Based in the heart of Canterbury, Tiny Tim’s Tearoom is a characterful building with an olde-worlde feel. A popular spot where you can while away an afternoon and sample a range of delicious sweet treats, pastries and cooked meals, and a brewed-to-perfection pot of your tea of choice.
Offering a quintessentially British ambience, Tiny Tim's is great for intimate lunch gatherings with friends and family. The tearoom suits all tastes with savoury treats like a full English breakfast, fishcakes, soups and the chef’s signature quiche served alongside handmade cakes, scones and other baked goods. Tiny Tim’s highly popular afternoon tea is served all day, comprising sweet and savoury delights including finger sandwiches, as well as freshly baked scones and a choice of tea or coffee from the extensive range.
What's inside Welcome to Canterbury!
What a year 2026 is for Canterbury. The eyes of the world were on us as we welcomed our first female Archbishop, Sarah Mullally, in the spring, and this summer we celebrate the city blossoming into life with the reopening of our beautiful green spaces and community areas after months of hard work behind the scenes.
Celebration, togetherness and a love for our city will be abundant over the coming months, with Canterbury Unlocked, Pride Canterbury’s 10th anniversary, the Canterbury City Show and the spectacular Canterbury Live festival.
Canterbury is famously a city of tales and our literary links are celebrated with new ‘story gardens’ around the city, the opening of The Canterbury Tales Immersive Experience and the return of Canterbury Children’s Literature Festival. This year’s Medieval Trail focuses on one of the best-known storytellers: The Bayeaux Tapestry.
This guide helps you get the best of Canterbury, with what’s on, mini guides to the big city events, travel and parking and more. Explore the city’s shops, restaurants and world-class entertainment venues and soak up the culture, history and fun that’s on offer here all year round.
The Canterbury BID Team.
Thank you to our friends at Girlings Solicitors for their support in producing this year’s Canterbury BID Summer Guide.
Contents
08. Arrival of our Archbishop
10. The Canterbury Caminos
12. City shaped by history
14. Green spaces and literary links
16. Pack a picnic
18. Pride Canterbury at 10
21. Spotlight: Delilah Tickles
22. What’s on
30. Totes amazing
32. City map
34. The Canterbury Tales returns
36. Medieval mayhem
40. Children’s Literature Festival
44. Canterbury City Show
46. Kids’ holiday special
54. Comedy in Canterbury
60. Travel and parking
FREE CELEBRATION EVENTS ACROSS CANTERBURY
Join us on Sunday 24 May, during the bank holiday weekend, for a city-wide celebration as we launch Canterbury’s transformed public spaces and mark the end of these exciting milestone projects within the city’s Levelling Up Fund work.
THE LINE - UP INCLUDES:
Live music from Hullabaloo, The Native Oysters Band and Goblin Band
The Great Escape aerial theatre performances at Westgate Square
Folk Lore Kent’s Mayhem Fair at the Dane John Gardens complete with big top marquee, maypole and Morris dancing, folk entertainment, live music and crafting and dance workshops
Food markets, pop-up bars and much more
Scarabeus Aerial Theatre
Folk Dance Remixed
Canterbury Cathedral Lodge is a unique hotel situated in the city centre of Canterbury. The Lodge is renowned for its stylish and comfortable accommodation, that boasts the best views in Canterbury, overlooking the idyllic Canterbury Cathedral.
Rates start from £110 per night for a double or twin room, with breakfast and complimentary Cathedral entry included.
ArchbishopCanterbury of The
History is made in our city
Wednesday 25 March was an incredible day for Canterbury - our city saw the Installation of the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury, Sarah Mullally in a magnificent service at Canterbury Cathedral, broadcast and streamed around the world.
Archbishop Sarah is the first woman to hold the office in the Church’s 1,400 year history. In a historic first for modern times, Archbishop Sarah, along with her husband Eamonn, walked the 140km route along the Becket Camino from St Paul’s Cathedral to Canterbury Cathedral, reflecting her journey from Bishop of London to Archbishop of Canterbury –in an act of spiritual preparation for her Installation as Archbishop of Canterbury.
On the final stretch of her six day pilgrimage, Archbishop Sarah and her fellow pilgrims were joined by David Monteith, Dean of Canterbury, and members of the Cathedral chapter, to walk from the village of Chartham to Canterbury, arriving in time for Evensong on Sunday 22 March.
The Installation service at Canterbury Cathedral on Wednesday 25 March was a spectacular event attended by the Prince and Princess of Wales, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and representatives from across the worldwide Anglican Communion, along with faith leaders, charities, healthcare workers, schoolchildren and more than 2,000 invited guests.
Scan
to find out more about the Archbishop of Canterbury
In its medieval heyday Canterbury was as big a pilgrim destination as Rome, Compostela, and Jerusalem. Pilgrimage is enjoying a revival and to celebrate Canterbury’s rich heritage of stories and saints here is a list of pilgrimage routes that link them all.
1 The Camino Ingles existed through Kent bringing pilgrims travelling to Santiago de Compostela from East Anglia and London to Sandwich or Dover visiting the cathedrals of Southwark, Rochester, and Canterbury.
