Canterbury - Old City
Christ Church Gate leads from the Close into the pedestrianized area of Canterbury's Old City.
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Must-see attractions nearby:
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Related Attractions
Timber framed houses
In the pedestrianized area of the Old City numerous timber framed buildings survive. An unbroken row of particularly fine houses, with typical overhanging upper floors, can be seen in the narrow and busy Mercery Lane.
Canterbury Tales Museum
A visit to the Canterbury Tales Museum on St Margaret's Street can be thoroughly recommended. As the name implies the museum is dedicated to Chaucer and his times.
The museum is one of Kent's most popular attractions. Visitors can participate in a mock-14th century pilgrimage from London to Canterbury. Commentaries available in Dutch, French, German, Italian, Japanese and Spanish.
The museum is one of Kent's most popular attractions. Visitors can participate in a mock-14th century pilgrimage from London to Canterbury. Commentaries available in Dutch, French, German, Italian, Japanese and Spanish.
Canterbury Tales Museum
St Margaret's Street
Canterbury CT1 2TG
England
St Margaret's Street
Canterbury CT1 2TG
England
Hours
March 1 to June 30
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 |
| Close | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 |
July 1 to August 31
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 |
| Close | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 |
September 1 to October 31
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 |
| Close | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 |
November 1 to February 28
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 |
| Close | 16:30 | 16:30 | 16:30 | 16:30 | 16:30 | 16:30 | 16:30 |
Always closed on:
New Year's Day (January 1)
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Day after Christmas, St Stephen's Day, Boxing Day (December 26)
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Day after Christmas, St Stephen's Day, Boxing Day (December 26)
Guides
Guided tour included with admission.
Facilities
Gift shop
Restaurant or food service
Restaurant or food service
Castle
Only the stump of the keep survives from Canterbury's 11th century Norman castle, situated on the southwest edge of the Old Town. Just to the east of the castle, a well preserved section of city wall skirts Dane John Gardens, named after the still unexplained mound/tumulus known as Dane John. Also in the Gardens are a memorial to Christopher Marlowe, and the "Invicta" (1830), a locomotive built by Robert Stephenson.
Chequer of the Hope
On the corner of Mercery Lane stands "The Chequer of the Hope", successor to the pilgrim hostel mentioned by Chaucer in the "Canterbury Tales" (only a fragment of the medieval original survives).
Museum of Canterbury (formerly Canterbury Heritage Museum)
Anyone eager to learn more about the history of Canterbury should visit the Museum of Canterbury, in an imposing old buildings in Stour Street. On the way, Grayfriars, the remnants of a former Franciscan monastery founded in the 13th century, can be seen on the other side of the river.
The Rupert Bear Museum is also part of the Museum of Canterbury.
The Rupert Bear Museum is also part of the Museum of Canterbury.
Museum of Canterbury / Canterbury Royal Museum Art Gallery
Stour Street
Canterbury CT1 2NR
England
Stour Street
Canterbury CT1 2NR
England
Hours
June 1 to October 31
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 10:30 | 10:30 | 10:30 | 10:30 | 10:30 | 10:30 | 13:30 |
| Close | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 |
November 1 to May 31
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 10:30 | 10:30 | 10:30 | 10:30 | 10:30 | 10:30 | Closed |
| Close | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 |
Always closed on:
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Day after Christmas, St Stephen's Day, Boxing Day (December 26)
Christmas Eve - Christian (December 24)
Good Friday - Christian (Apr 06)
Day after Christmas, St Stephen's Day, Boxing Day (December 26)
Christmas Eve - Christian (December 24)
Good Friday - Christian (Apr 06)
Parking
Pay
Disabled
Partial facilities for persons with disabilities.
Guides
Guided tour available as optional extra.
Facilities
Gift shop
Queen Elizabeth Guest Chamber
Coming out of Mercery Lane into Canterbury's High Street, note the Tudor "Queen Elizabeth's Guest Chamber" diagonally opposite, with its attractive pargetting.
St Thomas' Cemetery
Among those who lie buried in St Thomas' Cemetery is the novelist Joseph Conrad (1857-1924).
Westgate
To the right, along Canterbury's High Street, past Eastbridge Hospital (founded about 1180, extended in the 17th century) and beyond the bridge over the Stour (with a good view of the picturesque old Weavers' Houses, the homes in the second half of the 16th century of immigrant Huguenot families), lies the Westgate (1375-81) with its round corner towers, portcullis and drawbridge. The impressive gateway now houses a history museum; there is a fine view of the cathedral from the top.
Museum of Canterbury / Canterbury Royal Museum Art Gallery
Stour Street
Canterbury CT1 2NR
England
Stour Street
Canterbury CT1 2NR
England
Hours
Always closed on:
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Day after Christmas, St Stephen's Day, Boxing Day (December 26)
Christmas Eve - Christian (December 24)
Good Friday - Christian (Apr 06)
Day after Christmas, St Stephen's Day, Boxing Day (December 26)
Christmas Eve - Christian (December 24)
Good Friday - Christian (Apr 06)