Canterbury City Guide

The cathedral and its precincts are just one of the treasures that bring people to the city: with its links to literary greats including Christopher Marlowe, Geoffrey Chaucer and Charles Dickens – and even Rupert Bear! – plus a host of wonderful museums to explore, there is much to discover and enjoy in Canterbury.

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Despite devastating bomb damage during the Second World War, Canterbury offers visitors a wonderful mix of 2,000 years of history within the framework of a modern city. Millions of visitors come every year to experience the rare flavour of its ancient streets and buildings, and to visit its spectacular cathedral. It was here in 1170 that Norman knights struck down and killed Archbishop Thomas Becket; pilgrims have travelled to the site ever since, bringing prosperity to the city for centuries. But the cathedral and its precincts are just one of the treasures that bring people to the city: with its links to literary greats including Christopher Marlowe, Geoffrey Chaucer and Charles Dickens – and even Rupert Bear! – plus a host of wonderful museums to explore, there is much to discover and enjoy in Canterbury.