Introduction
What to do
Where to eat
When to visit
How to get there
Where to stay
Hiring a car

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 one of the most popular cities to visit 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
£66
1 night at 3-star hotel
Canterbury in January
Estimated hotel price
£66
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 Edinburgh and takes around 1h 15m.

Train

AccesRail is the most popular train carrier serving Canterbury, followed by South Western Railway. The train journey from Canterbury to Bristol takes 1h 36m and costs around £29 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Southampton, expect to pay about £26 for a 1h 42m 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 Turo, among others, in London.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Canterbury, including National Express, FlixBus and Megabus. From Leicester, the bus ride to Canterbury takes 115 miles and will cost you around £5. From Southampton, the ticket costs about £6 for a journey of 115 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 Edinburgh and takes around 1h 15m.

Train

AccesRail is the most popular train carrier serving Canterbury, followed by South Western Railway. The train journey from Canterbury to Bristol takes 1h 36m and costs around £29 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Southampton, expect to pay about £26 for a 1h 42m 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 Turo, among others, in London.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Canterbury, including National Express, FlixBus and Megabus. From Leicester, the bus ride to Canterbury takes 115 miles and will cost you around £5. From Southampton, the ticket costs about £6 for a journey of 115 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

LHRLondon Heathrow
STNLondon Stansted
LGWLondon Gatwick

Airlines serving Canterbury

Lufthansa
Good (7,198 reviews)
KLM
Good (1,372 reviews)
British Airways
Good (7,115 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,655 reviews)
Delta
Excellent (7,951 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (3,896 reviews)
Iberia
Good (2,828 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,468 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (811 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (8,846 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,285 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,596 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,419 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (9,696 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,096 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (351 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,222 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Excellent (10,375 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,312 reviews)
TAP AIR PORTUGAL
Good (1,915 reviews)
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Where to stay in Canterbury

Average rates range from around £122 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to £149 and up for a 5-star experience. There are also lots of holiday rental options in Canterbury, with prices from £53 to £489 per night. Downtown is the neighbourhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, holiday rentals in Canterbury are about 15% more expensive than a hotel room in the city.

Where to stay in popular areas of Canterbury

Most booked hotels in Canterbury

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The Crescent Turner Hotel
4 stars
Excellent (9.1, Excellent reviews)
£91+
View
Hampton by Hilton Canterbury
3 stars
Excellent (8.7, Excellent reviews)
£106+
View
The Marine
3 stars
Excellent (8.6, Excellent reviews)
£163+
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The Victoria Hotel
3 stars
Excellent (8.5, Excellent reviews)
£68+
View
Holiday Inn Express Canterbury
3 stars
Excellent (8.5, Excellent reviews)
£79+
View
Hotel Continental
3 stars
Excellent (8.5, Excellent reviews)
£119+
View

Hiring a car in Canterbury

Hiring a car in Canterbury costs £48 per day, on average.

Expect to pay £1.35 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 £16.16 and £21.55. 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 Mini car hire (Peugeot 108 or similar) is, on average, 59% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.

Hiring a car in Canterbury costs £48 per day, on average.

Expect to pay £1.35 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 £16.16 and £21.55. 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 Mini car hire (Peugeot 108 or similar) is, on average, 59% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.

Find car hire in Canterbury

Canterbury Travel Guide - View the KAYAK Canterbury city guide for the best Canterbury travel tips. To help you organise your Canterbury trip ideas, this Canterbury visitors guide provides travel information and trip tips about how to get there, where to stay, what to do, where to eat and more.