Canterbury Walking Tour UNESCO Sites with Green Badge Guide

Follow the path of Queen Bertha and trace Christianity's arrival in England

A guided walking tour of Canterbury's three UNESCO World Heritage sites, led by a fully qualified Green Badge guide. The route traces Queen Bertha's journey to St Martin's Church, views St Augustine's Abbey's medieval gates and footprint from multiple vantage points, and walks the Cathedral Precincts and cloisters. Interior access to the Cathedral and Abbey are not included. St Martin's interior is subject to opening and service hours.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Canterbury's World Heritage Sites

• Walk Queen Bertha's historic path
• View St Augustine's Abbey exterior
• Visit St Martin's Church exterior and inside if open
• See historic pilgrim inns and Christ Church Gate
• Walk through Cathedral Precincts and cloisters

The experience

Two to three hours on foot takes you through the sites that shaped Christianity in England. The tour starts by following Queen Bertha's 6th-century path from the royal palace to St Martin's Church: the oldest church in continuous use in England, welcoming worshippers since before 597 AD. Your guide will point out the statues of Queen Bertha and King Ethelbert, whose marriage and conversion led to the Christianisation of Anglo-Saxon England. The churchyard ground is uneven and the climb up to the church is steep, so sturdy shoes are essential.

From St Martin's, the route moves to St Augustine's Abbey, founded in 598 as a monastery and burial place for Anglo-Saxon kings of Kent. You'll see the site from several vantage points to understand the footprint of the three churches and view the most impressive surviving features: the medieval gates. The tour then takes you through the Cathedral Precincts and cloisters, passing the ruins of the old monastery and the Christ Church Gate, the imposing entrance to the Cathedral itself. You walk around the Cathedral rather than entering it, so you see the exterior and grounds without paying separate admission.

Your guide is a fully qualified Green Badge guide leading in English. Subject to church opening and service hours, you may be able to step inside St Martin's. The church requests a £5 donation per person at entry. Large parts of St Martin's are not accessible for wheelchairs or buggies. After booking, check your messages for your guide's details and any updates about the tour.

What’s included

• A fully qualified Green Badge guide leading in English.
• access to the Cathedral Precincts and cloisters (exterior only).
• possible access to St Martin's Church interior subject to opening and service hours (a £5 donation per person is requested by the church at entry).

Before you book

Days and timesWednesday to SundayDepartures at 10:00, 11:00, 13:00 and 14:00

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 13 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical levelPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Canterbury Guided Tours

Is this one for you?Small groups work well on this tour since the Green Badge guide can move at a steady pace through the Precincts and explain the history at each stop. The two- to three-hour length fits a morning or afternoon without dominating your day in Canterbury.

Top questions

Can I go inside St Martin's Church on this tour?

St Martin's interior may be viewed subject to opening and service hours, so access depends on when the church is open and whether services are taking place. If you do enter, the church requests a donation of £5 per person. Note that large parts of the building are not wheelchair or buggy accessible.

Does the tour include entry to Canterbury Cathedral?

No, admission to the Cathedral interior is not included. You walk through the Cathedral Precincts and cloisters and see the exterior, but you do not enter the building itself.

What is St Augustine's Abbey and what will I see there?

St Augustine's Abbey was founded in 598 as a monastery for St Augustine and his monks after they arrived in England to convert the Anglo-Saxons to Christianity. It also served as a burial place for Anglo-Saxon kings of Kent. On the tour you view the site from several vantage points to see the footprint of the three churches and the most impressive remaining features: the medieval gates. Entry to the Abbey grounds is not included.

How long is the walk and what kind of fitness do I need?

The tour runs two to three hours and requires at least a moderate level of physical fitness. The route includes a steep climb up steps to St Martin's Church and uneven churchyard ground, so sturdy shoes are recommended.

Who leads the tour and what language is it in?

A fully qualified Green Badge guide leads the tour in English. After you book, check your messages for your guide's details and any further information about the tour.