Canterbury and its Gothic cathedral: what to see in England's most beautiful town?

One of the most charming towns you can visit in a Travel to England es Canterbury, located at south east london, on the route to Dover.

To visit Canterbury, it is not essential that you plan a trip through the south of england, but you can consider a day trip during a london sightseeing tour.

This is made easier because this nice medieval town It is located just 90 kilometers south of the English capital.

If instead of going on your own you prefer to sign up for an excursion in an organized group with guide in spanish, here you have the information of the Canterbury tour from London, and here you have more alternatives in English and other languages of guided tours and excursions to Canterbury.

With a duration of 10 hours, in addition to visit Canterbury, on this excursion you will also be able to see Leeds Castle and the Dover cliffs.

Curiosities of the history of Canterbury

The origins of Canterbury They date back to the occupation of the Romans, when it was called Durovernum Cantiacorum, although there had already been population settlements during prehistoric times.

Located on the shores of River Stour, a key milestone in the canterbury history was the arrival at the end of the 7th century of San Agustín sent by Pope of Rome to carry out the conversion of the Anglo-Saxons to Christianity.

From that moment Canterbury became the religious center of England. which has marked its history to this day.

This is the experience of visiting Canterbury, the best things to see

A good example of what has been said is that, currently, the great attraction that Canterbury for visitors it is its imposing cathedraldeclared Heritage awarded by the Unesco, and that's where you should start your visit.

Canterbury Cathedral, seat of the Anglican Church in England

From the medieval street that is the central axis of Canterbury, you have to pass under the spectacular Christ Church Gate, and thus you will access the area where the great cathedral building is located surrounded by a meadow.

From there, you will appreciate its unmistakable Gothic architectural style, as well as the reminiscences of the old Romanesque building, which was destroyed by fire in the 12th century.

At the outset you should know that the canterbury cathedral It is historically the main headquarters of the Church of england, that is, of the Anglican church.

El Archbishop of Canterbury Cathedral is the representative head of said church, which dates back to the year 1534 when the King Henry VIII of England declared the separation of the Roman Catholic Church.

Curiosities about the history of Canterbury Cathedral

El origin of canterbury cathedral is found at the arrival of San Agustín, sent in the year 597 by the Pope Gregory the Great to achieve the conversion of the Anglo-Saxons to Christianity.

It was initially established in St Martin's Church, which is still preserved in Canterbury, but soon a first cathedral building was built next to the remains of the walls of the ancient Roman city.

Thus San Agustín he became the first archbishop of Canterbury, and the current archbishop is 104th in the line of succession.

From then on, the cathedral building underwent numerous renovations and extensions.

After those carried out by the Saxons, in the year 1070 The Normans built a new building on top of the previous one, which had been destroyed by fire.

At the same time, the religious community of the church came to be run by the Benedictine monks.

An important historical event was the beheading in 1170 of the then Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Beckett.

Shortly after, a new fire forced another renovation, and that was when the canterbury cathedral It acquired the Gothic architectural style that now characterizes it.

The enormous choir of the cathedral and its beautiful stained glass windows They go back to that time.

La canterbury cathedral stopped being a Benedictine monastery in 1540, when at the time of Henry VIII The dissolution of the monasteries was declared.

In the cathedral building is the tomb of Saint Thomas of Canterbury (Thomas Beckett) And Black Princeson of king edward iii, died in 1376.

This is what a visit to Canterbury Cathedral is like.

The main entrance of the canterbury cathedral You find it in the southwest portico, and it was built between 1424 and 1459.

For its part, the central tower of canterbury cathedral which you can now see was built in 1510.

Known as the Bell Harry Tower, is 91 meters high, and replaced a previous Norman tower that was demolished years before.

And the same thing happened with the northwest tower, which was demolished in 1700 and replaced by a new tower that was completed in 1830.

The ship, with its 60 meters in length, makes the canterbury cathedral in one of the longest medieval churches.

At the back is the choir, from 1184, with its spectacular stone façade known as the pulpit, built in 1455.

Trinity Chapel at Canterbury Cathedral

On the east side of the choir is the Trinity Chapel, a large chapel located at a higher height than the rest of the cathedral, which you access by a staircase, and in which between 1220 and 1538 there was a tomb with the relics of Saint Thomas Becket.

