Day trip from London Canterbury
A walled cathedral city in Kent, 51 minutes from London St Pancras on the fastest high-speed trains, built around the cathedral where Thomas Becket was killed in 1170.
Is Canterbury worth a day trip from London?
Go. An easy, short day.
Yes, and it is one of the simplest days out of London. High-speed trains from St Pancras reach Canterbury West in 51 to 59 minutes, with about 37 departures a day. The cathedral is the reason to come and costs £ 18 from October to March, £ 19.50 from April to September and £ 21 on July and August weekends. It is a working church, so the nave, quire or crypt can shut for a few hours on any given day. Check the closures list the morning you travel. On Sundays the church opens to visitors only at 12:30. Five hours in the city is enough.
The decision sheet
- Travel time
- 51 minfastest high-speed trains; average 59 min · one way · Trainline (Southeastern services)
- Transport
- Direct high-speed train
- Self-guided cost
- £ 45–53.402 x £ 13.50 Advance single from Victoria + £ 18 winter cathedral ticket at the low end; 2 x £ 16.20 Advance single from St Pancras + £ 21 summer weekend ticket at the high end · Canterbury Cathedral
- Tour price
- From € 157.77Civitatis catalogue
- Time needed
- 4–6 hDaytripo editorial
- Closed days
- None; parts close for services at short notice
- Best time
- Mon-Sat from 10:00; Sunday visits start at 12:30Daytripo editorial
- Verdict
- Worth a full dayDaytripo editorial
What to see and do in Canterbury
- 01
Canterbury Cathedral
Seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury. See the spot where Thomas Becket was killed in 1170, the Romanesque crypt and the 12th-century stained glass. Allow 1.5 hours. Opens 10:00, Sundays 12:30.
- 02
St Augustine's Abbey
The ruins of the monastery founded in 598, ten minutes on foot east of the cathedral. An audio tour explains the foundations and graves of early kings of Kent. Forty-five minutes.
- 03
Westgate and the King's Mile
The largest surviving medieval city gate in England stands five minutes from Canterbury West station. From there the High Street and the King's Mile lead past timber-framed houses to the cathedral.
- 04
The River Stour
Guided punts and rowing boats leave from the bridges on the High Street for 40-minute trips past the old friaries. Westgate Gardens beside the river are free and good for a picnic.
- 05
St Martin's Church
A small church 15 minutes east of the centre, in use since before 597 and built partly of Roman brick. It opens for limited hours, so check before walking out.
How to spend the day
Leave St Pancras around 09:10 and reach Canterbury West about 10:10. Walk through the Westgate and along the High Street to the cathedral, open from 10:00, and give it 2 hours including the crypt and cloister. Have lunch in the lanes around the Buttermarket, then walk the city walls or out to the ruins of St Augustine's Abbey. Last cathedral admission is 16:00. Take a train around 16:30 and you are back at St Pancras by 17:30.
Canterbury in summer and in winter
Summer
June to AugustThe cathedral, the abbey and the river are all running at full hours, and the city is light until 21:00. School groups from across the Channel fill the cathedral precincts in June and early July, mostly between 11:00 and 15:00. University graduation ceremonies in mid July close parts of the cathedral for several days. Go in at 10:00 and take the river in the afternoon.
Winter
December to FebruaryThe cathedral keeps its normal hours and is at its quietest in January and February. It is also cold inside. St Augustine's Abbey opens at weekends only from November to March. River trips are reduced and depend on water levels. A Christmas market fills the High Street from late November. A solid winter trip, as the main sight is indoors.
How crowded it gets
Busy- Busiest
- Jun-Jul weekdays with school groups, summer Saturdays, 11:00-15:00
- Quietest
- Mornings at 10:00; after 15:00; January to March
Groups move through the cathedral in the middle of the day. Enter at 10:00 or after 15:00, when last admission is at 16:00, and walk out to the abbey and St Martin's while the centre is busy.
How do you get to Canterbury from London?
High-speed train (St Pancras)
- Travel time
- 51 min fastest, 59 min on average
- Frequency
- About 37 trains a day
- Cost
- Advance singles from £ 16.20
- Departs from
- London St Pancras International
Southeastern high-speed trains run direct to Canterbury West, on the north-west side of the old city. First departure 05:37, last 23:40. Do not board a slower Southeastern train to Canterbury by mistake: the average across all London routes is 1 hour 39 minutes.
Train (Victoria)
- Travel time
- 1 h 26 min fastest, 1 h 38 min on average
- Frequency
- About 24 trains a day
- Cost
- Advance singles from £ 13.50
- Departs from
- London Victoria
Southeastern's classic route arrives at Canterbury East, on the south side of the city walls. It takes over half an hour longer than the high-speed line each way and saves only a few pounds. Useful if you are staying near Victoria.
Organized tour
- Travel time
- 10 hours door to door
- Frequency
- Selected days
- Cost
- From € 157.77
- Departs from
- Bulleid Way, stop 1 (Victoria)
The only coach tour treats Canterbury as one stop between Leeds Castle and the White Cliffs of Dover, with cathedral entry included. It leaves at 08:30. Pick it for the castle and the cliffs, which are awkward by public transport, not for Canterbury itself.
Practical: clothes, food and money
What to wear
Flat shoes for cobbles and worn stone steps down to the crypt. The cathedral is unheated in practice, so wear a warm layer from October to April. Hats come off inside.
What to eat
Kent grows apples, cherries and hops, so look for local cider, ale and fruit, plus oysters from nearby Whitstable. Gypsy tart, a very sweet local pudding, appears on some menus. A covered farmers' market beside Canterbury West station sells lunch. Pubs and cafes line the King's Mile.
What you will spend
Advance singles start from £ 16.20 on the high-speed line and £ 13.50 from Victoria. The cathedral costs £ 18 from October to March, £ 19.50 from April to September and £ 21 on July and August weekends. Attending a service is free, as are Westgate Gardens and the city walls.
How to get the most out of the day
- Canterbury West and Canterbury East are 20 minutes apart on foot. Check which one your return train leaves from before you walk back.
- Choral Evensong is sung most days at 17:30 and is free. It lets you hear the choir after visiting hours end.
- Whitstable and its oyster stalls are 30 minutes away by Triangle bus from the city bus station, if you finish early.
- A stretch of the medieval city wall near Canterbury East is free to walk and takes 15 minutes.
How long do you need in Canterbury?
Plan 4–6 h on site, plus 51 min of travel each way from London.
When is Canterbury closed?
None; parts close for services at short notice. Best time: Mon-Sat from 10:00; Sunday visits start at 12:30.