Location is key when looking for a city to spend your uni days and it doesn’t get much better than Canterbury!

With three universities and 30,000 students, our vibrant, historic city has loads to offer.

Walkable city 

It takes just 10 minutes to walk the whole stretch of Canterbury’s bustling high street (according to Google Maps), so you can take in the city’s sights on foot and easily get to where you need to be.

Take a few left or right turns off the main high street and you’ll find cobbled medieval streets, a stunning Cathedral backdrop and picturesque riverboats.

Students walking along the city walls.
Students walking along the city walls on their way into the city centre.

UNESCO World Heritage Site

We’re exceptionally proud to be based in Canterbury’s historic UNESCO World Heritage Site. With such rich cultural and natural heritage, the city is centred around the world-famous Canterbury Cathedral, which as a Christ Church student, you’ll get to access free using your new student card.

Shopping

The high street mixes major names with small independent businesses unique to the area. If you’re looking for shops like JD Sports, H&M and Primark you’ll want to head to Whitefriars. To find independents and charity shops head to the more historic areas of Canterbury such as the King’s Mile and Northgate.

Students walking through the Whitefriars shopping centre.
Students walking through the Whitefriars shopping centre.

Student discount events

The annual Student Shopping Night that takes place every October at Whitefriars is a must visit event to add to your student calendar. You won’t want to miss out on the discounts of up to 40% plus the goody bags and giveaways!

Eating and going out

Restaurants and pubs

Canterbury features the typical chain restaurants (yes, this does include a Nando’s) but there’s so much more on offer. Foodies will enjoy the city’s independent eateries and healthy food hangouts the most - in 2019 Canterbury’s high street was ranked the healthiest in England by the Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH).

You can look forward to spending evenings with your news friends in some of the city’s pubs. Tucked away down historic cobbled streets, you’ll find pubs named after bishops and literary greats that complement Canterbury's distinctive character.

Student recommendations

Top eight choices to enjoy lunch dates with friends and family, as chosen by Graphic Design students Kristiana Kanneniece, Emma Watson and Zachary Weitz. Check out this map they designed:

Students socialising outside a wine bar in the city.
Students socialising outside a popular wine bar in the city.
The Buttermarket, just outside the main entrance to the Cathedral, is a great place to meet.

Three local, independent healthy food hangouts in Canterbury as chosen by Katie. Watch now:

Local cinemas

Movie buffs are spoilt for choice as there’s three cinemas in the city: the Odeon, the Curzon and the Gulbenkian, each one showing everything from the latest blockbuster releases to indie art house films.

Theatre

Canterbury is home to one of the best theatres in Kent: The Marlowe Theatre. Keep a look out on their ‘what’s on’ schedule for West-End shows, plays, comedy gigs and more. Names such as Jimmy Carr and Derren Brown have previously performed. There are special offers for people aged between 16-26, so if you're quick enough you could bag yourself a ticket for just £10!

Sports

Canterbury is home to Kent County Cricket at The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence. Other local teams include Canterbury City FC and Canterbury Rugby Club.

Events and festivals

The Dane John Gardens across the road from our library and support services building Augustine House is the perfect park to take a study break. It's also home to some of the many festivals, many of them free of charge, that happen in the city during the year.

Food and Drink Festival

The Canterbury Food and Drink at the end of September coincides with your first week at uni. Enjoy foods from all around the world and get samples of delicious local produce from Kent.#

Music

Every May Bank Holiday Weekend the City Sound Project takes over. Artists like Wretch 32, Ms Banks and Artful Dodger have performed at previous events - it’s one not to be missed.

Canterbury Pride

Canterbury Pride is the biggest Pride event in the South East outside of Brighton and you can celebrate love and diversity at this incredible festival every June. We sponsor the event so join us for the march which flows through the city and then party till the early evening.

Christmas in the city

Christmas will come around quickly during your first year. It is a special time as the city will transform into a winter wonderland of pop-up market stalls and fair rides. Go skating with your friends to the pop-up ice rink at the Dane John gardens which offers student discounts.

Watch the video to see how Canterbury transforms at Christmas:

The local and surrounding area 

Kent is known as the ‘Garden of England’ and with good reason. Winding lanes pass through lush farmland, ancient woodland and picture-postcard villages. If you appreciate health and wellbeing from nature then you will love living in Kent. It’s a paradise for walkers, ramblers and cyclists, and a quiet pub lunch is never far away. 

Creative coast 

The Kent coastline is long and varied. Towns like Margate and Folkestone are buzzing with creative energy. The Turner Contemporary gallery in Margate hosted the Turner Prize in 2020. Independent galleries and shops are springing up all the time as new people and ideas flood into town.

Picturesque Whitstable, just 7 miles from Canterbury, is famous for seafood and has several excellent restaurants. You’ll see fishing boats unloading their catch in the harbour, and you can sample the famous Native oysters. Fish and chips on the beach while the sun goes down is a favourite local pastime.

Beach days are just moments away

In summer the clean sandy beaches and quiet bays dotted along the coast are perfect for relaxed days in the sun. Or if you prefer a bit more activity then sailing, kitesurfing, windsurfing and paddle-boarding are all on offer.

Canterbury
North Holmes Road, Canterbury, Kent, CT1 1QU
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