The beautiful City of Canterbury is situated in the South East of England within the Kent area and has a growing population of over 164,100 inhabitants. The City as it is today being formed by the merger of Canterbury City, Whitstable, Herne bay Urban Districts and Bridge-Blean Rural District. Canterbury is made up of 26 parishes in total and despite its ever-growing population is a largely rural area. Canterbury has a beautiful coastal strip with a spread of stunning beaches and seaside towns. Close by is the historic wooded area of Blean and with the Great river Stower flowing through the City it really is a fantastic place to live or to visit. Some of the tourist sites and must sees to visit while there are: Canterbury Cathedral, St Augustine’s Abbey, Kent Downs, Herne bay and the Canterbury Museum where you can learn about the Canterbury Tales.
Dominating the skyline is Canterbury Cathedral which was Consecrated in 1070 and is one of the oldest and probably most famous religious buildings in England. Justin Welby, the current Archbishop of Canterbury and leader of the Church of England has his base there and many important national and International religious decisions have been made there. The shrine of Thomas Becket (the Archbishop who was murdered there in 1170) is situated within The Trinity Chapel and is a popular visiting site for thousands of Pilgrims. There have been several substantial fires in the Cathedral and the library was destroyed by bombing raids in the Second World War. Luckily the wooden roof of the Chapel was saved by local fire wardens who heroically doused the flames.
Only two women have been ordained as Bishops in the Cathedral and they were Sarah Mullaly (Bishop of Crediton) and Rachel Treweek (Bishop of Gloucester). The Cathedral is also one of the venues for the graduation ceremonies for the two Universities there, The University of Kent and Canterbury Christ University. The growing population of Canterbury is swollen by the tide of young students attending the prestigious Universities there, if you’re looking for Canterbury Student Accommodation then why not check out https://canterburystudenthomes.co.uk/.
Planning a vacation or day trip to Canterbury, the choice of hotels or bed and breakfasts is vast, the selection of restaurants and cafes plentiful. From Luxurious five-star accommodation to cheap and cheerful Travel Inns or Premier Lodges what ever your budget Canterbury is a great place to stay.