Written by Torin Brown, pilgrim officer at Canterbury Cathedral.
2 The Via Francigena begins at the pilgrim stone at Canterbury Cathedral and ends at St Peter’s basilica in Rome. In the year 990, archbishop of Canterbury, Sigeric, travelled to Rome to receive his pallium of office from Pope John XV. What made this journey so special was that his route home to Canterbury was documented, creating the famous pilgrimage many still follow to this day.
3 The Pilgrim’s Way is a long-travelled pilgrimage route to the shrine of St Thomas Becket at Canterbury Cathedral, from Winchester Cathedral. There is also a London variation from Southwark Cathedral. Chaucer’s fictional pilgrims set off from the Tabard Inn in Southwark, but their route would have taken them through the Medway towns on the Roman Road, as Sittingbourne is mentioned in the Wife of Bath’s Prologue.
4 The Augustine Camino celebrates the journey of St Augustine landing at Ramsgate and walking to Canterbury to build his first church in 597. Today’s route travels from Rochester Cathedral to Ramsgate via Aylesford Priory, the Shrine of St Jude, Canterbury Cathedral, and Minster Abbey, to the shrine of St Augustine.
5 The Old Way from Southampton follows the 1360 Gough map of medieval road networks to Canterbury.
6 The Queen’s and Saints pilgrimages are three separate routes celebrating all the women of Queen Bertha’s lineage who ran monasteries in the region around Canterbury.
7 The Way of St Martin links churches dedicated to the saint of Tours, from Dover to Canterbury.
8 The Way of St. Thomas travels from Sandwich to Canterbury and symbolises the final return from exile of St Thomas, before he was murdered at the Cathedral.
9 The Ethelbert Way is Canterbury’s Muxia, and follows the journey of King Ethelbert from Canterbury to the sea at Reculver where he later moved after granting lands to St. Augustine.
10 The Archbishop’s Camino celebrates the pilgrimage of the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury, Sarah Mullally, from St Paul’s Cathedral in London, to Canterbury Cathedral.
To read more about the Canterbury Caminos with links to relevant sites, visit canterburypilgrims.co.uk
Shaped by History, Strengthened by Change
The city of Canterbury in summer is a city at its very best. Sunlight catches the ancient stone, new public spaces invite people to pause and gather, and the streets hum with the energy of residents, businesses, students and visitors. It is a joy to have our offices here, at the heart of a city that continues to thrive through change.
Few urban areas can rival Canterbury ’s depth of history Its streets are steeped in stories that stretch back to prehistoric times and encompass moments of national and international significance from the installation of successive Archbishops of Canterbury to periods of profound challenge and renewal The devastation of the Blitz in June 1942 reshaped much of the city centre, yet Canterbury ’s enduring strength is, and always has been, its resilience Time and again, it has rebuilt , adapted and moved forward while remaining true to its character and heritage
That spirit of renewal is visible as we venture into summer. Supported by the Levelling Up Fund, newly enhanced public spaces across the city are reopening, offering greener, more welcoming places to meet , relax and celebrate. Dane John Gardens, long cherished by the community, is once again alive with activity, its improvements creating a fitting setting for events, festivals and everyday enjoyment .
Girlings has been part of Canterbury ’s story for well over a century Our first offices opened in Dane John Gardens in 1906 Today our Canterbury office sits across the road on Rose Lane, alongside our offices in Herne Bay and Ashford Being rooted in Canterbury, while serving the wide southeast region, remains central to who we are
Change is also afoot within Girlings This year marks the retirement of our Managing Partner, Lesley Rushton, after almost four decades at the firm, a remarkable chapter in our history Stepping into the next phase of our journey, we are led by Joint Managing Partners Charlotte Nock , Head of the Firm’s Wills, Tax and Estate Administration team, and Chris Brightling, Head of our Corporate and Commercial department . Together, they bring a shared commitment to resilience, continuity and a forwardlooking approach that mirrors the city we are proud to call home
A Legal 500-recognised law firm with solicitors across a broad range of practice areas in both commercial and personal law, Girlings remains dedicated to supporting local people and businesses. As Canterbury continues to evolve, we look ahead with confidence, shaped by history, strengthened by change, with an ambition to remain rooted in the business community for generations to come.
Canterbury’s & Story Gardens
green spaces
The city’s green spaces are reopening with beautiful new landscaping and planting, welcoming everyone back to enjoy the summer in their lovely leafy surroundings again!
Dane John Gardens, Solly’s Orchard, Abbot’s Mill and Greyfriars Garden will all be open for strolling, picnics or just a relaxing read in the sun.
St George’s Square and Tower of St Mary Magdalene have had gorgeous new planting areas installed, along with the city wall above the bus station.
Canterbury: a city of literature
Canterbury is known worldwide for its Cathedral and as the destination of Chaucer’s pilgrims.
From June 2026, you can discover authors with links to Canterbury by visiting the city’s new 'story gardens’ and browsing the information on Canterbury's
CANTERBURY A CITY OF LITERATURE
The Canterbury Tales, the most important work of late medieval English, draws on continental storytelling traditions while establishing English as a major literary language.
