"Canterbury" a Canterbury Travel Page by smschley

Canterbury’s start came in 200 ACE when the Romans created a town here, which later became the capital of the Saxon kingdom of Kent. In 597 Augustine came to Canterbury, to convert the region to Christianity. From this beginning, Canterbury and the surrounding area have seen a whole host of history. Canterbury is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and has two castles, six museums and an attraction that lets you step back in time to the Middle Ages. The museums are full of artefacts, and the West Gate Towers Museum offers one of the best views of the City
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The Cathedral, St Augustine’s Abbey and St Martins church form the trio of World Heritage Sites in Canterbury. The Abbey was founded in 597AD, and St Martin’s Church is the oldest parish church in England still in constant use. Along side these, there is Canterbury Tales, where you can step back into the Middle Ages and join the pilgrims on their journey from London to Canterbury Cathedral. This Norman cathedral still dominates the skyline as you approach Canterbury; giving 21st-century visitors the same sense of awe as their medieval counterparts. After the murder of Thomas Becket, the city became one of the busiest places of pilgrimage in the medieval world. During World War II the city was severely damaged when it was selected as one of the cities in England to be targeted by the Luftwaffe in the Baedeker Blitz. The city has rebounded and today the city presents an excellent opportunity to experience the city much in the way of those early pilgrims.

In 597 Augustine came to Canterbury, to convert the region back to Christianity. In recognition UNESCO granted world heritage status to part of the city, including, St Martin’s Church, St Augustine’s Abbey and the cathedral. The Norman cathedral still dominates the skyline as you approach Canterbury; giving 21st-century visitors the same sense of awe as their medieval counterparts. The city was one of the busiest places of pilgrimage in the medieval world and the Canterbury Tales Visitor Attraction takes you back to Chaucer’s England and the shrine of Thomas Becket, the murdered archbishop. The Museum of Canterbury completes the story of the historic city with Invicta the engine that pulled the world’s first passenger railway and the locally created characters Rupert Bear and Bagpuss.