coach services from Dover, Ramsgate and London will stop at Canterbury Bus Station in the city centre, the perfect drop-off point for a tour of the city or a shopping trip. 

Alternatively, some coaches will stop at the University of Kent, providing quick campus access and opportunity to visit local natural beauty spots, such as Blean Woods and the Crab and Winkle Way.   

TRAVEL BY CAR

Whether you're visiting Canterbury, Whitstable, or Herne Bay, there are many places to park your car. Canterbury offers city centre parking, or a Park and Ride service allowing you to park slightly outside the city and get a bus into town. 

  • Canterbury Car Parks

    CASTLE ROW

    • £2.50 an hour
    • 07:30-21:00
    • £2 overnight charge (21:00-07:30)
    • Max. fee: £20 per day
    • Open in Maps

     

    CASTLE STREET MULTI-STOREY

    • £1.80 an hour
    • 07:30-21:00
    • £2 overnight charge (21:00-07:30)
    • Max. fee: £10 per day
    • Open in Maps

     

    COW LANE

     

    HOLMAN'S MEADOW

    • £1.80 an hour
    • 07:30-21:00
    • £2 overnight charge (21:00-07:30)
    • Max. fee: £10 per day
    • Open in Maps

     

    KINGSMEAD LEISURE CENTRE

     

    LONGPORT

    • £2.50 per hour
    • 07:30-21:00
    • £2 overnight charge (21:00-07:30)
    • Max. fee: £20 per day
    • Open in Maps

     

    MAYNARD ROAD

     

    MILLER'S FIELD

    • £2.50 an hour
    • 07:30-21:00
    • £2 overnight charge (21:00-07:30)
    • Max. fee: £20 per day
    • Open in Maps

     

    NORTH LANE

    • £2.50 an hour
    • 07:30-21:00
    • £2 overnight charge (21:00-07:30)
    • Max. fee: £20 per day
    • Open in Maps

     

    NORTHGATE

    • £2.50 an hour
    • 07:30-21:00
    • £2 overnight charge (21:00-07:30)
    • Max. fee: £20 per day
    • Open in Maps

     

    ORANGE STREET

    • Blue Badge holders only
    • Free
    • Max. stay: 4 hours
    • Open in Maps

     

    POUND LANE

    • £2.50 an hour
    • 07:30-21:00
    • £2 overnight charge (21:00-07:30)
    • Max. fee: £20 per day
    • Open in Maps

     

    QUENINGATE

    • £3.20 per hour
    • Minimum fee of 1 hour everyday, except for Saturday when there's a minimum fee of 2 hours
    • 07:30-21:00
    • £2 overnight charge (21:00-07:30)
    • Max. fee: £20 per day
    • Open in Maps

     

    ST RADIGUND'S

    • £2.50 an hour
    • 07:00-21:00
    • £2 overnight charge (21:00-07:00)
    • Max. fee: £20 per day
    • Open in Maps

     

    STATION ROAD WEST MULTI-STOREY

    • £1.80 an hour
    • 07:30-21:00
    • £2 overnight charge (21:00-07:30)
    • Max. fee: £10 per day
    • Open in Maps

     

    TODDLER'S COVE

    • £1.60 per hour
    • Free for the first 30 minutes
    • Open in Maps

     

    VICTORIA RECREATION PARK

     

    WATLING STREET

    • £3.20 per hour
    • Minimum fee of 1 hour everyday, except for Saturday when there's a minimum fee of 2 hours
    • 07:30-21:00
    • £2 overnight charge (21:00-07:30)
    • Max. fee: £20 per day
    • Motorcycle parking:
      • Free parking for Motorcycles is available using the dedicated Marlowe Avenue entrance. Motorcycles should not enter via the barriers at the main entrance.
    • Open in Maps
  • Canterbury Park and Rides

    Info:

    • £4 per day per vehicle, with up to 6 passengers
    • Monday - Saturday: Buses run every 8 minutes from 07:00-19:00
    • Sunday: Buses run every 20 minutes from 09:45-17:00

     

    NEW DOVER ROAD

     

    WINCHEAP

  • Herne Bay Car Parks

    BEACH STREET

    • £1.50 an hour
    • 07:30-21:00
    • £2 overnight charge (21:00-07:30)
    • Open in Maps

     

    BISHOPSTONE LANE

    • Monday- Friday: £1.50 per day
    • Weekends and Bank Holidays: £3 per day
    • 10:00-16:00
    • CAR PARK ONLY OPEN APRIL-SEPTEMBER
    • Open in Maps

