Canterbury

Above: A little boy gets better with the help of St. Thomas Becket; well-worn pilgrim stairs; modern shops and medieval streets.

Canterbury in Kent is a relatively small city (pop. 45,000) but it is the spiritual capital of England.

This was the headquarters and burial place of St Augustine, the first Archbishop of Canterbury.

Augustine was sent from Rome by Pope Gregory to convert the English from paganism in 597 AD and is credited with establishing Christianity in England. Today's Archbishop of Canterbury is the head of the worldwide Anglican Communion. Canterbury was also the site of the murder of St Thomas Becket (another Archbishop of Canterbury) in 1170, at the hands of the king's knights. Miracles were reported around Thomas' tomb almost immediately and it soon became one of the most important pilgrimage destinations in Europe. Geoffrey Chaucer's famous Canterbury Tales, written in the 14th century, is about a mix of pilgrims telling each other stories to pass the time on their pilgrimage from London.

Canterbury is a very historical place with numerous interesting religious sites. But it is also a lively university town and its maze of medieval streets has excellent shopping and great restaurants alongside its medieval buildings. And to top it all off, Canterbury is handily located very close to London and the Eurostar train station. Follow a link below to learn more about Canterbury and plan your trip.

Canterbury Map
Our own detailed, interactive satellite map of Canterbury, plus links to more Canterbury maps.

Canterbury Blog
Get a visual overview of what Canterbury has to offer on my photo-rich blog post documenting my November 2007 visit.

Canterbury Hotel Reviews
Unbiased reviews, ratings and price comparisons on hotels in Canterbury from fellow travelers.

Canterbury Travel Forum
Practical travel advice and insider tips on Canterbury from those in the know.

	Canterbury Cathedral The fine architecture and venerable history are what bring most visitors to Canterbury Cathedral, but it is also full of details waiting to be discovered, from medieval stained glass and murals to Green Men capitals and zodiac roundels.
	Canterbury Cathedral: Stained Glass Windows Canterbury has such a magnificent collection of medieval stained glass that it merits a feature of its own. Explore a colorful world of saints, prophets, everyday life, miracles and biblical symbolism with our extensive photo guide.
	Eastbridge Pilgrim's Hospital This interesting little site on a main street provides a glimpse into the experiences of medieval pilgrims. On the lower floor of this hostal you can see where they slept; upstairs is their dining hall (with a 13th-century mural) and chapel.
	St Augustine's Abbey The ruins of St. Augustine's abbey on the outskirts of town are not extensive, but they include the grave of the great saint and a substantial crypt. The excellent visitor's center displays many Early Christian artifacts found at the site.
	St Martin's Church This is the oldest church in active use in England. Founded even before the arrival of St Augustine, who used it as a place of worship while his abbey was built. It has been expanded over the years but still has extensive Saxon and Norman bits.