Say no to research and route planning and yes to a journey through over 2,000 years of Canterbury history when you book this small-group walking tour with an accredited guide. See the medieval Westgate, the Marlowe Theatre, the Christ Church Gate and St. Thomas of Canterbury Church, and learn about everyone from playwrights to Romans. Please note: this is a sightseeing tour and entrance fees are not included.

See the highlights of historic Canterbury on a guided walking tour
Learn about figures such as Marlowe, the hard-partying playwright and spy
Snap quirky attractions from weird clocks to doves in the wrong places
Numbers are capped at just 10 travelers, for quality guide interaction

What's Included

Reproduction historical images and objects.

Entry to any attractions including Canterbury Cathedral and its precincts.

Meeting And Pickup

Meeting point

The Beaney House of Art & Knowledge
18 High St, Canterbury CT1 2RA, UK
Your guide will meet you outside the entrance to the High Street, opposite the Abode Hotel.

End point

Saint George's Tower
27 St George's St, Canterbury CT1 2LE, UK
The end point of the tour is beneath the marvellous clock tower of the former St George's Church.

What To Expect

The Beaney House of Art & Knowledge (Pass By)

Statue of Geoffrey Chaucer

5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Westgate Towers Museum & Viewpoint

5 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

The Marlowe Theatre

5 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

Christ Church Gate

5 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

Canterbury Roman Museum

5 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

St Thomas' of Canterbury RC Church

5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Saint George's Tower

5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Wheelchair accessible
Stroller accessible
Service animals allowed

Near public transportation
Most travelers can participate
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 10 travelers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.

Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.

Traveler Photos

Traveler Tips

I would definitely recommend the classic tour for those who want to explore the classic places but also the hidden secrets of Canterbury.

Sam was a fantastic tour guide and I fully recommend these tours

Reviews

5.0

88 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travelers.

Showing 1-10 of 88 reviews

excellent informative tour

David_W, Aug 2023

Extremely knowledge and entertaining guide, Thoroughly enjoyed the tour and perfect timing, Not too short or too long.

Response from Host, Aug 2023

Hi David, thank you for your very kind review! I'm so glad the tour (and I) was entertaining and hope it was a great part of your Canterbury experience! Sam.

Informative and lively tour

Meriel_V, Aug 2023

Sam the Guide brought Canterbury’s history to life with intriguing insights from his considerable knowledge of history

Response from Host, Aug 2023

Hi Meriel, thank you so much for your lovely review, I'm so happy you both enjoyed the tour! Sam.

A wonderful time spent learning some Canterbury history that evokes a feeling of connection with the the town.

Elinor_G, Jun 2023

What I enjoyed most of the tour was seeing those secret gems in Canterbury that is hidden under the glimmer of shopping stores and cafes. My two teenagers loved it.

Response from Host, Jun 2023

Hi Elinor, thank you so much for your review! I'm glad everyone was able to enjoy the tour and Canterbury! Sam.

A Brilliant way of learning the history of Canterbury

Roger_M, Jun 2023

My wife and I were in a small group which enabled us to ask more questions that would otherwise have been the case. The 1 and three quarter hour tour of Canterbury was full of surprises and packed with facts of Canterbury from before the Roman conquest to the aftermath of the 2nd World war. Specific places of interest were The Beanie Institute, The west Gate being used as a prison, the synagogue and its connection to the Knights Templars The butter market and how the river was used as a sewer. All in all everywhere we stopped had an interesting story behind it e.g the place where the knights stayed before killing Thomas a Becket. Our guide Sam was excellent with a deep knowledge of Canterbury and its History We have no hesitation in recommending the tour.

Response from Host, Jun 2023

Hi Roger, thank you so much for your very kind review. I definitely agree that small groups are a great way to see the city and ask any questions you have! Sam

Very interesting and enjoyable tour!

Arne_G, Aug 2022

Sam is a very kind and knowledgeable guide. He told us a number of interesting stories about Canterbury.

Response from Host, Aug 2022

Hi Arne, thank you for your very kind review. I do hope that you will both be able to come back to Canterbury again in the near future! Sam.

Canterbury (Tour) Tales

Andrea_S, Aug 2022

Awesome tour of Canterbury. We could not have had a better experience. Excellent exploration of the city and its rich heritage without ever being tedious. Sam was our guide and he was both knowledgeable and engaging, and never boring. Wish you could have a Sam in every town we went to visit!

Response from Host, Aug 2022

Hi Andrea, you are too kind! Thank you for your kind words, I am thrilled you enjoyed the tour and hope it enhanced your visit to Canterbury. Sam.

Highly Recommended!

Andy_M, Aug 2022

I would highly recommend this tour. Every stop we try to book one of these tours on the first day to get acquainted with the town. This tour was particularly good at telling us things about the buildings and the town that we would not otherwise know, which is exactly why you should book it!

