Greyfriars, Canterbury

Name: Greyfriars
Address: Stour St, Canterbury, United Kingdom

#8 among attractions in Canterbury

Relax in park, Park

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Facts and practical information

Greyfriars in Canterbury was the first Franciscan friary in England. The first Franciscans arrived in the country in 1224 (during the lifetime of the Order's founder St Francis of Assisi) and the friary was set up soon afterwards. The Order of Friars Minor or ‘Greyfriars’ were so named because their habit was of grey cloth with the traditional belt of rope with three knots symbolising their vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. Vowed to poverty, the Order made a point of living in the meanest of buildings. However, by 1250, they recognised the practical need for land and buildings to sustain themselves. Beginning in 1267, the Canterbury house was rebuilt in stone, supported by the donation of land by Alderman John Digge, a former Bailiff of Canterbury. From here, the friary was erected, with the great Church within the friary consecrated by Archbishop Walter Reynolds in 1325. ()

Elevation: 43 ft a.s.l.Coordinates: 51°16'45"N, 1°4'38"E

Address

Stour StCanterbury United Kingdom

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Day trips

Greyfriars – popular in the area (distance from the attraction)

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

~370 ftNE
Norman-era building with ornate windows
Canterbury Cathedral, Canterbury
2 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...
0.5 miE
Ruins of 6th-century church, with museum
St Augustine's Abbey, Canterbury
13 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...
~1010 ftE
Museum, History museum
Canterbury Roman Museum, Canterbury
5 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.
~1080 ftN
Museum, History museum, Architecture
Westgate, Canterbury
6 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.
~870 ftNW
City wall
Canterbury city walls, Canterbury
5 min walk • 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.
1.1 miSE
Sport venue, Sport
St Lawrence Ground, Canterbury
28 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.
~1320 ftSE
Shopping centre, Shopping
Whitefriars Shopping Centre, Canterbury
7 min walk • Whitefriars Shopping Centre is a shopping centre in Canterbury, Kent, England. It is the biggest shopping centre in East Kent.
~1400 ftS
Garden, Park
Dane John Mound, Canterbury
7 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.
~1500 ftS
Forts and castles, Historical place
Canterbury Castle, Canterbury
8 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.
~510 ftE
Museum, Art museum, Tudor Revival architecture
The Beaney, Canterbury
3 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.
~230 ftS
Museum
Canterbury Heritage Museum, Canterbury
2 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 Greyfriars?

Nearby attractions include Canterbury Heritage Museum, Canterbury (2 min walk), Canterbury Cathedral, Canterbury (2 min walk), Canterbury Historic River Tours, Canterbury (3 min walk), The Beaney, Canterbury (3 min walk).

How to get to Greyfriars by public transport?

The nearest stations to Greyfriars:

Bus

Bus Station • Lines: 3B (7 min walk)
Whitefriars • Lines: El450, P2 (8 min walk)

Train

Canterbury East (9 min walk)
Canterbury West (10 min walk)