Canterbury Staycation Guide: Where to Stay, What to Do and Where to Eat

Canterbury is a cathedral city small enough to walk across in twenty minutes, yet it has enough history, riverside gardens and good places to eat for a relaxed two- or three-night break. The cathedral, the ruins of St Augustine's Abbey and St Martin's Church together form a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the River Stour runs through the middle of town, and the Kent coast is only a short hop away.

Why Canterbury works for a staycation

Most of what you will want to see sits inside or just outside the old city walls, so you can park once or arrive by train and do everything on foot. Two nights suits a first visit; stay longer and you can add a day at the seaside. It is a good fit for anyone interested in history, so see our historic staycations guide for similar places; for more rail-friendly trips, see our guide to UK city breaks without flying.

Where to stay in Canterbury

Near the cathedral

Canterbury Cathedral Lodge is the only hotel inside the cathedral precincts, with a private garden and a four-star rating. The Corner House Canterbury is a city-centre guest house with a restaurant, rated 4.7 from over 1,100 Google reviews, and Hampton by Hilton Canterbury is a practical modern choice a few minutes' walk from the cathedral.

Historic and independent

House of Agnes is a 15th-century building with wood-beamed rooms and an honesty bar, and it is one of the best-rated places to stay in the city. The Millers Arms is a riverside pub dating from 1826 with twelve rooms and a courtyard garden, and it welcomes dogs.

Pub rooms and countryside

The Duke William has four rooms above a pub with a garden and free parking, and also accepts dogs. Howfield Manor Hotel suits those with a car who prefer a quieter base. The full list is on the Canterbury hotels page.

Things to do in Canterbury

Canterbury Cathedral is the reason most people come, and it deserves at least half a day. It is the mother church of the Church of England and the place where Archbishop Thomas Becket was murdered in 1170, which made it one of the great pilgrimage destinations of medieval Europe. It is rated 4.6 from over 15,000 Google reviews.

The river is the other highlight. Canterbury Punting Company and Canterbury Historic River Tours both take you along the Stour past medieval buildings, and Westgate Gardens runs along the riverbank beside the Westgate towers. Dane John Gardens sits against the city walls on the other side of the centre.

For museums, the Canterbury Roman Museum is built around an excavated Roman house with mosaics, and The Beaney combines a museum, art gallery and library in a 19th-century building. In the evening, the Canterbury Ghost Tour is a light-hearted way to learn about the city's darker history.

Families have two big animal parks within easy reach: Wingham Wildlife Park, rated 4.7, and Howletts Wild Animal Park, known for its gorillas. More ideas are on the Canterbury attractions page.

Where to eat

The Goods Shed is an all-day restaurant overlooking a food market, with its own bakery and butchery. Weavers Restaurant serves pies and roasts in a 16th-century timbered house with a riverside garden, and Cafe du Soleil is a Mediterranean restaurant in an old mill with a terrace. For Italian, try Posillipo. See the Canterbury restaurants page for more.

A two-day plan

Day one

Spend the morning at the cathedral, then wander the medieval lanes around Palace Street and the High Street. After lunch, take a punt or river tour, walk through Westgate Gardens and finish with a visit to The Beaney.

Day two

Start with the Roman Museum, then walk part of the city walls to Dane John Gardens. In the afternoon, head out to the coast at Whitstable or Broadstairs, or take the children to one of the wildlife parks.

Day trips from Canterbury

Whitstable is known for its oysters, harbour and beach huts. On the Isle of Thanet, Margate has a long sandy beach and a lively arts scene, while Broadstairs is a smaller resort with a sheltered bay. To the south-east, Deal has a shingle beach and a Tudor castle, and Dover is the place to see the white cliffs. Rye, across the border in East Sussex, is a good full-day option for cobbled streets and old inns.

Camping near Canterbury

Wild Woodland Retreat near Elham has tents, glamping and campfires and takes dogs. Canterbury Lodges and Glamping is rated 5.0, and Puddledock Woods Camping offers tent pitches in woodland. Browse camping near Canterbury or cottages in Canterbury for more.

Practical tips

Canterbury has two railway stations, both a short walk from the centre, so it is easy to visit without a car. The centre is largely pedestrianised, and the cathedral precincts have their own entrance, so allow time to queue at busy periods. For more ideas, see our staycations without a car guide.