UNITED KINGDOM

St Augustine was sent by the Pope in 597 AD to re-establish Christianity in southern England. Ruins of the monastery built by Augustine still remain and he founded the first cathedral in England where the present magnificent building now stands. Canterbury has been a European pilgrimage site of major importance for over 800 years since the assassination of Archbishop Thomas Becket in 1170. Today it is one of the most beautiful and historic cities in England. The medieval city centre bustles with famous name stores and exclusive boutiques while the picturesque side streets are home to smaller specialist shops, pubs and restaurants.

Canterbury's corner of the county of Kent (the "Garden of England") is rich in charming villages and glorious countryside, which is easy to explore by car, bicycle or public transport. Take a leisurely stroll in the nearby coastal towns of Herne Bay with its splendid seafront gardens and Whitstable with its working harbour and colourful streets of fishermen's cottages. You can be sure that a warm welcome awaits you in Canterbury.

Copyright © Canterbury City Council

For incomparable heritage, look no further than Canterbury. The City has all kinds of shops, restaurants, museums and other attractions, including the spectacular Cathedral, which forms part of the city's UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is the perfect place to entertain every visitor. Much of the city is pedestrianised and both train stations (Canterbury East and West) provide excellent links to London and Europe. The city now also has three park and ride sites and a good network of cycle routes including the Crab and Winkle Way, which follows the route of the first passenger steam railway. Alternatively you could explore the city by taking a horse drawn carriage ride or a punt trip. Make sure you don't miss out in the opportunity to visit the Big Dig and the opportunity to discover Canterbury's history at ground level.

And if you want to get away from city life there is easy access to the surrounding countryside with a several village stations and wonderful countryside for rambling, nature spotting and pub hunting. Nearby four beaches have again received awards in the Tidy Britain Seaside Awards: Herne Bay West, Tankerton, Reculver and Herne Bay Central.


New developments as at 05/04/2002 18:20:36

• Golden Jubilee: celebrations being planned 1-4 June plus Canterbury will receive the Jubilee Baton on 23 June. The Events Office (01227 862533) is co-ordinating a draft list of what's happening.
• Capital of Culture: Canterbury and East Kent are bidding to be European Capital of Culture in 2008. The first phase bid deadline was the end of March and by August Canterbury City Council should know if the area has selected as a "City of Culture". One of those cities will then go on to be the UK's Capital of Culture (each country gets a year).
• Whitefriars development including the Big Dig: The entire development will be finished in 2006 although the "West Area" which will include the new multi storey car park, the shopping centre, housing and new library will be completed by 2004. This is one of the largest city centre redevelopments and is offering an unprecedented opportunity for archaeological work. The Big Dig is now open until August.
• Longport may be of interest to any group organisers or tour operators. It is £10 for a day's coach parking but they must pre-book to benefit from the drop-off/pick-up facility. Call the booking hotline for further details: 01227 452532.
• The UNESCO World Heritage Site includes the Cathedral, St Augustine's Abbey and St Martin's. A joint pass is now available and the state of the art Cathedral Education Centre has just openined its accommodation.
• Macdonald Hotels now owns the County and Chaucer Hotels and they are therefore able to accommodate bigger groups between the two. (Sandra Peace, 01227 766266)
• Heritage Museum - Canterbury's Heritage Museum has been given a facelift. The extra space will give the Museum a new centre focusing on children and on education. It will also provide a new museum shop, toilets and an attractive inner courtyard. For further information call 01227 452747 or email: marit.hendriks@canterbury.gov.uk.