The city is the birthplace of Christopher Marlowe, a dramatist
View & download the map here
10 years of LGBTQIA+ celebration!
It’s a big year for Pride Canterbury! Saturday 6 June 2026 marks the 10th anniversary of the city’s spectacular, family-friendly celebration of LGBTQIA+ identity, diversity, equality and progress.
CANTERBU R Y
The Pride Canterbury parade brings a burst of colour and sparkle to the city with over 50 groups taking part, attracting thousands of smiling faces along the city streets. This year, the newly reopened Dane John Gardens once again hosts Kent’s biggest Pride event with a diverse artist line-up, entertainment, marketplace, food, drink and much more.
Pride Canterbury has always been a safe space for me to be who I truly am… it’s so nice to have an event like this in a city we all love so much
Trans Pride Kent
Pride Canterbury is proud to be supporting the inaugural Trans Pride Kent, an independent organisation championing Trans rights across Kent who chose Canterbury as their first host city in March 2026 at the Westgate Hall.
Look out for the Pride Stage in Whitefriars on Saturday 6 June
Schedule
11am Parade starts at Westgate Towers Visit pridecanterbury.com for details.
Westgate Gardens Parade staging area
A brief history of Pride Canterbury
First Pride demonstration in Canterbury: June 1973
The city’s first Pride demonstration was held by the-then East Kent CHE (Campaign for Homosexual Equality) group and what was Kent University’s GLF (Gay Liberation Front).
Pride Canterbury through the years Pride Canterbury as we know it today was set up many years later in 2016. A parade of around 500 was led by the Lord Mayor and Delilah Tickles, followed by a music show in Dane John Gardens with food, drink and market stalls. The turnout was 3,500 - modest by today’s numbers but a clear signal of the city’s appetite for the event.
Pride Canterbury has gone from strength to strength and is now a much-loved summer staple in the city, showing there is no place for discrimination or hate in Kent. 2020 exhibition
The pandemic stopped Pride Canterbury from going ahead as normal in 2020 - but it didn’t stop it sharing its message of inclusivity, with an online video and exhibition at The Beaney. Part of the exhibition asked people “What would you say to your ten year old self?”
Delilah is celebrated for supporting and representing Kent’s LGBTQIA+ community.
Her portrait in The Beaney’s People and Places exhibition, by artist Hannah Rose, was the first in Canterbury Museums’ collection to represent a drag queen and member of the contemporary LGBTQIA+ community.
We caught up with Delilah / Dean to chat about Pride Canterbury and the city:
How did you get involved with Pride Canterbury?
A group of us got chatting at what was the Jolly Sailor pub in Northgate - a wellknown LGBTQIA+ friendly pub - and agreed there was a need for better LGBTQIA+ representation and celebration in Canterbury. We went on to organise the inaugural Pride Canterbury parade and festival and the rest is history!
What are your first memories of Pride Canterbury?
Marching past the Cathedral, being in the heart of Canterbury and seeing so many people lining the streets. There were crowds of people in Dane John Gardens, all supportive, all enjoying themselves - it was great to see such good engagement from the local community.
How different is the event now?
In many ways it’s actually very similarit’s always been family-friendly with free activities and market stalls - this was and is really important. When we launched Pride Canterbury there weren’t many, if any, local LGBT events that families could go to and we wanted something that was inclusive and welcoming to everyone.
Summer 2020 meant a very different Pride Canterbury. What are your memories of the event during the pandemic?
We knew it was important to mark the day somehow. We held an exhibition in The Beaney to celebrate Pride Canterbury’s history and heritage. I donated one of Delilah’s dresses for viewing and people were invited to write postcards to their ten year old self.
What does Pride mean to you?
Pride means feeling comfortable in my skin. It’s coming together to celebrate who you are. For some, the family you have is the family you choose.
What are your favourite parts of Canterbury?
I grew up on the Querns Road estate and spent my childhood around the city centre. I loved the green spaces - Dane John, Westgate Gardens and the ‘secret’ Franciscan Gardens. I remember buying a £5 inflatable boat from Superdrug and floating down the Stour from the Westgate Gardens all the way to the Marlowe Theatre!
See Delilah’s upcoming gigs and booking details at kentdragqueens.co.uk
Canterbury is buzzing this summer, with the city centre’s gorgeous spaces ready to host the headline events - Pride Canterbury, Medieval Pageant & Trail, the Canterbury City Show and more. The sunny season is the perfect time to discover the city’s multi-faceted charms, with world-class theatre, crafting workshops, local music and comedy, fairs, tours and more. Grab a pen and get circling our listings!
Check details and prices with venues before you travel.
