Subscribe to the BlogWith a 2001 population of 42,000, Canterbury is located on the River Great Stour in the district of Kent, in south east England. Canterbury is known most famously as the seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury, which heads the Church of England and the worldwide Anglican community. The infamous murder of Archbishop Thomas Becket in 1170 made Canterbury a major medieval pilgrimage destination which inspired Geoffrey Chaucer to write his "Canterbury Tales" in 1387.
The most famous structure in Canterbury is Christ Church Cathedral, or Canterbury Cathedral, which was begun in the seventh century and continuously extended and rebuilt for centuries. The Cathedral continues to draw over 1 million visitors a year, and is one of the most visited sites in the country.
Although the city was heavily bombed in World War II, it was subsequently developed with a mix of old and new. Many medieval structures remain, including the typical buildings of medieval life along with quite a few monuments as well. The ruins of the Norman Canterbury Castle and St. Augustine's Abbey are both open for public viewing. There are certain sites that are only appreciated by boat, and you should take an historic river trip while you're there. And be sure to stop by Simple Simon's pub for a pint, and experience one of Canterbury's oldest and most interesting houses.
The medieval St. Margaret's Church is now home to a feature called Medieval Misadventures, which is a reconstruction of 14th century England with life-size characters from Geoffrey Chaucer's stories. There are also many fine museums including the Sydney Cooper Gallery, the Canterbury Roman Museum and the Canterbury Royal Museum and Art Gallery. Also worth visiting is the West Gate Museum, which features an interesting array of historical items and also offers a great view up the High Street towards the Cathedral.
By: Alyssa Mendell
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