A historic city with culture on every corner

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Canterbury is a cultural tour de force with something for everyone.

Sitting in north-east Kent, Canterbury has a fast train line to London which gets you into St Pancras in just 55 minutes. Alternatively, the slower line takes you to Charing Cross and Victoria in about 1 hour 45 minutes and stops at several stations along the way.

By car, Canterbury is just over an hour and a half and 60 miles to London, straight up the M2/A2. If you’re travelling south, Dover is just 32 minutes’ drive giving you plenty of opportunities to catch a ferry and explore destinations further afield.

It’s also a big student city with the main University of Kent campus, Canterbury Christ Church University campus, and one campus for the University of Creative Arts all in the city. This makes Canterbury an attractive opportunity for buy-to-let investors targeting the student market.

Because of good rail links and an array of well-rated schools to choose from, Canterbury is attracting more and more people moving from London or looking for a holiday home in the city. As a result, the housing market is competitive with families, commuters, students and retirees all looking to settle in the area.

There’s no shortage of properties with character in Canterbury. From 1920s family homes, redbrick Victorian terraces, townhouses and many listed buildings too. So whatever your style and budget, Canterbury has a property to suit.

View available properties

What to do in Canterbury

Canterbury is a popular destination for tourists because of its history, thriving food scene, and boutique shops.

Of course, the Cathedral is one of Canterbury’s major attractions, drawing close to one million visitors every year. Founded in 597AD, the Cathedral underwent its last major alteration in 1834 to become the structure we see today. It’s the oldest Christian structure in England and is the centrepiece of the Church of England.

Canterbury is also one of the few locations in Kent to be consistently awarded a Purple Flag. A Purple Flag is like a Blue Flag for beaches but applies to places with a vibrant variety of entertainment while keeping residents and visitors safe. It’s a seal of confidence that Canterbury has everything you need for a safe day or night out.

You’re spoilt for choice when it comes to eating out, with chain restaurants, independent eateries, small cafes, or gastropubs to choose from. Whether you want some seafood, a pizza, juicy steak, a vegan feast or something different, there’s loads of choice. Use TripAdvisor to plan your next evening out.

Canterbury was also the birthplace of playwright Christopher Marlowe and as such, there are several theatres in the city that host a diverse selection of performances. With such an active events calendar, there’s sure to be something you’ll enjoy.

When it comes to green spaces, Westgate Gardens is a beautiful park in the heart of the city, running alongside the river Stour. The city is also next to the Kent Downs, an area of outstanding natural beauty so walks and bike rides are readily accessible.

We’ve only scratched the surface as to why Canterbury is such a great place to live. If you decide to call the city home there certainly won’t be a shortage of things for you to do.