Curzon Riverside
Outdoor Cinema
Much-loved movies throughout the summer. curzon.com/venues/ canterbury-riverside Summer in Whitefriars
Live music, beach fun and Punch & Judy performances throughout the summer. whitefriars.co.uk
Antiques & Vintage Fair
Westgate Hall
Sun 10 May, Sun 12 Jul, Sun 20 Sep, 10am-4pm (early bird 9.30am) Retro, mid-century, militaria, memorabilia, salvage and more. westgatehall.org
Kentronica: A Celebration of Electronic Music
Gulbenkian Arts Centre
Sat 16 May
Coastal Electronauts’ mini-festival dedicated to experimental electronic music. thegulbenkian.co.uk
Film Club: Jewish Culture
Month: Best of British
Curzon Westgate
Sun 17 May
Some of the most outstanding British-Jewish short films commissioned by UK Jewish Film over the first quarter of the 21st century. curzon.com
Beaver Tour & Talk
Canoe Wild, Grove Ferry Jun-Oct
check website for dates
Identify beaver field signs and hopefully spot them in real life! 14+
canoewild.co.uk
Exhibition on Screen: Frida Kahlo 2026 Encore
Curzon Westgate
Tue 19 May, 6pm
Canterbury Unlocked Westgate Square, Dane
John Gardens, City-wide Sun 24 May
A free family fun day to launch Canterbury’s transformed public spaces with live music, aerial theatre, maypole dancing and more! See p4
canterburyunlocked.co.uk
An intimate film with access to her works, her home and her studio. curzon.com
Bank Holiday Blast Off
St Lawrence Ground
Mon 25 May, 10.30am
Start of T20 season involving Kent Spitfires and Kent Women. kentcricket.co.uk
A Day Exploring the Cathedral Gardens
Canterbury Cathedral Lodge
Tue 26 May, 10.15am-5.30pm
Join the Cathedral gardening team for a fascinating day exploring the gardens with lunch and refreshments. canterburycathedral lodge.org
Pride Canterbury
Sat 6 Jun
The parade starts at Westgate Towers, with an afternoon of stalls, food, drink and celebration in Dane John Gardens. See p18 pridecanterbury.com
‘Climb the Corona’ Tour
Canterbury Cathedral Weds, Fri & Sats until Sat 19 Sep (closed 1, 29 & 31 Jul)
Explore the Corona Chapel, usually closed to the public, then climb to the top of the Corona Tower itself! canterbury-cathedral.org
Jools Holland and his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra
Marlowe Theatre
Wed 3-Thu 4 Jun, 7.30pm
The musical legend returns to Canterbury featuring special guest star Roachford marlowetheatre.com
Summer Recitals with the Cathedral Choral Scholars
Makers, Rulers and Leaders: Celebrating the Women of Canterbury Cathedral
A season dedicated to uncovering and celebrating the remarkable women who shaped the Cathedral’s past, with events, activities, talks, crafts and trails. canterburycathedral.org
Kent Cricket 174th
Canterbury Cricket Week
Fri 19-Sun 28 Jun
The oldest surviving cricket festival in the world kentcricket.co.uk
Afro KANTAB Festival
Dane John Garden
Sat 20 June
Showcasing African and Afro-Caribbean culture through music, art, food and fashion.
afrokantabfestival.com
‘Caring through Singing’
Canterbury Cantata Trust Parkinsons Centre
Colyer-Fergusson Hall
Sat 20 Jun, 3pm
An informal, fun and uplifting event with immersive singing performances. thegulbenkian.co.uk
Canterbury Choral Society present Verdi: Requiem Canterbury Cathedral
Sat 20 Jun, 7.30pm
Canterbury Choral Society and its Youth Choir demonstrate their power and expressive range in Verdi’s great choral masterpiece. canterburyfestival.co.uk
Pilgrim’s Way Challenge 2026
Dover-Canterbury-Wye
Sat 20 Jun, start times vary Lace up your walking boots and hike through rolling fields and pretty villages for a great cause. pilgrimshospices.org/ event/pilgrims-waychallenge-2026
Canterbury Shakespeare Festival 2026 summer season
CSF is passionate about making accessible, community-based theatre. Each summer they present a programme of work by Shakespeare and other playwrights in beautiful settings around the city.
Line-up for 2026
Macbeth
St Margaret’s Churchyard
Thu 23-Sun 26 Jul
Chekhov’s Seagull
Tyler Hill House
Thu 30 Jul-Sat 1 Aug
Puffling Pants
St Thomas’ Church Hall
Tue 28-Wed 29 Jul, Tue 4-Wed 12 Aug
The City-Heiress by Aphra Behn
All Saint’s Church Hall Wed 6-Sat 8 Aug
Tempest in a Teacup
St Margaret’s Churchyard Thu 30-Fri 31 Jul
Tyler Hill House
Sat 1-Sun 2 Aug
The Winter’s Tale
Canterbury Hotel Thu 13-Sat 15 Aug
See canterburyshakespeare.co.uk for venue information
Historic Graffiti Tour
Check website for dates
Discover a selection of historic graffiti found throughout the Cathedral. canterburycathedral.org
Mystical Market
Westgate Hall Sun 28 Jun, 10.30am-4pm
All things other-worldly, including tarot readings, stalls and more with live music and food.