     

    HAMPTON PIER

    • Monday- Friday: £1.50 per day
    • Weekends and Bank Holidays: £3 per day
    • 10:00-16:00
    • Open in Maps

     

    MARKET STREET

    • £1.50 an hour
    • 07:30-21:00
    • £2 overnight charge (21:00-07:30)
    • Open in Maps

     

    MEMORIAL PARK

     

    NEPTUNE

    • £2.10 an hour
    • 07:30-21:00
    • £2 overnight charge (21:00-07:30)
    • Open in Maps

     

    OCEAN VIEW

    • Monday- Friday: £1.50 per day
    • Weekends and Bank Holidays: £3 per day
    • 10:00-16:00
    • Open in Maps

     

    RECULVER COUNTRY PARK

    • £2.10 an hour
    • 07:30-21:00
    • Free outside these hours
    •  This car park has an uneven surface and might not be suitable for wheelchair users. It is recommended to park at Reculver Towers instead.
    • Open in Maps

     

    RECULVER DRIVE

    • Monday- Friday: £1.50 per day
    • Weekends and Bank Holidays: £3 per day
    • 10:00-16:00
    • Open in Maps

     

    RECULVER TOWERS

    • £2.10 an hour
    • 07:30-21:00
    • Free outside these hours
    • Open in Maps

     

    SCHOOL LANE

    • £0.50 for first 30 minutes
    • £1 for up to 2 hours
    • £2 for up to 24 hours
    • Two hours free parking for Blue Badge holders
    • Open in Maps

     

    SWALECLIFFE AVENUE

    • Monday- Friday: £1.50 per day
    • Weekends and Bank Holidays: £3 per day
    • 10:00-16:00
    • Open in Maps

     

    WILLIAM STREET

    • £1.50 an hour
    • Minimum fee of 30 minutes
    • 09:00-20:30
    • £2 overnight charge for non-ANPR account holders (18:00-09:00)
    • Open in Maps
  • Whitstable Car Parks

    BEACH WALK CAR PARK

     

    FAVERSHAM ROAD

    • Monday-Friday: £1.50 per day
    • Weekends and Bank Holidays: £3 per day
    • 10:00-16:00
    • CAR PARK ONLY OPEN APRIL-SEPTEMBER
    • Open in Maps

     

    GLADSTONE ROAD

    • £2.30 an hour
    • 10:00-21:00
    • £ overnight charge (21:00-08:30)
    • Free Monday-Friday 08:30-10:00
    • Open in Maps

     

    GORRELL TANK

    • £2.80 an hour
    • 10:00-21:00
    • £2 overnight charge (21:00-08:30)
    • Free Monday-Friday 08:30-10:00
    • Open in Maps

     

    KEAMS YARD

    • £2.80 an hour
    • 10:00-21:00
    • £2 overnight charge (21:00-08:30)
    • Free Monday-Friday 08:30-10:00
    • Open in Maps

     

    MIDDLE WALL

    • £2.30 an hour
    • 10:00-21:00
    • £2 overnight charge (21:00-08:30)
    • Free Monday-Friday 08:30-10:00
    • Open in Maps

     

    OYSTER

    • £2.30 an hour
    • £2 overnight charge (21:00-08:30)
    • CAR PARK ONLY OPEN EASTER-SEPTEMBER
    • Open in Maps

     

    SHAFTESBURY ROAD

    • £2.30 an hour
    • 10:00-21:00
    • £2 overnight charge (21:00-08:30)
    • Free Monday-Friday 08:30-10:00
    • Open in Maps

     

    TANKERTON ROAD

    • £0.80 an hour
    • Max. fee: £3
    • Tickets bought for 5 hours are valid for 24 hours
    • 08:30-21:00
    • Open in Maps

     

    VICTORIA STREET

    • £2.30 an hour
    • 10:00-21:00
    • £2 overnight charge (21:00-08:30)
    • Free Monday-Friday 08:30-10:00
    • Open in Maps

     

    WHITSTABLE HARBOUR

    • £2.30 an hour
    • Max. stay: 2 hours
    • 08:30-21:00
    • £2 overnight charge (21:00-08:30)
    • Open in Maps

     

    WHITSTABLE SWIMMING POOL

Travel by Stagecoach bus around the district © Alex Hare

High speed access between London and the district with Southeastern