Canterbury city walls, Canterbury

Name: Canterbury city walls
Address: Canterbury, United Kingdom

#6 among attractions in Canterbury

City wall

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Gallery

Facts and practical information

Canterbury city walls are a sequence of defensive walls built around the city of Canterbury in Kent, England. The first city walls were built by the Romans, probably between 270 and 280 AD. These walls were constructed from stone on top of an earth bank, and protected by a ditch and wall towers. At least five gates were placed into the walls, linked to the network of Roman roads across the region. With the collapse of Roman Britain, Canterbury went into decline but the walls remained, and may have influenced the decision of Augustine to settle in the city at the end of the 6th century. The Anglo-Saxons retained the defensive walls, building chapels over most of the gates and using them to defend Canterbury against Viking incursions. ()

Alternative names: Coordinates: 51°16'53"N, 1°4'32"E

Address

Canterbury United Kingdom

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Day trips

Canterbury city walls – popular in the area (distance from the attraction)

Nearby attractions include: Canterbury Cathedral, St Augustine's Abbey, Canterbury Roman Museum, Westgate.

~860 ftSE
Norman-era building with ornate windows
Canterbury Cathedral, Canterbury
5 min walk • Canterbury Cathedral, a beacon of English history and spirituality, stands in the heart of the medieval city of Canterbury, England. This majestic cathedral is the mother church of the worldwide Anglican Communion and the seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury, a...
0.6 miE
Ruins of 6th-century church, with museum
St Augustine's Abbey, Canterbury
16 min walk • St Augustine's Abbey, a serene vestige of early Christianity in England, stands as a historical sanctuary in the bustling city of Canterbury. Founded in 598 AD by St Augustine during his mission to convert the Anglo-Saxons, this monastery was once a pivotal center of...
~1670 ftSE
Museum, History museum
Canterbury Roman Museum, Canterbury
9 min walk • The Canterbury Roman Museum in Canterbury, Kent, houses a Roman pavement which is a scheduled monument, in the remains of a Roman courtyard house which itself is a grade I listed building. The pavement was discovered after World War II bombing, and has been open to the public since 1946. The museum was established in 1961.
~220 ftN
Museum, History museum, Architecture
Westgate, Canterbury
2 min walk • The Westgate is a medieval gatehouse in Canterbury, Kent, England. This 60-foot high western gate of the city wall is the largest surviving city gate in England. Built of Kentish ragstone around 1379, it is the last survivor of Canterbury's seven medieval gates, still well-preserved and one of the city's most distinctive landmarks.
1.2 miSE
Sport venue, Sport
St Lawrence Ground, Canterbury
32 min walk • The St Lawrence Ground is a cricket ground in Canterbury, Kent. It is the home ground of Kent County Cricket Club and since 2013 has been known as The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence, due to commercial sponsorship.
~870 ftSE
Park
Greyfriars, Canterbury
5 min walk • Greyfriars in Canterbury was the first Franciscan friary in England. The first Franciscans arrived in the country in 1224 and the friary was set up soon afterwards.
0.4 miSE
Shopping centre, Shopping
Whitefriars Shopping Centre, Canterbury
11 min walk • Whitefriars Shopping Centre is a shopping centre in Canterbury, Kent, England. It is the biggest shopping centre in East Kent.
0.4 miS
Garden, Park
Dane John Mound, Canterbury
11 min walk • The Dane John Mound, also known as the Dane John Gardens, is a former Roman cemetery in the city of Canterbury, Kent. It was converted into a motte-and-bailey castle in the 11th century, and turned into a civic park between 1790 and 1803.
0.4 miS
Forts and castles, Historical place
Canterbury Castle, Canterbury
11 min walk • Canterbury Castle is a Norman Castle in Canterbury, Kent, England. It is a five-minute walk from Canterbury East Station and main bus station around City Wall. Canterbury Castle was one of the three original Royal castles of Kent.
~1060 ftSE
Museum, Art museum, Tudor Revival architecture
The Beaney, Canterbury
6 min walk • The Beaney House of Art and Knowledge is the central museum, library and art gallery of the city of Canterbury, Kent, England. It is housed in a Grade II listed building. Until it closed for refurbishment in 2009, it was known as the Beaney Institute or the Royal Museum and Art Gallery. It reopened under its new name in September 2012.
~1090 ftS
Museum
Canterbury Heritage Museum, Canterbury
6 min walk • The Canterbury Heritage Museum was a museum in Stour Street, Canterbury, South East England, telling the history of the city. It was housed in the 12th-century Poor Priests' Hospital next to the River Stour.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Which popular attractions are close to Canterbury city walls?

Nearby attractions include Canterbury Guildhall, Canterbury (1 min walk), Kent Museum of Freemasonry, Canterbury (1 min walk), Westgate, Canterbury (2 min walk), Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury (4 min walk).

How to get to Canterbury city walls by public transport?

The nearest stations to Canterbury city walls:

Train

Canterbury West (5 min walk)
Canterbury East (13 min walk)

Bus

Queens Avenue • Lines: Triangle (9 min walk)
Temple Road • Lines: Triangle (11 min walk)