westgatehall.org
Kent Spitfires vs. Notts Outlaws
St Lawrence Ground
Fri 26 Jun, 7pm
Kent Cricket’s Annual Pride Match
Held during Pride Month kentcricket.co.uk
Wedding Fair
H Samuel & Whitefriars
Sun 28 Jun
Stalls, entertainment and inspiration aplenty for your big day in Whitefriars Square whitefriars.co.uk
Nikita Kuzmin: Supernova Marlowe Theatre
Fri 26 Jun, 7.30pm
The Strictly Come Dancing finalist and fan favourite dazzles in this explosive new production. marlowetheatre.com
Nature linocut stamping workshop
Happy & Glorious, Burgate Mon 29 Jun, 6.30pm
Two hours of crafting fun, with drinks and nibbles included.
happyglorious.co.uk
Canterbury Record Fair
Westgate Hall
Sat 4 Jul & Sat 5 Sep, 9.30am-3.30pm
New and used vinyl, CDs, memorabilia and more. westgatehall.org
A magnificently medieval family day out, with a focus on the Bayeux Tapestry! This year it’s all about the Family Trail - fun activities around the city, brought to you by Canterbury BID. See p36 canterburymedieval pageant.co.uk
Canterbury Children’s Literature Festival
Selected city venues Fri 10-Sun 12 Jul
The innovative children’s festival returns for its second year, bringing an exciting programme of events to the city to celebrate storytelling in all its forms. See p40 canterbury kidslitfest.co.uk
The Canterbury Bike Ride
Sun 19 Jul, start times vary
Canterbury Festival: Summer in Barham
Barham Court & Barham Church
Fri 17-Sun 19 Jul
A weekend of live music in lovely surroundings. canterbury festival.co.uk
Choose from 3 routes from Canterbury Rugby Club, through lovely countryside to the coast at Whitstable and back through the Kent Downs AONB. canterburybikeride.co.uk
Hounds of Love –The Kate Bush Celebration
Malthouse Theatre
Thu 23 Jul | 7.30pm The Kate Bush Celebration brings to life her visionary 1979 Tour of Life. malthousetheatre.co.uk
Canterbury City Show 2026
Westgate Gardens & Westgate Square
Sat 25-26 Jul
A free, family-friendly community event packed with music, stalls, workshops, craft, food and drink and more. See p44 canterburycityshow. co.uk
Edinburgh Comedy Preview
Marlowe Studio
Sat 25 Jul, 8pm
Get a sneak preview of shows about to make a splash at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe. marlowetheatre.com
The Making of Marlowe: Poet, Playwright, Provocateur
The Beaney
Sat 25 Jul-Sun 22 Nov
An interactive exhibition exploring the life of Canterbury’s most famous poet and playwright, Christopher Marlowe. thebeaney.co.uk
Michelle Wolf: Best Job in the World Gulbenkian Theatre
Thu 30 Jul, 8pm
The Primetime Emmy Nominee has established herself as one of the most influential voices in the comedy landscape thegulbenkian.co.uk
Thai Festival
Thai Orchid, Riverside
Sat 1 Aug
A Thai extravaganza right here in Canterbury!
Mean Girls
Marlowe Theatre
Mon 3-Sat 8 Aug, 7.30pm
The iconic characters and razor-sharp wit you know and love from the movie, plus some killer songs. marlowetheatre.com
Canterbury Live
The Spitfire Ground
St Lawrence Fri 7-Sun 9 Aug
A brand new festival weekend of concerts headlined by Madness, Becky Hill and JLS. canterburylive.uk
80s classics played by some of the UK’s finest DJs in stunning illuminated surroundings. canterbury-cathedral. org
The Bodyguard
Marlowe Theatre
Mon 24‐Sat 29 Aug, 7.30pm
The smash hit musical is back in town. marlowetheatre.com
bOing! International
Family Festival 2026
Gulbenkian Arts Centre
Sat 29 & Sun 30 Aug
A brilliant weekend of performance and creativity for all ages, with lots of free and ticketed indoor and outdoor shows, events and activities. boingfestival.com
iconic experience is back bigger and better than ever!
Relaunched by an award-winning local design team, The Canterbury Tales Immersive Experience brings Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales to life in all their hilarious and dramatic glory.
34 This was incredible from beginning to end... every part was a feast for the senses and I loved it so much... Hayley, 10/10
Bawdy banter, super-cool animation, incredible attention to detail - the walk-through storytelling adventure attraction is a fun way for all the family to dive into medieval England, whether or not you know your Chaucer. It’s perfectly homed in the 900 year-old former St Margaret’s Church (site of the original attraction), just moments from Canterbury Cathedral.
We caught up with Mica, co-owner with Lewis, to find out more:
What can people expect at the brand new Canterbury Tales Experience?
Visitors can expect a fully immersive journey into medieval England. The new experience blends storytelling, performance, and interactive environments to bring the pilgrims of The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer to life.
Guests step into richly designed sets that recreate the sights, sounds, and even smells of the medieval period. The journey begins in Southwark and follows the historic road to Canterbury, where visitors encounter colourful characters from Chaucer’s tales along the way. It’s designed to feel like you’re travelling alongside the pilgrims themselves, becoming part of the story rather than just observing it.
Is it suitable for all ages?
Yes, the experience has been designed with a wide audience in mind. Families, school groups, and adult visitors can all enjoy it. There’s something for everyone.
