Canterbury Attractions

Situated outside the city center, beyond St Augustine's Abbey, St Martin's Church, the "mother church of England", is one of the oldest surviving English churches, believed to have been built originally for Queen Bertha. Numerous Roman bricks are incorporated into the Anglo Saxon choir. Inside there is a Norman font.

This annual festival crams over 200 events into four weeks, from early September to early October.

Events include cathedral concerts, operas, theatrical and dance performances, plays, fringe events, art exhibitions, recitals and film screenings. Drama and dance classes are also offered.

The repertoire is always varied and includes both classical and contemporary.

Impressive venues, such as the Canterbury Cathedral, the Gulbenkian and Marlowe theaters, and Shirley Hall also add to the high quality of the festival.

Canterbury's Roman Museum is a new attraction in the city. Archeologists have been on a quest to uncover the buried Roman town under present day Canterbury. You can now explore some of their findings: an excavated Roman house, military remains and objects employed in daily life, all below the Longmarket Shopping Centre.

Canterbury Royal Museum Art Gallery is located on the first floor of the Beaney Institute. Exhibits at the gallery change frequently and usually feature the work of international and local young artists associated with the Kent Institute of Art and Design.

This annual festival takes place in late August in tribute to Geoffrey Chaucer and his work.

The delightful village of Chilham (7mi/11km southwest of Canterbury) has a picturesque village green known as "The Square", around which stand ancient timber framed houses. The market square in Chilham is also the site for the annual May Day celebrations. St Mary's, the parish church, contains some magnificent tombs. Chilham Castle, built in 1616, is not open to the public. The park, landscaped by Capability Brown, is open however, and well worth the walk round - including seeing the eagles and falcons.

Herne Bay (pop. 26,827) is a seaside resort, located 53mi/85km east of London. The town is home to a clock tower, built in 1837, notable as the world's first freestanding purpose-built tower. Herne Bay hosts several festivals during summer months that include concerts and a carnival.

Called "The Herb Centre of Kent", the secret gardens of Iden Croft feature aromatic herbs, wildflowers and a butterfly garden. It is of special interest to herb gardeners.

The center is located in the Challock Forest and includes hourly, daily and weekly packages of cross-country rides through the forest, fields and nearby orchards. Private and group lessons are also available for riders of all abilities. Children over the age of 10 are accepted unaccompanied.

This annual 10-day festival takes place in mid-June and includes various weekend performances, including operas, choral and chamber concerts and recitals in the Boughton Aluph Church.

The festival focuses on early music, although other repertoires are often included.

St Mary's Church (late 14th century) has an Art Nouveau stained glass window by Arild Rosenkrantz depicting the Annunciation (1896).

Encircled by orchards this attractive village, Wickhambreaux, lies 4mi/7km east of Canterbury.
The town has a white clapboard mill with working water wheel and a 14th century church with an Art Nouveau stained glass window that dates back to the 19th century.

Goodnestone Park Gardens are set in 14 acres of beautiful parkland. Attractions include a small arboretum, woodland area and a walled garden. The novelist Jane Austen visited these gardens many times.

The Wingham Wildlife Park near Canterbury is home to waterfowl, parrots, owls, emu and many other species.