| Explore Canterbury In Your Classic Car | ||||
| Most people around the world are aware of the importance of this beautiful city which is steeped in history. Most people are also aware that Canterbury Cathedral is the Mother Church for Anglicans. It was founded by Augustine in 597 AD and with one million visitors per year it is one of the most visited places in the country. The shrine of Thomas Becket who was murdered in the Cathedral lies within. It was where people from all over Europe would make their pilgrimage to visit his shrine. Indeed the Pilgrims way travels across Kent and is a fabulous walk in itself. Before getting into Canterbury you could stop off in the University Car park and go for a short ramble in the woods to find the tunnel for the Crab and Winkle line. This is situated just north of Giles Lane slightly to the west of Darwin Road. (Please ask for further directions). There isn’t much to see now as the half mile long tunnel has been blocked up. When this, the first ever passenger train tunnel, was built in 1826 it was an engineering feat no less impressive than that of the Channel Tunnel now. When it was in use the trains were always covered in soot because it was such a tight squeeze for the engine and its carriages. George Stephenson and his son Robert built the Invicta engine which pulled the carriages. This can be seen on show at the Museum in Canterbury, which pulled the train. Isambard Kingdom Brunel is known to have inspected this tunnel . The project took four years to complete. It was last used in 1953. Other must see places are The Canterbury Tales, where Geoffery Chaucer’s characters come to life, The Roman Museum, the Dane John Mound built by the Romans, the ruins of Canterbury’s Norman Castle, Westgate Towers and the Museum of Canterbury. As mentioned the home of Stephenson’s Invicta engine . The best way to see the City is on foot. Although there are several large car parks close to the city centre. Why not find a parking spot close to the river Stour and take a meander along its banks. Save the parking fee and get a little more exercise. (Please check which parts of the river have good pedestrian access first) |
Canterbury High Street Chilham  Views Towards The River Stour  Canterbury Cathedral  Canterbury High Street  |
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