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, Chapmans of Canterbury Ltd. (89-90 St. Dunstans Street) and Côte Brasserie - Canterbury (2 Longmarket) are recommended spots to get vegetarian or vegan food in Canterbury.

When to visit Canterbury

Canterbury in January
Estimated hotel price
£70
1 night at 3-star hotel
Canterbury in January
Estimated hotel price
£70
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 55 miles from Canterbury. The shortest domestic flight to Canterbury departs from Belfast and takes around 1h 10m.

Train

AccesRail is the most popular train carrier serving Canterbury, followed by South Western Railway. The train journey from Canterbury to Oxford takes 0h 54m and costs around £28 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Bristol, expect to pay about £30 for a 1h 36m trip. Located 0.4 miles from the city centre, Canterbury East is the busiest station in Canterbury. Another popular train station is Canterbury Chartham, located 3 miles from the centre.

Car

Another option to get to Canterbury is to pick up a car hire from London, which is about 54 miles 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 FlixBus, National Express and Megabus. From Bristol, the bus ride to Canterbury takes 135 miles and will cost you around £3. From Nottingham, the ticket costs about £8 for a journey of 140 miles. The most popular bus station is Canterbury Park and Ride, located 1.5 miles from the city centre of Canterbury. Canterbury University of Kent is also a commonly used station, and is 1.2 miles from the city centre.

Plane

Although Canterbury doesn’t have its own airport, you can fly to London Gatwick Airport (LGW), which is located 55 miles from Canterbury. The shortest domestic flight to Canterbury departs from Belfast and takes around 1h 10m.

Train

AccesRail is the most popular train carrier serving Canterbury, followed by South Western Railway. The train journey from Canterbury to Oxford takes 0h 54m and costs around £28 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Bristol, expect to pay about £30 for a 1h 36m trip. Located 0.4 miles from the city centre, Canterbury East is the busiest station in Canterbury. Another popular train station is Canterbury Chartham, located 3 miles from the centre.

Car

Another option to get to Canterbury is to pick up a car hire from London, which is about 54 miles 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 FlixBus, National Express and Megabus. From Bristol, the bus ride to Canterbury takes 135 miles and will cost you around £3. From Nottingham, the ticket costs about £8 for a journey of 140 miles. The most popular bus station is Canterbury Park and Ride, located 1.5 miles from the city centre of Canterbury. Canterbury University of Kent is also a commonly used station, and is 1.2 miles from the city centre.

Airports near Canterbury

Airlines serving Canterbury

Lufthansa
Good (4,699 reviews)
KLM
Good (848 reviews)
SWISS
Good (954 reviews)
British Airways
Good (4,590 reviews)
Delta
Good (4,594 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (2,267 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (491 reviews)
Air France
Good (981 reviews)
Iberia
Good (1,601 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (2,116 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (4,960 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (2,435 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (5,947 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (227 reviews)
Finnair
Good (862 reviews)
LOT
Good (681 reviews)
Singapore Airlines
Excellent (923 reviews)
TAP AIR PORTUGAL
Good (1,168 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (819 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Excellent (5,728 reviews)
Show more

Where to stay in Canterbury

Average rates range from around £113 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to £147 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)
£90+
Hampton by Hilton Canterbury
3 stars
Excellent (8.6, Excellent reviews)
£105+
The Marine
3 stars
Excellent (8.6, Excellent reviews)
£158+
The Five Bells
3 stars
Excellent (8.6, Excellent reviews)
£98+
The Falstaff in Canterbury
3 stars
Excellent (8.4, Excellent reviews)
£89+
The Victoria Hotel
3 stars
Excellent (8.4, Excellent reviews)
£63+

Hiring a car in Canterbury

Hiring a car in Canterbury costs £37 per day, on average.

Expect to pay £1.49 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 £17.81 and £23.75. 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 Compact car hire (Peugeot 208 or similar) is, on average, 75% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.

Hiring a car in Canterbury costs £37 per day, on average.

Expect to pay £1.49 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 £17.81 and £23.75. 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 Compact car hire (Peugeot 208 or similar) is, on average, 75% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.