Canterbury Cathedral

Canterbury Cathedral dates back to 597, when Augustine, sent by the Pope, established his episcopal seat here. Today it is the seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury and the mother church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. On 29 December 1170 Archbishop Thomas Becket was murdered in the north-west transept, and in 1173 he was canonised. His shrine made Canterbury one of the most important pilgrimage destinations of the Middle Ages, until Henry VIII had it destroyed in 1538. Since 1988 the cathedral, together with St Augustine’s Abbey and St Martin’s Church, has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Highlights include the Gothic architecture, the stained glass and the tombs of Henry IV and the Black Prince. The old town is compact: according to Wikivoyage you can walk the semi-pedestrianised high street in about ten minutes. For drivers, Wikivoyage recommends the park-and-ride sites at Wincheap, New Dover Road and Sturry Road. Approach via the M2/A2.