Canterbury is a historic English city renowned for its magnificent cathedral and rich heritage. It is located in the county of Kent, in the southeast of England. Below are the modes of transportation you can use to reach Canterbury.
The closest major airport to Canterbury is London Gatwick Airport (LGW). From there, you can take a train or coach to reach Canterbury. London Heathrow (LHR) is another alternative, though it is further away.
Southeastern runs high-speed train services from London St Pancras International to Canterbury West station, which take approximately under an hour. Trains from London Charing Cross and London Victoria to Canterbury East station are also available but take a bit longer.
National Express operates coach services to Canterbury from London Victoria Coach Station and other major cities. This can be a more economical option, though travel times will be longer.
Canterbury is accessible via the M2 motorway from London. If you're coming from the west or north, you can use the M25 to connect to the M2. There are several car parks in the city, but be aware that traffic can be heavy, especially on weekends and during peak tourist seasons.
If you're coming from Continental Europe, you can take a ferry to Dover, which is about 30 minutes' drive from Canterbury. The main operators are P&O Ferries and DFDS Seaways, offering routes from Calais and Dunkirk in France to Dover.
The Eurostar train service connects continental Europe to Ashford International train station, which is a short train ride away from Canterbury. Passengers can board the Eurostar from Paris, Brussels or Lille and transfer at Ashford to a Southeastern train to reach Canterbury.
Once in Canterbury, the city center is compact and best explored on foot. Public buses and taxis are also available for longer distances within the city.
