Days out from Horton View Farm Camping - Canterbury UNESCO World Heritage Site

Here at Horton View Farm we’re perfectly placed for exploring east Kent and beyond, and we're feel very lucky to be just 30 minutes' drive from the historic city of Canterbury. This compact and very Kentish city is perfect for a day out and you can easily spend hours mooching about the cobbled lanes, delving into the history and culture of the area. We think mooching is the best way to discover the city, but in this post we're covering a few things that we think are worth seeking out.

View through to cathedral from Butchery Lane

In the centre of town sits the world-renowned Canterbury Cathedral with its 1400 years of history. This UNESCO world heritage site inspired Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, and was a favourite of Charles Dickens who used the city as a setting for his novel David Copperfield.

The cathedral grounds are beautifully kept and are home to some enormous and ancient trees, including the Baobab with their huge bulbous trunks and the linden trees which, when they bloom in June, fill the air with the most delicious scent. In the streets around the cathedral and into the King’s Mile you can explore the many unique shops and independent cafes and tea rooms.

The Westgate Riverside Gardens are home to colourful floral displays, the remains of a mediaeval building and some more ancient and interesting trees. The river Stour runs right through the gardens and and on a warm summer’s day you can hire a punt with a knowledgeable guide and drift along the river taking in the sights and sounds of the city from a unique perspective.

For places to eat and drink you'll be spoilt for choice. Canterbury is home to a whole host of historic pubs and award-winning restaurants an we’ve only managed to sample a few (it's a work in progress). You can find many of the bigger chains in the city but we generally like to try the more local and independents. Our favourite for a plant-based lunch is The Veg Box café in Burgate, which has a changing menu of home-cooked dishes. For sandwiches, waffles and coffee try Wildings on Mercery Lane with its cosy, quirky decor (we like the first floor seating area with its views of the narrow lane from above).

For barista coffee there are so many to choose from, but if you’re exploring the King’s Mile area, the tiny Fringe + Ginge at 72 Northgate is great for a coffee and cake stop. If it’s local produce and imaginative plates you’re after, then head over to Canterbury West station where you’ll find The Goods Shed, an excellent farmer’s market showcasing the best Kent produce, which also houses a restaurant that uses produce from the market.

If you’re needing to walk off all that Kentish food and wine, head over to Canterbury's city walls. This great walking route takes in around half of the original mediaeval/ Roman walls, with some sections providing views of the city and surrounding countryside.

If shopping is your thing you’ll find many high-street names in and around the Whitefriars Centre, but you’ll also find plenty of little interesting independent stores such as Violet Elizabeth on Burgate, where you’ll discover an ever-changing collection of clothing, jewellery and homewares.

There are antique shops dotted all over the city, and if you’re into old books you might like the little higgledy-piggledy Chaucer Bookshop in the fantastically-named Beer Cart Lane. It’s stuffed full of all kinds second hand and antique books, where you can browse to your heart’s content.

There’s so much to do in Canterbury, and we’ve only explored a tiny bit, but we’ve found that the best way to discover the city is to approach it with curiosity and follow our nose.

Share your favourite Canterbury places and discoveries with us in the comments.

Some useful links:

Visit Kent walking routes in and around Canterbury

The Crab and Winkle way is a fantastic 7.5 mile walking/ cycling route from Canterbury to the lovely seaside town on Whitstable. Travelling from Canterbury to Whitstable there's a steep (but short) initial climb and then it's mainly a gradual downward slope into Whitstable.

The Roman Museum In the remains of a grand Roman townhouse with an in-situ Roman pavement mosaic.

The Parrot Pub, tucked away in a back street and housed in an atmospheric building that dates back to 1370, we like the courtyard garden for a drink on a sunny day.