Canterbury: The Cathedral City Behind Chaucer's Pilgrims
Canterbury's cathedral has drawn pilgrims since the murder of Thomas Becket in 1170. A guide to the city's history, cathedral and medieval streets.
A cathedral city with Roman roots
Canterbury's history predates its cathedral by centuries: the Romans built the walled town of Durovernum Cantiacorum here on the River Stour, and its position on the main route between London and the Kent coast made it a natural staging post for centuries of traffic across the English Channel. That strategic position on the road to Dover is precisely why St Augustine chose it as his base when he arrived in AD 597 to re-establish Christianity in southern England, founding what became Canterbury Cathedral and making the city the senior seat of the Church of England ever since.
The murder that made Canterbury a pilgrimage site
Canterbury's medieval fame rests on a single, violent event. In 1170, four knights believing they were acting on King Henry II's wishes murdered Archbishop Thomas Becket inside the cathedral itself, following a long-running dispute over the relative power of church and crown. Becket was canonised within three years, and his shrine quickly became one of the most important pilgrimage destinations in medieval Christendom, drawing visitors from across Europe. Geoffrey Chaucer immortalised that pilgrimage route in The Canterbury Tales, written in the late fourteenth century, which remains one of the foundational works of English literature and gives the modern Canterbury Tales visitor attraction its name.
Walls, abbeys and a UNESCO listing
Canterbury Cathedral, St Augustine's Abbey and the ruins of St Martin's Church, reputedly the oldest church in continuous use in the English-speaking world, were jointly inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988, reflecting the site's near-continuous role in English Christianity since the sixth century. The medieval Westgate Towers, built in 1379, remain the largest surviving city gate in England, and much of Canterbury's city wall circuit, first raised by the Romans and rebuilt in the fourteenth century, can still be traced on foot.
Visiting Canterbury
With a population of around 55,000, Canterbury is compact enough to see comfortably in a single day, and its position roughly an hour from London by high-speed train makes it a popular day trip. April through October brings the most comfortable weather for walking the city walls and the riverside paths along the Stour. The cathedral operates as a working place of worship as well as a visitor attraction, so it is worth checking service times, since parts of the building close to sightseers during evensong and other services.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Canterbury important to the Church of England?
Canterbury Cathedral is the mother church of the worldwide Anglican Communion and the seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury, a status dating back to St Augustine's mission in AD 597.
What happened to Thomas Becket in Canterbury?
Archbishop Thomas Becket was murdered inside Canterbury Cathedral in 1170 by knights acting on a perceived order from King Henry II, after which he was canonised and his tomb became a major pilgrimage site.
Is Canterbury a UNESCO World Heritage Site?
Yes, the cathedral, St Augustine's Abbey and the ruins of St Martin's Church were jointly listed in 1988 for their combined significance to English Christian history.
How far is Canterbury from London?
By high-speed train, Canterbury is roughly an hour from London, making it a practical single-day trip for most visitors.