Anglobilia all about England

Canterbury

River Stour, Canterbury

Canterbury is a cathedral city in the heart of Kent made famous by Chaucer's Canterbury Tales. As you approach the city you cannot help but notice the cathedral towering above the city.

Canterbury Cathedral

Canterbury has been a centre of Christianity since the arrival of St Augustine in Kent in 597 AD who built the first cathedral. It remains the home of the Archbishop of Canterbury, spiritual leader of the Church of England and Anglians worldwide. In 1170 Thomas Becket was murdered in the cathedral thus making Canterbury a place of pligrimage. It is the stories of some of these pilgrims that were immortalized by Chaucer in the 14th century. The place where the heinous act took place may still be seen.

Interior, Canterbury Cathedral

Close by the cathedral lie the ruins of St Augustine's Abbey. Well worth a visit, and refreshingly free of charge, is St Martin's Church, the oldest parish church in England.

Other Canterbury attractions inlude the Canterbury Tales (in the building of St Margaret's Church, St Margaret's Street), recreating some of Chaucer's stories, The Roman Museum (in Butchery Lane) and the Museum of Canterbury (in Stour Street). Additionally, Canterbury boasts a fine shopping centre and choice of restaurants and pubs.

The Official Canterbury and Coastal Kent Tourism Site
The Official Guide to Canterbury, Whitstable, Herne Bay and Rural Area
Canterbury Cathedral Online
Canterbury Tales Visitor Attraction