Response from Host, Aug 2022

Hi Andy, thank you so much for this very kind review, it was a pleasure to show you around Canterbury! I do hope that you come back to Canterbury again in the future. Sam.

A great tour

Emma_N, Jul 2022

Loved the tour, lots of interesting facts and information about Canterbury and brought to life by our great guide, Sam. He also managed to keep the children involved and entertained (6 & 11) which is not an easy task so the whole family had a great time. Would highly recommend

Response from Host, Jul 2022

Hi Emma, thank you for your very kind review! I'm very glad you all enjoyed the tour, I hope that you will all come back to Canterbury again soon. Sam.

A memorable tour of Canterbury

Lloyd_S, Jun 2022

Sam the guide was excellent and really brought the tour to life. There was so much information and anecdotes that it’s impossible to pick a single highlight.

Response from Host, Jun 2022

Thank you Lloyd for this very kind review! I hope you enjoyed the rest of the evening and will come back to Canterbury in the near future! Sam.

Excellent Guide

Kenneth_P, Apr 2022

Sam is a relaxed and informative guide who clearly loves his work. His tour blends culture, architecture and art of the region. Loved every minute!

Response from Host, Apr 2022

Hi Kenneth, thank you for your review, I'm so happy that my love of Canterbury helped make the tour enjoyable for you! Sam.

Absolutely loved it!!

Mark_G, Apr 2022

Absolutely loved it - our tour guide was knowledgeable, fun and funny. My teenager really enjoyed it, too - and that’s something! In summary, I highly recommend this lovely 1.5 hour walking tour!

Response from Host, Apr 2022

Hi Mark, thank you for your kind review! I am so glad you all enjoyed the tour and hope you enjoy the rest of your stay here in Canterbury. Sam.

Fantastic tour!

Steve_B, Feb 2022

Sam did the tour and was excellent. Great stories, great pace and an enthusiasm that gives you so much more than you pay for. We've already recommended the tour to friends!!

Response from Host, Feb 2022

Hi Steve, thank you for this very kind review and for recommending the tour to your friends! I hope you both enjoyed the rest of your time in Canterbury. Sam.

Canterbury Guided Walking Tour with Sam

JustinePaola_T, Aug 2021

Me and my friends had a good time walking around Canterbury and being told stories and it’s very rich history of the place. Our tour guide Sam was very accommodating, approachable and informative. We’ll be back for sure.

Response from Host, Aug 2021

Hi Justine, thank you so much for your very kind review, it was a pleasure to meet you all! I look forward to seeing you and your friends in Canterbury again in the future. Sam

Great tour

Agnes_B, Aug 2021

Super interesting tour where we learned a lot of fun facts about Canterbury. Thank you, Sam, for being the best tour guide around this lovely city!

Response from Host, Aug 2021

Hi Agnes, thank you for such a fantastic review! I couldn't be happier that you both enjoyed the tour and hope to see you in Canterbury again in the future. Sam

All Recommended

Laura_T, Aug 2021

We had Sam who was friendly and extremely knowledgeable. Canterbury is a brilliant place for a walking tour as it is flat, compact, and bursting with interesting history. We recommend Canterbury and we highly recommend Sam and Viator.

Response from Host, Aug 2021

Hi Laura, thank you for such a kind review! I hope you both enjoyed the rest of your stay in Canterbury. Sam.

Delightful

Debra, Aug 2021

Thank you, Sam, for a very informative and interesting tour. We had fun and learnt lots. A great experience which we recommend. Thanks again.

Response from Host, Aug 2021

Hi Debra, thank you so much for your very kind review! I'm so happy you both had fun on the tour!! Sam.

Great tour, great overview of the city

Jonathan_C, Jul 2021

The little side stories in the history of Canterbury’s buildings and landmarks were the best part of the tour, plus Sam’s insights into any questions.

Response from Host, Jul 2021

Thank you Jonathan for your kind review! If you have any comments on how to improve the tour that would make the tour 5/5, please do let us know by email (info@cttours.co.uk). Sam

Great tour

Pablo_T, Jun 2021

Sam is very friendly and created an unique and enjoyable walking experience. I would definitely recommend the classic tour for those who want to explore the classic places but also the hidden secrets of Canterbury.

Response from Host, Jun 2021

Hi Paul, I'm so grateful for such kind words such as these! Thank you! Sam.

Great tours

Emmanuelle_C, May 2021

We had a lovely tour despite the weather being a little unpredictable. Sam was a fantastic tour guide and I fully recommend these tours

Response from Host, May 2021

I am so glad you enjoyed the tour despite the unpredictable weather, it definitely keeps me on my toes! Sam

Recommend

Gail_M, May 2021

Very knowledgeable/polite guide. A lovely way to get an introduction to Canterbury and a gentle wander around the beautiful city.

Response from Host, May 2021

Hi Gail, it was great to meet you both and thank you for your very kind review! Sam.