Canterbury day trip from London
A day trip to Canterbury from London: Canterbury Cathedral, mother church of the Church of England, St Martin's, the oldest church in England still in use, the Roman Museum, the medieval Westgate and the Dane John Gardens on the city walls. Every stop has a typical visit length.
How long do you have?
Map: 1 days
Canterbury in 1 day
Day 1
Canterbury Cathedral
Mother church of the Church of England and site of Thomas Becket's murder in 1170, with Romanesque crypts and medieval stained glass.
St Martin's Church, Canterbury
The oldest church in England still in use, already a place of worship when Augustine arrived in 597.
Canterbury Roman Museum
An underground museum built around the remains of a Roman town house, with its mosaic floors and finds from Roman Canterbury.
Westgate, Canterbury
The largest surviving medieval city gate in England, built in the 1380s, with gardens and the river beside it.
Dane John Gardens
A park beside the city walls with a Roman burial mound you can climb for a view over the city.
Getting there
High-speed trains from London St Pancras reach Canterbury West in about 55 minutes; slower trains from Victoria reach Canterbury East in about 1 hour 30. Both stations are a 10-minute walk from the cathedral.
Staying in London? This day fits into those city plans, and in the Trip Builder it is one click under each of them.
When to go to Canterbury
Open all year. Spring and early autumn are best for the river and the gardens. Summer brings school groups to the cathedral; arrive early. In December the city has a Christmas market.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay: hotels in Canterbury on Booking.com or Trip.com
- Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in Canterbury on Tiqets
- Tours and day trips: things to do in Canterbury on GetYourGuide
- Data on arrival: an eSIM for United Kingdom from Airalo
Some of these are affiliate links: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Tips for Canterbury
- Start at the cathedral at opening time, before the tour groups, and enter by Christ Church Gate.
- St Martin's Church opens only at set hours, often a few afternoons a week, so check before you walk out.
- St Augustine's Abbey is often closed on Mondays and on winter weekdays; check its dates if you want to add it.
- River tours and punts on the Stour start near the Westgate, mostly from spring to autumn.
- The Goods Shed food market by Canterbury West station is good for lunch or before the train back, except on Mondays.
Make it your own
Open the guide in Andiamo Places to see every stop on a map with walking directions, move places between days, check opening hours for your dates, and add your own finds. After the trip, your photos become a journal and, if you like, a printed photo book.
Guides are made with the help of AI and public sources such as Wikipedia, and may contain errors. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go. Spotted a wrong photo, a pin in the wrong place, a missing stop or a better one? Write to andiamotravelapp@gmail.com: the e-mail opens with this guide filled in.
Photo credits
- Canterbury Cathedral: Tony Hisgett from Birmingham, UK, CC BY 2.0
- Canterbury Roman Museum: Linda Spashett (Storye book), CC BY 3.0
- Dane John Gardens: Oast House Archive, CC BY-SA 2.0
- St Martin's Church, Canterbury: Oosoom, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Westgate, Canterbury: DeFacto, CC BY-SA 4.0
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