Tell us a little about yourselves and your background: We both come from creative backgrounds within the immersive experience industry. I come from an immersive and graphic design background, focusing on how spaces look, feel, and communicate the story visually. Lewis specialises in special effects and visitor experience, bringing technical expertise and atmosphere that really helps environments come to life.
Together, we’ve worked on a variety of immersive projects, including escape rooms and interactive environments, where storytelling and audience engagement are central. Those experiences have shaped how we design,thinking carefully about how people move through a space, what they feel, and how to create something truly memorable.
What makes this project especially meaningful is that it’s our own, and it’s based in Canterbury, a city we both studied in. Coming back to create something here feels like a full-circle moment, and it’s been an opportunity to bring everything we’ve learned into one experience.
canterburytales.co.uk
Canterbury’s Medieval Pageant & Trail
Saturday 4 July 2026 | 10am – 5pm
Step back in time this summer at one of Kent’s favourite historic events - Canterbury’s legendary Medieval Pageant & Family Trail. This year there’s a special focus on The Bayeux Tapestry - come along and help us celebrate Canterbury’s links to this monumental masterpiece, coming to England in September 2026!
This fun and FREE day of medieval merriment for all the family features a city centre stage along with 20 trail stops, each with different immersive and interactive activities. Meet colourful characters, decorate a pilgrim badge, watch knights battle, listen to medieval music, meet squires, weavers, blacksmiths, millers, writers, bakers and more. Collect 5 stamps along the trail and collect a prize from the Canterbury Cathedral Shop.
Find out more here
This year’s Medieval Pageant and Family Trail puts a spotlight on Canterbury’s links to the famous Bayeux Tapestry, on special loan to the British Museum from September 2026 to July 2027.
One of the world’s most famous works of medieval art, the Tapestry tells the legendary tale of the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, when William the Conqueror invaded and defeated King Harold Godwinson at the Battle of Hastings. This was the last successful invasion of England, resetting the timeline of the modern monarchy and changing the country forever!
Measuring a monumental 70m long, the Bayeux Tapestry shows detailed depictions of life in 11th century England before and after the Conquest. The medieval masterpiece is thought to have been commissioned by a Norman patron and created by English embroiderers using manuscript drawings from Canterbury.
Come along to the Canterbury Medieval Trail on Saturday 4 July and find out lots of fascinating facts about the Tapestry. Was it actually made in Canterbury? How long does it take to sew 70 metres? And what sort of fighting took place at the Battle of Hastings? You can even help create a new Canterbury Paper Tapestry!
From warming ramen to crispy katsu curry and freshly made sushi, every dish is packed with flavour and made to order.
Perfect for a quick bite or a relaxed stop in the city.
■ Open daily until 9:30pm
■ 21 St Peter’s Street, Canterbury, CT1 2BQ
■ 07365 119227
Kent Skin and Laser Clinic Opening in Canterbury
We are delighted to announce the opening of Kent Skin and Laser Clinic in Canterbury from 20th April.
Led by Drs Mark and Alice HudsonPeacock, supported by our experienced therapists Julia, Amber and Charlotte, the clinic offers a refined, patientcentred approach to medical and aesthetic skin care.
We look forward to welcoming both new and returning patients and clients to a warm, welcoming and professional environment where your well-being and experience are our priority.
To arrange an appointment or make an enquiry:
Telephone lines open 9:00am – 5:00pm 01227 472288
Email: reception@skinandlaser.co.uk
We look forward to welcoming you.
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More than words
Canterbury Children’s Literature Festival returns this July!
An action-packed weekend of storytelling fun to families from Friday 10 to Sunday 12 July at a range of venues across the city.
After its successful launch in 2025, the festival returns with an exciting programme of workshops, author talks, craft, quizzes, games and more. The festival celebrates stories in all forms, from graphic novels to audiobooks, treasure hunts to music and drama.
Founded by Bex and Rhys Hughes, longstanding champions of Canterbury’s creative community, the festival aims to help children develop a love of stories through reading but also listening, playing and exploring. Their organisation, Bookshop Crawl UK, connects people of all ages with their local bookshops through relaxed, low-pressure literary events around the country.
Bex explains the premise behind the festival: “Rhys and I both have unconventional experiences with reading: he has dyslexia; I have ADHD. We want to make the joy of storytelling as accessible as possible, removing financial, physical and neurodiverse barriers wherever we can. Stories are for everyone.”
By partnering with local bookshops and businesses, Canterbury Children’s Literature Festival hopes to bring stories to life in unexpected and engaging ways. In the week leading up to the main event, local schools will also enjoy a series of free story-focused activities to ensure even more children can take part.
Scan here to see the full programme and find out more about Canterbury Children’s Literature Festival
Check booking and prices at canterburykidslitfest.co.uk
The World of Skandar with AF Steadman
Shirley Hall
Sun 12 Jul, 1pm
Create your own unicorn, take part in the Chaos Cup and discover a world of elemental magic!
