tunnel
Channel Tunnel (Eurotunnel)
50 km tunnel under the English Channel - drive your car on the train
21 km · about 25 min drive
EuropeUnited KingdomEngland
Canterbury
England, United Kingdom · Europe
About Canterbury
Canterbury is worth a stop: 5 minutes from Sturry, 24km from White Cliffs of Dover.
Canterbury is in England, United Kingdom, with about 55,000 people. You drive on the left here. The nearest town is Sturry, about 4 km away.
Canterbury ( KAN-tər-bər-ee or -berr-ee) is a city and UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Canterbury district, county of Kent, England; it was a county borough until 1974. Lying on the River Stour not far from its mouth on the Strait of Dover, the city has a mild oceanic climate.
Canterbury is a popular touristRead more
destination, with the city's economy heavily reliant upon tourism, alongside higher education and retail. As of 2021, the city had a population of 55,087 inhabitants, including a substantial number of students and one of the highest student-to-permanent-resident ratios in Britain.
The site of the city has been occupied since Paleolithic times and served as the capital of the Celtic Cantiaci and Jute Kingdom of Kent. Many historical structures fill the area, including a city wall founded in Roman times and rebuilt in the 14th century, the Westgate Towers museum, the ruins of St Augustine's Abbey, the Norman Canterbury Castle, and the oldest extant school in the world, the King's School. Modern additions include the Marlowe Theatre and Kent County Cricket Club's St Lawrence Ground. Canterbury Cathedral is known for its architecture, its music, and for being the seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury; it receives a million visitors per year.
Where to Stay in Canterbury
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Canterbury?
Within an hour or so of Canterbury: Channel Tunnel (Eurotunnel) (21 km), Dover Castle (24 km), White Cliffs of Dover (24 km), Leeds Castle (31 km).
Are there any good drives near Canterbury?
The nearest famous roads are Crystal Palace Circuit, Goodwood Festival of Speed and Koninklijke Baan Coast Road.
Where is Canterbury?
Canterbury is in England, United Kingdom, about 4 km from Sturry.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 55,087
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Region
- England
- Timezone
- Europe/London
- Coordinates
- 51.2790, 1.0799
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in United Kingdom
112 also works. NHS non-emergency medical advice: 111. National Highways breakdown assistance on motorways: 0300 123 5000.
Full driving guide for United KingdomTags
Worth the detour from Canterbury
8 notable places within an hour's drive.
castle
Dover Castle
A medieval fortress overlooking the English Channel, known as the Key to England due to its strategic defensive significance.
24 km · about 25 min drive
natural wonder
White Cliffs of Dover
Iconic chalk cliffs reaching up to 110 meters high along the English Channel, symbolizing Britain for centuries.
24 km · about 30 min drive
castle
Leeds Castle
A castle on islands in a lake formed by the River Len in Kent, often called the loveliest castle in the world.
31 km · about 35 min drive
photogenic
Mermaid Street, Rye
Cobbled hill of half-timbered houses in the ancient Cinque Port of Rye, crowned by the 15th-century Mermaid Inn with its smuggling-era cellars. Houses carry names like 'The House with Two Front Doors'.
44 km · about 50 min drive
landmark
Rye
A hilltop town of cobbled streets and timber-framed houses, once a Cinque Port and now stranded two miles inland.
44 km · about 50 min drive
castle
Bodiam Castle
A 14th-century moated castle in East Sussex, renowned for its picturesque setting and well-preserved exterior.
48 km · about 55 min drive
film location
Bodiam Castle (Monty Python and the Holy Grail)
The moated East Sussex castle used in Monty Python and the Holy Grail and many period productions.
48 km · about 55 min drive
Driving roads near Canterbury
- 21 kmChannel Tunnel (Eurotunnel)50 km tunnel under the English Channel - drive your car on the train
- 58 kmCap Gris-NezThe closest point in France to England, a windswept headland of cliffs, lighthouse and migrating birds.
- 59 kmCap Blanc-NezDazzling white chalk cliffs on the Opal Coast with views across the Channel to England on clear days.
Driving in United Kingdom
- Drives on
- the left
- Petrol
- ~€1.73/litre
- Motorway tolls
- None
When to drive here
April to October
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