Canterbury travel guide

Canterbury Tourism | Canterbury Guide

You're Going to Love Canterbury

With a population of 46.978, Canterbury is a must-see destination in England, United Kingdom. It is among the most popular tourist destinations in the country. Consider staying at least one whole day in Canterbury to see all of its attractions.

Where to Eat in Canterbury

If you’re looking for affordable options, Oscar & Bentleys (10 Guildhall Street) and The Granville (Street End Lower Hardres) are great picks. For delicious green meals, Côte Brasserie - Canterbury (2 Longmarket) and Gurkha Dine (74 Wincheap) are recommended spots to get vegetarian or vegan food in Canterbury.

When to visit Canterbury

Canterbury in January
Estimated hotel price
£71
1 night at 3-star hotel
Canterbury in January
Estimated hotel price
£71
1 night at 3-star hotel

How to Get to Canterbury

Plane

Although Canterbury doesn’t have its own airport, you can fly to London Gatwick Airport (LGW), which is located 89 km from Canterbury. The shortest domestic flight to Canterbury departs from Belfast and takes around 1h 15m.

Train

AccesRail is the most popular train carrier serving Canterbury, followed by West Midlands Railway. The train journey from Canterbury to Birmingham takes 1h 58m and costs around £7 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Bristol, expect to pay about £14 for a 2h 10m trip. Located 0.6 km from the city centre, Canterbury East is the busiest station in Canterbury. Another popular train station is Canterbury Chartham, located 5 km from the centre.

Car

Another option to get to Canterbury is to pick up a car hire from London, which is about 87 km from Canterbury. You’ll find branches of GREEN MOTION and DRIVALIA , among others, in London.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Canterbury, including National Express, FlixBus and Megabus. From Southsea, the bus ride to Canterbury takes 177 km and will cost you around £5. From Southampton, the ticket costs about £6 for a journey of 177 km. The most popular bus station is Canterbury Park and Ride, located 2.4 km from the city centre of Canterbury. Canterbury University of Kent is also a commonly used station, and is 2.0 km from the city centre.

Plane

Although Canterbury doesn’t have its own airport, you can fly to London Gatwick Airport (LGW), which is located 89 km from Canterbury. The shortest domestic flight to Canterbury departs from Belfast and takes around 1h 15m.

Train

AccesRail is the most popular train carrier serving Canterbury, followed by West Midlands Railway. The train journey from Canterbury to Birmingham takes 1h 58m and costs around £7 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Bristol, expect to pay about £14 for a 2h 10m trip. Located 0.6 km from the city centre, Canterbury East is the busiest station in Canterbury. Another popular train station is Canterbury Chartham, located 5 km from the centre.

Car

Another option to get to Canterbury is to pick up a car hire from London, which is about 87 km from Canterbury. You’ll find branches of GREEN MOTION and DRIVALIA , among others, in London.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Canterbury, including National Express, FlixBus and Megabus. From Southsea, the bus ride to Canterbury takes 177 km and will cost you around £5. From Southampton, the ticket costs about £6 for a journey of 177 km. The most popular bus station is Canterbury Park and Ride, located 2.4 km from the city centre of Canterbury. Canterbury University of Kent is also a commonly used station, and is 2.0 km from the city centre.

Airports near Canterbury

Airlines serving Canterbury

Lufthansa
Good (4,684 reviews)
KLM
Good (849 reviews)
SWISS
Good (945 reviews)
British Airways
Good (4,551 reviews)
Delta
Good (4,620 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (2,301 reviews)
Air France
Good (983 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (489 reviews)
Iberia
Good (1,592 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (4,966 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (2,121 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (2,456 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (5,887 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (230 reviews)
Finnair
Good (872 reviews)
Singapore Airlines
Excellent (925 reviews)
TAP AIR PORTUGAL
Good (1,180 reviews)
LOT
Good (683 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (820 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Excellent (5,684 reviews)
Show more

Where to stay in Canterbury

Average rates range from around £112 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to £145 and up for a 5-star experience.

Where to stay in popular areas of Canterbury

Most booked hotels in Canterbury

The Crescent Turner Hotel
4 stars
Excellent (9, Excellent reviews)
£89+
Hampton by Hilton Canterbury
3 stars
Excellent (8.6, Excellent reviews)
£101+
Marine Hotel
3 stars
Excellent (8.6, Excellent reviews)
£159+
The Five Bells, Eastry
3 stars
Excellent (8.6, Excellent reviews)
£97+
The Falstaff Hotel
3 stars
Excellent (8.4, Excellent reviews)
£86+
The Victoria Hotel
3 stars
Excellent (8.4, Excellent reviews)
£63+

Hiring a car in Canterbury

Hiring a car in Canterbury costs £40 per day, on average.

Expect to pay £1.48 per litre in Canterbury (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your car hire, filling up the tank will cost between £17.66 and £23.54. The most frequently booked car type in Canterbury is Intermediate (Nissan Qashqai or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Economy car hire (Volkswagen Polo or similar) is, on average, 74% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.

Hiring a car in Canterbury costs £40 per day, on average.

Expect to pay £1.48 per litre in Canterbury (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your car hire, filling up the tank will cost between £17.66 and £23.54. The most frequently booked car type in Canterbury is Intermediate (Nissan Qashqai or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Economy car hire (Volkswagen Polo or similar) is, on average, 74% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.