A Kidsummer Night’s Dream
The Old Synagogue Garden Sat 11 Jul
The super-popular event is back! Run by Cut Out Theatre in collaboration with Canterbury Shakespeare Festival
Storytelling Yoga
The Old Synagogue
Sat 11 Jul | 3.30-4.15pm
Sun 12 Jul | 10-10.45am
How To Do Paris With One Leg with Ella Dove
Chapters Coffee and Books
Sun 12 Jul | 12-1pm
Ella will be doing a reading from the new book as well as speaking about her own story of becoming an amputee.
Midnight Puzzlers with Liz Fost
Canterbury Cathedral Community Studio
Sat 11 Jul | 2-3pm
A fun-filled training session for all budding puzzle solvers and code crackers. 41
Canterbury’s newest community festival returns for its third year, bringing two days of live music, local exhibitors, food and drink, a sports zone, talks and workshops, and family activities to the heart of the city.
Organised by Canterbury City Show CIC, the event is completely free to attend and designed to celebrate what makes Canterbury brilliant - its people, its businesses, and its community spirit.
Across the weekend, visitors can enjoy live performances on the Gardens Mainstage, browse stalls from local traders and exhibitors, sample street food from handpicked vendors, and get stuck into everything from live wrestling demos to interactive workshops at the Guildhall.
With an expected attendance of 4,500 per day, the Canterbury City Show is shaping up to be one of the highlights of the summer calendar.
Kids summer special
Canterbury is jam-packed with fun family events and activities for all ages. Whatever your kids are into, there’s plenty of entertainment around in the city - you can even sneak in some covert learning along the way!
Places to go
Arts,
crafts & learning
The Beaney House of Art & Knowledge
High Street
Canterbury’s awardwinning museum, art gallery, library and visitor information centre. There’s so much to see and do here - say hi to the original Bagpuss, peer into vintage dolls’ houses, explore fascinating Ancient world treasures and more. beaney.co.uk
Canterbury Roman Museum
Butchery Lane
A fascinating and fun insight into life in Roman Canterbury and Britain. Wander through the marketplace, dress up, play games and handle real Roman objects. canterburyroman museum.co.uk
Colour Me Bear
North Lane
Decorate a bear in your own unique way at hands-on fluid art workshops (3yrs+ with adult). colourmebear.co.uk
Immersive fun
Canterbury Tales
Immersive Experience see p34
St Margaret’s St
Chaucer’s legendary characters are brought to life in this brand-new, cuttingedge storytelling adventure attraction, created by awardwinning designers. canterburytales.co.uk
Escape in the Towers
Pound Lane
Three different escape room games set within England’s largest surviving medieval gateway and Canterbury’s atmospheric former city jail. onepoundlane.co.uk/ escape
Canterbury Cathedral is celebrating women this summer, in honour of the first female Archbishop of Canterbury (see p8) Children’s activities will include:
Personalise your vestments like those worn by Archbishop Sarah
Make an Anglo-Saxon style brooch like Queen Bertha would have worn
Make a fancy ruff like that of Queen Elizabeth II at her 40th birthday party. See p8
Check canterburycathedral.org for updates.
City-wide family events
Canterbury City Show p44
Canterbury Children’s
Literary Festival p40
Medieval Pageant & Trail p36
Pride Canterbury p18
bOing! Festival p7
Curzon Riverside & Curzon Westgate
Canterbury is very lucky to have two fantastic Curzon cinemas on its doorstep. Catch the latest family blockbusters at both, as well as regular Kids Club screenings.
An interactive exhibition exploring the life of Canterbury’s most famous poet and playwright, Christopher Marlowe.
Saturday 25 July until Sunday 22 November 2026 (closed Mondays)
The Beaney House of Art & Knowledge, Canterbury Kent CT1 2RA
CANTERBURY ROMAN MUSEUM
Discover
Kent’s
hidden treasures
Discover one of the UK’s only remaining in situ Roman pavement mosaics and a Scheduled Ancient Monument.
Built within the remains of an original Roman town house, visitors can wander through the marketplace and discover hidden treasures as you step back, and down, to the streets of Roman Canterbury.
Open daily 10am to 5pm Butchery Lane, Canterbury CT1 2JR
THE BEANEY HOUSE OF ART & KNOWLEDGE
Have you explored The Beaney yet?
Calling all families and solo explorers! Take in the history at our accessible and welcoming award-winning family-friendly museum! Discover 1,500+ captivating objects, a changing exhibitions programme, and enjoy interactive activities blending learning and play. Whether you’re with loved ones or on your own we look forward to welcoming you!
Beaney House of Art & Knowledge 18 High Street, Canterbury CT1 2RA (Closed Mondays)
Official City Walking Tours
Includes Cathedral Precincts Expert Green Badge Guides
CANTERBURY UNCOVERED
Walk through over 2,000 years of history, brought to life by our local, expert guides on our entertaining 90-minute city tours.
Discover hidden sights, curious facts and incredible stories
Ideal for those with limited time
Free tour activity booklet for children under 12
Private tours for couples, families and larger groups available in multiple languages.
Daily tours at 11am. Additional 2pm tour April - October
This carving of a lion’s head, believed to be medieval, is on the corner of what was once the Chequers of Hope, an inn for pilgrims. Geoffrey Chaucer referred to the building in The Canterbury Tales.
