Offers of Guided Tours Canterbury

The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer, one of the earliest and most important books in the English language, features a group of travellers on their way to the Cathedral. Over 600 years since Chaucer’s death, visitors continue to travel to this important city. Although once the capital city of England, evidenced by the importance of the Archbishop of Canterbury, this place hasn’t grown and industrialised as other cities. As well as leaving it authentic and charming, this means it's easy to get around the city and discover its secrets on a guided tour.

The Great Stour river runs through the city in a number of channels, meaning the historic centre was built on islands, with bridges crossing the waterways. You’ll have a choice of transport for a guided tour: go classic with a walking tour around the cobbled streets, or kick back in a comfortable boat or barge and let your guide navigate you around the city whilst explaining the sights. And don’t worry! It isn’t just a city for history buffs. The Marlowe Theatre has housed groundbreaking performing arts w¡since the 1980s, the Kent County Cricket Club (one of the most successful in the country) has its ground here, and 4 universities give the city a vibrant, student feel.

What to do in Canterbury?

• Daily city tours: if you want to see the highlights, take a tour of the city centre on a tried and tested route. You’ll see the famous cathedral, walk along the King’s Mile - a street that boasts historic timber-framed buildings - and find out why the Buttermarket has such a peculiar name! You book a place on this tour on an individual level any day of the year or arrange a group tour, and the different routes and lengths are available.

• Historical: the Romans knew the importance of this city and built high walls to protect it. Since then, the inhabitants have left a legacy of buildings, monuments, and, of course, stories for us to enjoy. A standard historical tour will give you an overview of the timeline, but if you’ve got a passion for a particular subject, you’ll find a guide to give you a tour to match. Chaucer or the Mayflower, immigration or health, see the story come to life with a historical tour.

• River: outside Oxford and Cambridge, Canterbury is one of the few places in the UK where you can enjoy punting - travelling in a narrow flat bottomed boat propelled by a long pole. Guided punt tours on the Great Stour are a fantastic way to explore the city and get an expert’s insights. It’s possible to do many kinds of routes from the comfort of a punt: sightseeing, history, nature and more. Your guide will be your source of knowledge and propulsion, as they will conduct the boat from point to point.

• Nature: this option is exclusive to punting tours, and ideal for anyone who wants a break from city life. Your guide will take you to the Great Stour to the protected Bingley Island. Even though it’s within Canterbury, this is a natural paradise with very little human footprint. Glide under low hanging willow branches and look out for waterbirds on this pleasure cruise.

• Ghost: if you’re visiting the city in October, you can’t go wrong with a tour with a twist! This is a tour which includes ghosts, hauntings and other frightening details, but the most terrifying thing is - it’s all true! Over the years Canterbury has played host to its share of shocking stories, from the Black Death to witch trials and medieaval punishments to political murders. If you’re brave enough to take to the waters for this chilling experience, candlelit lanterns will add to the atmosphere, while you can use blankets and cushions to hide behind if it all gets too much!

• Themed: special interests tours are easier to find than you think, mainly because whatever your passion is, you probably share it with one of the fantastic guides in Canterbury. Get into the details of your interests with a themed tour, whether that’s gardens and gardening, archeology, the royal family or books and authors.

• Language: the standard language for tours, including all public group tours, is English. But don’t let that affect your understanding if English isn’t your first language. We want you to get the most out of your guided tour, so we’re happy to tell you that tours in a number of different languages can be organised for groups.

• Educational: struggling to motivate your kids to study for your exams? Or perhaps you’re a teacher trying to bring your subject to life? Then close your textbooks and bring the students to the scene of the action! You can organise historical, literary and other educational tours for a lesson that your students won’t forget. They won’t even realise that it’s a lesson and will come away with new insights into the topic.

• Virtual: while getting out and about in the city is a great way to connect with its character and story, if you’re unable to do that you can experience a multi-screen virtual tour of the city. Accompanied by an expert guide, technology will let you get to know the city at a distance, with the option for a Q&A to ensure the personal touch.

How long does a guided tour last?

Taking a guided tour of Canterbury distils a whole lot of information into a dynamic, interactive experience making your time count. A standard length for a walking tour, including sightseeing, historical and other options is 90 minutes. The time will fly by, as your guide will take you from one highlight to another, finding a place to stop for explanations, before moving on through the hustle and bustle to the next destination. If you’re short on time, it’s also possible to do a 45 minute guided tour, including the unmissable bits and giving you the general overview.

Forty five minutes is also the standard for river tours, which is enough time to circle the city centre and while the guide points out the interesting sights. The virtual tour is the same length because with this option there’s no time given over to walking or punting between points.

What does this activity include?

Guided tours of Canterbury aren’t free, but when you pay for one you can count on learning something and having a great time. Your tour guide will have a wealth of knowledge about the city and an engaging, personable manner to get the attention of the whole group. These skills are certified by the local tourist board. Remember that on a boat tour you’re also getting transported by your guide in a traditional punt. All of this means that, while entry to monuments is not included in the price, we believe that a guided tour is one of the best ways to get to know this city.

On a river tour, you have the option of ordering drinks to enjoy on the route. Make it extra special with a jug of pimms - or a bottle of prosecco if you have something to celebrate! These boat tours can be arranged privately for couples or small groups, with the maximum capacity being 12 people on board.

Making tours accessible to all is a key project in the city. As well as the virtual tours which can be enjoyed by people with limited mobility, the tours around the city include as standard, or on request, step-free routes. There are some sections of uneven pavement, but wheelchair users are able to join guided tours. Finally, well behaved dogs (including guide dogs) are welcome to join the tour group.

There you have it, the most complete guide on the Internet! If there’s something in there that catches your eye, go ahead and make a reservation.