Affordable Things to Do in Canterbury this Autumn

The walled Roman city of Canterbury is one of England´s most visited tourist destinations outside London – and is a particular delight to explore during summertime.

Best known for its imposing cathedral that monopolises the topography, huge numbers of visitors flock to the ancient medieval city every year. During the summer months, the city really comes into its own, with its many well-maintained gardens and public spaces brimming with activity, and the cobbled streets of its central shopping district lined with quaint cafes and boutiques. If you’re coming to Canterbury this summer and would like to start planning what to see and do, here’s some inspiration to get you started.

Marvel at a magnificent cathedral

One of the oldest Christian structures in England, Canterbury Cathedral is a majestic beacon on the city landscape and visible from far around. Happily, the cathedral’s visual domination means that you don’t need to pay the rather excessive fees required to enter its official grounds (which make up part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site) to appreciate its grandiosity, and can instead marvel at it from any number of angles and vantage points in the city centre or beyond – entirely free of charge.

Cathedral House, 11 The Precincts

Take a riverside stroll

Another popular summertime activity in Canterbury that’s entirely cost-free (besides the obligatory pub stop-offs) is enjoying a scenic walk along the River Stour. A 10-mile circular route starts in the city centre and takes you along the river, before passing through several local woods near the city. It also takes in the achingly-pretty riverside village of Chartham with its 1930s paper mill and 13^th-century church, while the more rural scenery you’ll encounter includes arable farms and apple orchards. As an extra bonus, the walk back round offers some splendid views of the distant cathedral.

Visit one of the world’s oldest churches

Boasting an eye-catching mix of Roman, Saxon, Norman and mediaeval architecture, St Martin’s Church lays claim to being the oldest church anywhere in the English-speaking world that’s still in use, having served as a place of worship since before 597AD. Part of the World Heritage Site that also includes Canterbury Cathedral and St. Augustine’s Abbey, the church is free to enter on its albeit limited weekday opening hours and can also be explored by joining pre-booked guided tours.

1 North Holmes Road / Weds-Sun 11am-3pm

Explore a free museum

If you’re keen to escape the summer heat, or are caught off-guard by a rainy day, the excellent Beaney House of Art & Knowledge is on hand. With all areas of the museum free to enter, it draws large numbers of visitors who come to enjoy the ground-floor taxidermy exhibit where an easel is set up for budding artists to try their hand at portraiture. Upstairs are special exhibitions as well as a room with a microscope where visitors can take an up-close look at bugs and interesting geological artefacts including fossils. There’s also an impressive collection of armoury and weaponry hailing from around the world.

18 High Street / Mon-Weds & Fri-Sat 10am-5pm Thurs 10am-6pm Sun 11am-4pm

Picnic in picturesque public gardens

The perfect antidote to the hustle and bustle of the city centre, the beautifully landscaped Westgate Gardens are among Canterbury’s most tranquil and picture-postcard spots. Families and friends often come here to picnic while children take delight in exploring the gardens’ wooded areas where you can regularly catch sight of wildlife. There’s also a modern play area called Toddlers Cove featuring wooden climbing equipment that’s a touch more stylish than your average park playground.

St Peter’s Street / Mon-Sun 9am-6pm

Discover native animals at a woodland park  

A day out at the zoo can often hit you rather hard in the pocket – particularly for families – but in the outskirts of Canterbury you’ll find a fantastic wildlife park that is both affordable and has a keen focus on restoring Britain’s wildlife and nature. Set in over 40 acres of ancient woodland, the park is home to over 50 species of native British animals such as deer, badgers, wild boar and wolves. There’s also a playground with a zipline and a café serving hot food, snacks and ice creams. Admission is £15 for adults and £12 for children .

Wealden Forest Park, Canterbury Road, Herne Common, Herne Bay / Mon-Sun 10am-5pm

Embark on a scenic cycle ride

Canterbury is an extremely bike-friendly city and with its surrounding countryside is the perfect base from which to embark on a scenic cycle ride. One of the most popular routes is the Crab and Winkle Way, a seven-mile stretch from Canterbury that meanders along the river and ends up in the quaint seaside fishing town of Whitstable, delivering the reward of a beach at the end of your biking endeavours, not to mention lashings of delicious seafood served from shacks that line the town’s harbour and promenade.

Sink an outdoor pint at a historic pub

If there’s one thing Canterbury isn’t short of it’s pubs, and one of the most idyllic ways to spend a balmy summer’s day in the city is by ensconcing yourself in one of its enticing beer gardens. Perched (geddit?) on the outskirts of the city centre, The Parrot is said to be the city’s oldest pub and it certainly lives up to that billing, featuring oak beams, cosy log fires and real ales. But it’s the compact garden where you’ll want to head when the sun shines, with friendly staff on hand to serve you al fresco drinks and modern pub-style food till your heart – and stomach’s – content.

1-9 Church Lane, St Radigunds Street / Mon-Sat 12pm-11pm Sun 12pm-10.30pm

Catch some summer theatre

At the heart of Canterbury’s vibrant cultural scene, The Marlowe puts on a busy programme of performing arts shows and arguably punches above its weight by attracting nationally renowned performers on a regular basis. As well as the quality of the productions, one of the main attractions are the ticket prices, which can be unusually generous for an established theatre house. During the summer months, there are many shows to watch, so just check the schedules for your dates of travel.

The Friars 

Wander through a charming village

Based around a square hemmed by half-timbered buildings, the sheer wealth of historic architecture in Chilham makes it well worth making the small hop from Canterbury. Eye-catching at all times of the year, but particularly pretty on a sunny day, the village is also a great starting point for walking trails that branch out into the area’s bucolic surroundings. And of course, no visit to a country village would be complete without stopping off at a local pub for refreshments and to soak up the local chatter.

By Paul Joseph