This guide shares three tried routes that give a complete view of Canterbury and the immediate area. Each one has a clear path to follow and an AllTrails link so visitors can keep directions on their phone. Together they suit first time visitors, regular walkers and anyone who wants a mix of streets, river and countryside.

Route 1. Canterbury Inner Ring Circular (city highlights)

This route is a short loop through the quieter parts of the historic centre. It links the cathedral, Westgate Towers and several green corners inside the city. It is a good first walk for anyone who wants an overview without leaving the walls.

• Start and finish: Near Canterbury West station or Westgate Towers
• Distance: About 2 miles / 3.2 km
• Time: 45 minutes to 1 hour
• Difficulty: Easy, mostly paved and level
• AllTrails link: search for “Canterbury Inner Ring Circular” or go to Canterbury Inner Ring Circular

Suggested way to walk it

1. Start at the Westgate Towers on St Peter’s Street. Walk through the stone arch and pause on the bridge to look down the River Stour.
2. Turn right after the bridge into Westgate Gardens. Follow the riverside path past the flower beds and the large Oriental Plane tree. Stay with the river until the main path bends back toward the High Street.
3. Leave the gardens and turn left along the riverside edge of the park. Then turn right up the gentle slope to rejoin St Peter’s Street.
4. Walk along St Peter’s Street and into the High Street. Keep going until you reach the Buttermarket and the main gate of Canterbury Cathedral.
5. From the Buttermarket, turn right into Burgate, then soon right again into Lower Bridge Street. Follow this toward the old city walls and Dane John Gardens.
6. Enter Dane John Gardens through one of the gates on your right. Take the path up to the top of the mound for a raised view across the rooftops and towers.
7. Drop back down into the gardens and follow the main straight path toward the far end, then leave the park and turn left along the ring road.
8. Follow the pavement along the edge of the old walls until you see signs toward St Dunstan’s Street and Canterbury West. Turn left to walk back through St Dunstan’s, which has a good mix of independent shops and cafes.
9. Continue straight until you reach the Westgate Towers again, where the loop ends.

This route stays central, so it is ideal if visitors have limited time or want a gentle first walk before venturing farther out. AllTrails gives a mapped version and recent reviews at Canterbury Inner Ring Circular.

Route 2. Canterbury Cathedral Pilgrimage Circular (extended city loop)

The second route provides a deeper city tour. It links several historic churches, the castle, the riverside and the cathedral in one loop. It feels like following a modern pilgrimage route around the main holy and historic sites of Canterbury.

• Start and finish: Close to Canterbury East station or Dane John Gardens
• Distance: About 4.1 miles / 6.6 km
• Time: 1.5 to 2 hours, longer if stopping at sites
• Difficulty: Easy, mostly pavements and park paths
• AllTrails link: “Canterbury Cathedral Pilgrimage Circular” or Canterbury Cathedral Pilgrimage Circular

Suggested way to walk it

1. Start by Canterbury East station. Follow signs toward Dane John Gardens and enter the park.
2. Walk along the main straight path, then climb the steps up to the top of Dane John Mound. This gives a first overview of the city, including the cathedral towers in the distance.
3. Come down the other side of the mound and leave the park onto Castle Row. Turn right and follow signs for Canterbury Castle. Walk around the outside of the Norman castle ruins.
4. Continue along Castle Street, then Stour Street, to reach the river. Cross one of the small bridges to reach Greyfriars Gardens. The simple chapel of Greyfriars sits on an island in the river and is one of the quieter corners of the city.
5. Leave Greyfriars back to Stour Street and turn right, then left into Beer Cart Lane, then right into the High Street.
6. Follow the High Street to the Buttermarket and the entrance to Canterbury Cathedral. Depending on time, visitors can enter the cathedral precincts or simply view the gatehouse.
7. From the Buttermarket, continue along Burgate. Soon turn right toward Lady Wootton’s Green. This small square has fine views of St Augustine’s Abbey and the cathedral behind.
8. Walk across the green toward St Augustine’s Abbey, then continue east along Longport to reach St Martin’s Church, often called the oldest church in continuous use in the English-speaking world.
9. After visiting St Martin’s, retrace your steps toward the city, then follow signs for the ring road and back into the centre by your preferred route. AllTrails suggests a loop that returns past St Dunstan’s and the Westgate Towers, then back to Dane John Gardens or the station.

Because this walk circles the city, it works well as a main “city tour” for visitors who want more than a quick look at the cathedral. The mapped version and user photos are available on Canterbury Cathedral Pilgrimage Circular.

Route 3. The Great Stour Way to Chartham (riverside countryside route)

The third route takes walkers out of the centre into immediate countryside along the River Stour. It follows the surfaced Great Stour Way toward the village of Chartham. The path is level, family‑friendly and feels rural while still close to the city.

• Start and finish: Canterbury city centre to Chartham and back (out and back)
• Distance: About 3 miles / 5.9 km one way, around 6 miles / 9.5 km if walking there and back
• Time: 2 to 3.5 hours depending on pace and whether walkers take the train back
• Difficulty: Easy, mostly flat shared‑use path
• AllTrails link: “The Great Stour Way” or The Great Stour Way

Suggested way to walk it

1. From the city centre, make your way to Westgate Gardens next to the Westgate Towers. Enter the gardens and follow the path downstream with the river on your left.
2. Continue through the gardens, passing Bingley Island on your left, and follow signs for the Great Stour Way and National Cycle Network Route 18.
3. The path soon leaves the formal park and enters a more open riverside corridor. Keep the river close on your left and follow the clear, surfaced track. You will pass fields, pockets of woodland and views back toward Canterbury.
4. After a short distance you reach the Hambrook Marshes area. This section includes wetlands and grazing meadows. There are boardwalks and side paths if walkers want to explore, but the main route stays on the clear shared path.
5. Keep following the Great Stour Way as it tracks the river toward Chartham. You will see the paper mill buildings and, later, the village church tower. According to AllTrails, this stretch offers a calm, traffic‑free link between the city and the Stour Valley.
6. Once in Chartham, walkers have options. They can explore the village, find a pub or picnic spot by the river, then either:
   1. Return on foot along the same path to Canterbury, or
   2. Catch a train from Chartham station back to Canterbury West if they prefer a shorter day.

For many visitors this route provides the best “immediate countryside” experience close to the city. It is suitable for mixed‑ability groups and families, and it keeps navigation simple. The full map and elevation profile are on The Great Stour Way.

See the city from a different perspective

Walking is an excellent way to see the details of the city. However, after a morning of exploring the hills and marshes, you might want to rest your feet. You can see the same historic sites from a lower, more peaceful vantage point on the water. The river flows past many buildings that are not visible from the main roads.

A guided river tour offers a relaxing alternative to walking. You can drift through the city and learn about its past from a guide. It is a unique way to experience the waterways that have shaped Canterbury for centuries. If you have spent the day as one of the many walkers on the pavement, seeing the city from a boat provides a fresh outlook on the historic architecture.

A complete Canterbury experience

Exploring Canterbury on foot allows you to set your own pace. You can stop to look at a medieval carving or sit by the river in a Victorian garden. Combining these three walking routes gives you a full picture of the city and its surrounding landscape. To finish your visit, think about a boat tour with Canterbury Historic River Tours. It is the perfect way to see the city from a different perspective after you have finished your walk.