Summer in Canterbury: Crooked Houses, the Stour & Cathedral

I’ve only been to Canterbury once before and I wasn’t overly impressed with my photos because it was a dull and cloudy spring day. I finally got the chance to return during one of our summer heatwaves in June. It’s been a long, hot summer in my little corner of England, and I find myself unable to be more specific about which heatwave it was. The good news is that the sun was shining and the skies were blue, two ingredients which always seem to improve my photos.

We started our day on The King’s Mile, looking up to appreciate the beautiful half-timbered houses, many with overhanging upper floors, and lingering in the independent shops that line this historic stretch.

Despite heavy bombing during the Second World War, when parts of Canterbury were badly damaged, many of the city’s historic buildings survived or were carefully restored, making these medieval streets even more special to explore.

We happened upon the delightfully quirky Catching Lives Bookshop. Dating from the 17th century, this famously crooked house is said to have shifted after a supporting beam was removed, giving it the wonderfully wonky appearance it has today. We chatted to volunteer Sarah in the bookshop, who was a veritable mine of fascinating local history and information. She showed us the secret steel beams that help support the building and stop it from falling over.

We wandered further into Canterbury and caught our first glimpse of the Cathedral, looking resplendent in the sunshine.

As we found our way to Canterbury’s winding lanes, we came across filming that was taking place and took a moment to capture the Sun Hotel before we were allowed to pass. This ancient hotel has welcomed travellers since the 15th century and is one of Canterbury's oldest inns.

We arrived at Christ Church Gate, built between 1504 and 1520, and the grand entrance to the cathedral complex. The gate was partially covered in scaffolding during our last visit and I was delighted to see it looking so good.

After pottering about in Mercery Lane, we decided to take a look inside.

Canterbury Cathedral is the seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury, the most senior bishop in the Church of England, which is headed by the King. It is best known as the site of Archbishop Thomas Becket's murder in 1170, an event that changed English history.

As is my usual habit, I took way too many photos inside the cathedral and probably need a dedicated post. We spent some time in the Nave, listening to the local guides and watching people set up for a schools’ evensong event. We timed our visit really well!

Becket's magnificent shrine once stood in the Quire, drawing thousands of medieval pilgrims before it was destroyed on the orders of Henry VIII during the Dissolution of the Monasteries, leaving only the empty space you see today. (I know, I’m always going on about old Henry and his dastardly acts – perhaps I should do a map one day).

After a quick lunch in the centre, we headed out to the river Stour in hopes of cooling down a bit. I might have taken a few snaps of the punters and passengers on the waterways. How many is too many?

We walked into Westgate Gardens which was such a cool relief from the scorching hot day.

It was so lovely to see people out and about enjoying the weather, especially after the very wet spring we had.

As we walked along the river, we happened upon this excellent view of Westgate Tower.

Westgate Tower is England's largest surviving medieval city gate and once formed part of Canterbury's defensive walls. Nowadays, sections of the city walls can still be explored, although we decided to save that for another visit as we were heading to Leeds Castle afterwards.

As we walked back to the car, we lingered on the streets and took in the sights.

I’m so pleased that I revisited Canterbury and promised myself not to leave it another 17 years next time.

As we exited the city, we passed the Old Synagogue. Built in 1848, it is one of the country's finest Egyptian Revival buildings and ceased functioning as a synagogue in the 1930s. Today, it is primarily used by The King’s School, Canterbury as a music recital and performance hall.

Parking Advice (& Not Paying Over the Odds) in Canterbury

We had the loveliest day in Canterbury and leave only one piece of advice: be careful where you park and ensure that you choose your parking duration carefully. We originally paid for two hours, which wasn’t quite enough. When we tried to extend our stay, we were charged another £15 on top of the original £5, making it a rather expensive parking lesson!

I’d recommend paying for at least four hours parking and recommend the following carparks which advertise four hours for £7.60: Riverside, Holman's Meadow and Castle Street. Canterbury East Rail Station is also a good option at £6.80 for four hours parking but their car park is smaller and may have limited availability.