Canterbury Tales

We have recently been host to Cora’s cousin Ashley, who came to visit England for two weeks. For an experience outside of London, we decided to take a day trip to Canterbury. The four of us, Guinness included, hopped on a train to London and then another to Canterbury where we roamed the streets and saw the sites.

The main attraction in Canterbury is of course the cathedral which is the home of the head of the Church of England. With its roots stretching back to 579AD, the cathedral has seen the political and religious machinations of England over the last 1500 years, but the day we went it was blissfully quiet, albeit a bit blustery.

Situated in the centre of the city, the cathedral is an imposing and magnificent structure. As you enter the grounds, you are invited to explore the various ruins, gardens, cloisters and even a crypt, as well as the main edifice. A beautiful space with high ceilings, the stained glass windows are a particularly magnificent sight to see.

Cora's cousin Ashley with Guinness

Upon leaving the grounds, you find yourself wandering the old medieval streets and lanes, though now occupied with modern ‘high street’ retail shops and cafes. Still, it maintains its quaintness and there is always something new to discover around each corner like a cute little candy store, unfortunately already closed, and a group of children preparing for their role in weekly mass.

One such thing is the ruins of the old castle which still stands and is free to all to explore. While it is small and hardly a shell of ruins, it still offers a feel of what it might have been. Even Guinness got to explore it with us...

Upon leaving the castle, we had a pleasant walk back to the city centre alongside River Stour, a quaint little river which meanders through the city right against old buildings, to such an extent that some are even hanging over it. To get a closer view, there are a view boat tours on offer but unfortunately we didn’t have the time on our short stay.

Canterbury offered us a unique day in historical settings which we enjoyed immensely.

For more about Canterbury visit http://www.canterbury.co.uk, or for the Cathedral, visit http://www.canterbury-cathedral.org