Serviced Apartments in Canterbury

Discover the best activities and attractions Canterbury has to offer, and find out what makes this city a vibrant and exciting place to live or visit.

Canterbury Cathedral
Canterbury Cathedral is one of the oldest and most important Christian structures in England, famed as the site of Thomas Becket’s martyrdom and as the mother church of the Anglican Communion. Its religious, architectural and historical significance makes it a major international draw for visitors and pilgrims, supporting local hotels, shops, guided-tour operators and hospitality jobs. The cathedral also contributes to community life through education programs, concerts and exhibitions that foster local identity, heritage conservation work that employs specialists, and partnerships with schools and universities that boost cultural capital in the city.

The Marlowe Theatre
Named after Canterbury-born playwright Christopher Marlowe, the Marlowe Theatre is the city’s principal venue for touring West End shows, drama, dance and community arts projects. By attracting regional audiences and high-profile productions, it sustains the evening economy—restaurants, bars and hotels—and provides local employment in the arts, technical production and front-of-house. Its outreach and participation programs engage schools and amateur groups, helping to nurture local talent and strengthen Canterbury’s reputation as a cultural hub.

Westgate Gardens and the River Stour
Westgate Gardens is a riverside green space through the historic heart of the city, stretching along the River Stour beneath the medieval Westgate tower. As a popular spot for residents and visitors to picnic, punt, and enjoy seasonal events, the gardens enhance quality of life, improve mental and physical wellbeing, and add scenic value that supports tourism photography, weddings and guided walks. The green space also underpins local small businesses (boating operators, cafés) and helps conserve biodiversity in an urban setting.

The Goods Shed (Farmers’ Market & Food Hub)
Housed in a restored Victorian railway goods building, The Goods Shed hosts one of Canterbury’s best-known farmers’ markets and a year-round food hub that showcases Kent producers, specialty food stalls and small-scale food businesses. By providing a high-profile sales outlet and regular footfall, it directly supports local farmers, artisan producers and start-up food entrepreneurs, keeping money in the regional economy and promoting short supply chains. The venue’s events, workshops and seasonal markets also draw visitors into the city centre and strengthen community links around food and sustainability.

The Ambrette (contemporary dining)
The Ambrette is a locally celebrated restaurant that combines Indian-inspired flavours with Kentish produce and contemporary techniques, offering a distinctive dining experience in the city centre. As a popular independent restaurant, it helps elevate Canterbury’s culinary scene—attracting food tourists, creating hospitality jobs and supporting local suppliers of meat, dairy and produce. High-quality independent eateries like The Ambrette contribute to the city’s reputation for diverse dining, encourage evening economy growth, and provide venues for special-occasion and cultural dining experiences.

Explore the diverse transport options available in Canterbury, from efficient public transportation systems to convenient road networks. Whether you're commuting to work or exploring the city, this section will give you an overall look at the available transportation systems.

Public Transit System
- Rail (Canterbury West & Canterbury East) - Two stations served mainly by Southeastern: Canterbury West offers high‑speed services to London St Pancras via HS1 and regular regional links via Ashford; Canterbury East serves the Ashford–Ramsgate line with frequent local and regional services to Ashford, Dover, Ramsgate and onward connections to London.
- Local and regional buses - A dense bus network (operated primarily by local commercial operators) provides frequent services around the city, to nearby towns in East Kent, and to coastal destinations; city routes serve residential areas, universities, hospitals and key shopping/leisure areas.
- Park & Ride services - Multiple park & ride sites on the approaches to Canterbury run frequent shuttle buses into the central area, reducing town centre congestion and providing longer‑stay parking alternatives for commuters and visitors.
- National coach services - Coach operators (National Express, Megabus and others) provide intercity links to London, airports and major UK cities, plus seasonal/coastal services.
- Taxis and private hire - Licensed taxi firms, local private‑hire operators and app‑based ride‑hailing services serve the city for on‑demand point‑to‑point travel and airport transfers.
- River services and tourist boats - Seasonal and tourist boat trips operate on the River Stour, offering leisure and short passenger links close to the city centre and historic attractions.
- Accessibility & ticketing - Buses and stations increasingly support step‑free access, audio/visual information and contactless/mobile ticketing; rail offers onward ticket integration via national ticketing systems.

Major Highways
- A2 - Principal trunk road linking London and Dover; passes close to Canterbury and is the main route for road travel to London and the Port of Dover.
- M2 - Motorway running west of Canterbury that provides a faster route across north Kent and links toward the M25 corridor.
- M20 - Key motorway for access to the Channel Tunnel and Folkestone/Eurotunnel; provides another primary route from Canterbury area to national motorway network and ports.
- A28 - Regional artery linking Canterbury with coastal East Kent towns such as Margate and Ramsgate, and serving local inter‑urban traffic.
- A257 - Important local route connecting Canterbury southwards towards Folkestone and the Romney Marsh area.
- A299 (Thanet Way) - Major east‑west route giving access from Canterbury area to the Isle of Thanet (Ramsgate/Margate) and coastal communities.

Cycling Infrastructure
- Bike lanes and cycle routes - Canterbury has a mix of on‑road cycle lanes, segregated shared‑use paths and signposted urban and rural cycle routes (including circular cityway links and connections to regional routes), bike parking at key locations and cycle facilities at stations; the city and Kent County Council have been implementing Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP) and Active Travel Fund measures to expand segregated lanes, off‑road greenways (along the River Stour and disused rail corridors) and safer junction treatments.

Recent and Upcoming Improvements
- Rail station upgrades & service improvements - Recent and planned station accessibility works (improved step‑free access, better waiting facilities) alongside timetable and rolling‑stock enhancements on Southeastern services, including ongoing use of high‑speed services to reduce journey times to London.
- Park & Ride and bus priority enhancements - Investment in park & ride facilities and targeted bus priority measures to speed journeys into the city centre and reduce congestion.
- Cycling & walking schemes (LCWIP / Active Travel Fund) - Delivery and planned rollout of segregated cycle lanes, junction safety works, new pedestrian crossings and traffic calming measures under local LCWIP and government active travel funding streams.
- Smart ticketing and passenger information - Broader deployment of contactless and mobile ticketing on buses and improved real‑time passenger information at major stops and stations.
- EV charging and low‑emission initiatives - Expansion of electric vehicle charging points across public car parks and park & ride sites, and local policies to encourage low‑emission vehicles and reduce transport‑related air pollution.
- Local road and junction improvements - Ongoing maintenance and targeted junction upgrades on key approaches (A2/A28 corridors) to improve traffic flow, safety and reliability for commuter and freight traffic.