Corner of Mercery Lane and High Street
The details that tell Canterbury’s story
The character of a city is found in its details. The same is true in good legal advice.
Carvings on the sides of the Cathedral Christ Church gate depict a number of different animals. Some are believed to be cats or dogs and many have recently been restored.
The Precincts
A row of ancient houses was destroyed in 1942 as a result of enemy action. The people of Canada contributed to the rebuilding of this retail structure in 1951. A commemorative stone and these maple leaves are a reminder of their generosity.
Burgate
This statue was commissioned in 1891 to honour Christopher Marlowe. There are no confirmed images of the poet and playwright known to exist, so it was decided that a “Lyric Muse” would be a fitting tribute. Locals affectionately named the figure “Kitty Marlowe”.
Near The Marlowe Theatre
These carved corbels, supports for over-hanging floors, on the side of Pret A Manger, date from the 1920’s but much older examples can be seen throughout the city. Elsewhere you might spot leaves, scrollwork or human figures.
Mercery Lane
The High Street was pedestrianised during the 1980’s. Road signs from when this was part of the main route between London and Dover still remain.
High Street
Local lawyers, here for life’s important chapters
Two offices in Canterbury and more than 4,000 client reviews on ReviewSolicitors.
Providing practical advice for you, your family and your business. From moving home and planning ahead to resolving disputes and supporting growing businesses, our Canterbury lawyers are here when it matters.
Conveyancing
Wills and probate
Family and matrimonial
Commercial property
General disputes
Employment law
Canterbury, Castle Street 01227 8134000
Canterbury, St George’s Place 01227 207000
boysandmaughan.co.uk
Café St Pierre
Celebrating 31 years in business, this
family-owned cafe near Westgate Towers
o ers generously-filled, innovative baguettes, quiches, salads, cakes and pastries plus
• To be enjoyed in a friendly atmosphere
• Try the typical French ‘Petit dejeuner’ served till noon
• Open 7 days a week - 8am - 6pm (Sun - 9am - 5.30pm)
• Outdoor seating in the wonderful garden
• Take-away service available
A bientôt! Alan, Maria and the team
The King’s Men: Live in Canterbury
Experience the world-renowned choral scholars of King’s College, Cambridge, performing in the spectacular setting of Canterbury Cathedral.
For one night only, this premier vocal ensemble brings its signature sound and flawless harmonies to the heart of the city for an unforgettable summer concert.
Canterbury Cathedral Wednesday 15 July 2026
Doors 7:00pm | Start 7:30pm
Tickets from £20 Book via Eventbrite Scan here
Presented by the Parish of St Martin & St Paul, Canterbury, to raise funds for St Martin’s: The Next Chapter.
Image: Martin Bond. Note: The King’s Men is a vocal ensemble of varying size; the touring group may differ from the image shown.
41 St Peter’s Street Canterbury, CT1 2BG.
you have family or friends visiting this summer?
The University of Kent is set in over 300 acres of beautiful parkland overlooking the city of Canterbury.
The fantastic location and extensive facilities, coupled with an array of accommodation options, makes staying on the university campus a great choice.
There is a range of en-suite, bed and breakfast, and self-catered accommodation available – perfect for visitors wishing to explore the local area.
Book now using code LOYALTYBB to receive a £10+ discount.
Travel in the city
Local bus services
Canterbury district is served by Stagecoach South East buses, based at Canterbury City Centre in St George’s Lane CT1 2SY.
Check times, fares and more at stagecoachbus.com or download the Stagecoach Bus App.
Park & Ride
Park all day for just £4 per car with up to six passengers, then hop on one of our frequent, low emission buses direct to Canterbury city centre. Plus, by registering online, Canterbury district residents can save 20% across our Park & Ride services and enjoy all day parking for only £3.20. Our three Park & Ride sites are:
• New Dover Rd CT1 3EL
• Wincheap, Ten Perch Rd, CT1 3TQ
• Sturry Rd, CT1 1AD
For more details visit canterbury.gov.uk/parkandride
Parking
With Canterbury’s colour-coded car park bands, you can easily plan your journey to avoid congestion and pay less. Plus residents can save 10% in all ANPR car parks in bands 2 and 3 with a parking permit account.
Here are a few insider tips to help you find cheaper parking spots:
If you plan to visit Canterbury through its original medieval gateway in the St Dunstan’s area, park at Station Road West for £1.90 per hour (band 3) and walk through the Westgate Towers like visitors have done for centuries.
Discover Canterbury from a new angle
Beryl bike hire in Canterbury
For those wishing to start their visit with a trip to the Creative Quarter, or The King’s Mile, you will find parking at £2.70 per hour at Northgate Car Park (band 2) and a lovely walk past some of our finest independent retailers.
And finally, why not park right next to Canterbury Castle (due to re-open in 2026) and enjoy a walk through the Castle Quarter with plenty of shops to visit and quick access to some of our premium retailers – Castle Street multi-storey charges £1.90 per hour (band 3).
For further details visit canterbury.gov.uk/parking
