Canterbury is indeed a pleasant little town, and therefore touristy, because of its various assets. With beautiful gardens (flowers) at the edge of the water, there is a very British pedestrian city center with beautiful monuments, including a superb cathedral.
From heritage architecture, long pathways for walks to doing some adventure activities and dining here. Wait! The fun doesn’t stop here, there is so much to do. If you are looking to go there with family or friends? Without any doubt, start planning, visit the british airways official site and get your flight tickets online. Also, save up to 45% off on one-way & round trips on every flight. To make it easy for you, here is a list of exciting things to do in New Zealand to enjoy the most unforgettable days here.
Visit Canterbury: points of interest
The High Street
This is the main artery of the city center. In principle difficult to escape because it is a large pedestrian street in which there are many shops, restaurants, and pubs.
In terms of shops, you can find a bit of everything: clothing stores, bookstores, mini-markets, and even souvenir shops (“gift shops”).
But beyond the shops, you can discover above all beautiful facades: often in brick, and sometimes with half-timbering. For lovers of authenticity, it is even possible to stay in a house of this type. You can indeed find this apartment in a beautiful building on High Street, ideally located for visiting Canterbury.
This street crosses part of Canterbury in a south-east/north-west axis. On the south-east side, it starts not far from the cathedral, and on the north-west side, it leads to the Westgate side.
The parallel street: Sun Street / Burgate
Sun Street and Burgate Street are also pleasant streets to walk. They extend from one to the other, and are slightly north of the High Street is mentioned above.
You can necessarily go through this street to visit the cathedral, so you can hardly miss it. It is lively, and there are also shops, restaurants, and boutiques of all kinds. Personally, you can find it more pleasant than the High Street!
To make purchases of objects of all kinds you will find your happiness because there are quirky shops. Like candy shops, souvenir shops, etc.
The Westgate
This is the gateway into Canterbury from the west, hence its name. Dating from the end of the 14th century, it is the best-preserved gate in the city.
It is also the last survivor of the 7 medieval gates that existed before. It is made up of 2 towers and is nearly twenty meters high. So we can’t miss it!
This door is at the end of High Street, however in a busy area for vehicles. They, therefore, pass under this door. To photograph it, I recommend going to the gardens next door. The gate is particularly well visible from here, with the water and greenery in the frame.
The Westgate can be visited because it now houses a museum: the Westgate Towers Museum. This museum allows you to discover the history of this tower, but also to have a beautiful view of part of Canterbury from its ramparts. Count £4 per adult, and half-price for 5-15-year-olds. It is open every day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (except for public holidays).
Westgate Gardens
They are so named because they are located not far from the door that I have just mentioned.
These gardens are appreciated by the inhabitants of the city because it is pleasant to walk or rest there. They are indeed very green, bordered by water, and are particularly well flowered (in spring/summer).
Note that these gardens house the mayor’s office. This building is in fact the former family residence of the Williamsons, family owners of the historic Canterbury tannery. It is to this family that we owe the creation of these gardens.
Christ Church Cathedral
Canterbury Cathedral, or Christ Church Cathedral, is one of the oldest Christian churches in England. It is in the city center, to the east of High Street. Its particularity is a mixture of Romanesque and Gothic architecture, and its construction dates from the 11th and 12th centuries.
Note that the cathedral, like 2 other Canterbury sites (Saint-Augustin Abbey and Saint-Martin Church), was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988. It is now the mother church of the Anglican Communion, as well as the seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury.
This cathedral can be visited and it costs £12 per adult and £8 for children. It can be visited from Monday to Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. (summer), and until 5 p.m. in winter. On the other hand, beware: on Sunday the hours are restricted from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. You can find more information on the official Canterbury Cathedral website.
Note that this cathedral has been under renovation for several years now. And that it is also possible to walk in the adjoining gardens. These adjoining gardens are also home to a rather upscale hotel: the Canterbury Cathedral Lodge. Ideally located to enjoy the view on this one so.
Last Words
There we go, hope you like this list of some of the best things to do in Canterbury, New Zealand. So, why wait? plan your vacation with AirlinesMap and personalize your travel itinerary itself. The place where travelers want to come back for their vacation to New Zealand again. Bon Voyage!