Now a candle shows us the place where said tomb was.

During your walk through the interior of the canterbury cathedral you have to look at the beautiful medieval stained glass windows that decorate many corners of the side naves.

It is also worth highlighting other corners such as the crypt built at the beginning of the 12th century, where you can see Romanesque murals, as well as the cloister.

Tomb of the Black Prince in Canterbury Cathedral

Special focus on your visit must have the aforementioned tomb of the Black Prince.

You will be able to see the spectacular recumbent effigy supporting the copper armor of someone who was the son of the king edward iii, who died in 1376 without becoming king.

The black color of his armor, a gift from his father, is the reason why Edward of Woodstock It was known during the 14th century as the Black Prince.

When you contemplate his beautiful tomb, it will surely bring to your imagination the warlike adventures of the Middle Ages, in which Black Prince He was one of the most famous characters.

A fan of knight tournaments, hunting and falconry, Edward of Woodstock was sent to France by his father to fight in what is now known as the Hundred Years War.

There, in 1356, with an army of seven thousand soldiers, he defeated Poitiers to the French troops.

After this victory, the Black Prince established a royal court in Bordeaux, until in 1366 he came to Spain after the request for help from King Peter I of Castile to fight against his brother, Enrique de Trastamara.

He finally returned to England to die in 1347 with his father Edward III still alive, so he did not reign.

Canterbury Cathedral Visiting Hours

The  times to visit Canterbury Cathedral They are, from Monday to Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 17 p.m., with last admission at 16 p.m., and on Sundays, from 12,30:17 p.m. to XNUMX p.m., with last admission one hour earlier.

Canterbury Cathedral ticket price

El ticket price To visit the cathedral, it costs £19,50 from April to September; £18 from October to March; and £21 on weekends in July and August.

Other places to see in Canterbury

But you visit to Canterbury It should not only be limited to its historic cathedral.

Mercery Lane and its half-timbered houses

You will discover the great charm of this beautiful town during the walk along the main street of the town, the so-called Mercery Lane.

There you can feel the atmosphere of a real medieval village, with the characteristics half-timbered houses and stone houses.

Christ Church Gate, large monumental gate

The most prominent corner of this Mercery Lane is, without a doubt, the so-called Christ Church Gate, great monumental door which gives you access to the garden area where the cathedral is located.

Located right in front of the square Buttermarket Square, the Christ Church Gate It was built in 1517 in memory of the Prince Arthurolder brother of Henry VIII who had died in 1502, and whose death caused the latter to become king of england.

As you can see, the Christ Church Gate It has a great decoration carved on the stone.

This porch, an excellent example of the norman architecture, as we can see it now, is the result of several successive changes made after its original construction.

Thus, the original figure of Christ It was destroyed in 1642, at the time of Cromwell, so that the bronze figure that we can see today only dates back to 1991.

Also, original towers They were demolished in 1830, and rebuilt again in 1937; A few years before, all the carvings and their decoration had been completely restored.

These profound reforms do not prevent you from Christ Church Gate de Canterbury You have an unmistakable feeling of reliving medieval times.

By the way, be sure to pay attention to the two large wooden doors, of different sizes, which are profusely decorated.

West Gate Museum in Canterbury

On your walk through the medieval street Mercery Lane You will also be able to see other corners, such as the West Gate Museum, the only one of the medieval doors that still remain in Canterbury.

Located at the northeast entrance of the street, it was used as a prison and currently houses a museum with a collection of weapons.

St Augustine's Abbey in Canterbury

En Canterbury you can also visit the remains of the ancient St. Augustine Abbey, which was built in the year 597 when he arrived as an emissary of the Pope.

Next to them you can also see vestiges of the St Pancras Church, from the 7th century, built with bricks used by the Romans on the remains of an ancient pagan temple.

And as a curiosity, on a hill of Canterbury you find the St Martin's Church, which is considered the oldest parish church in England.

Map: where it is and how to get to Canterbury

Canterbury It is located 62 miles southeast of London, and by car it will take an hour and a half to arrive.