| Canterbury
MP3 walking tours
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We have two
Canterbury tours, both of which are included in the tour pack
Heritage
Highlights: A 60-minute walk passing by classic city
highlights, including the city’s three World Heritage Site
locations: Canterbury Cathedral, St Augustine’s Abbey and
St Martin’s Church. Other highlights include the Findon Gate,
the ancient city walls, and Dane John Gardens;
The
Pilgrims’ Trail: A 45-minute stroll past historic
locations and modern attractions, including: Sir John Boys’
House, Marlowe Theatre, the West Gate, Museum of Canterbury, Rupert
Bear Museum and Canterbury Tales.
Zip file (includes
PDF map): 17.2Mb
MP3: 17.8Mb approx
Tracks: 22
Audio length: 49:36 mins
Walking time: 1 x 60 mins, 1 x 45 mins
Canterbury highlights
On our two Canterbury walks, you will hear about many of the city’s major historical highlights, including:
Canterbury Cathedral
The city’s most celebrated tourist attraction (entrance fee applies), Canterbury Cathedral dates back to the year 597, when a church was founded on the same site by St Augustine. The original was burnt down in 1067 and replaced some 10 years later. Parts of that building still remain, but was embellished over the ensuing 400 years. The central tower was added in the 15th Century and features more than a million bricks. The cathedral is also the place where Thomas Becket was murdered in 1170 by four Norman knights.
St Augustine’s Abbey
Built on the site of churches from the 7th and 8th Centuries, some of the existing remains date back to the Norman buildings of the 11th Century. A massive gothic monastery was built in the 14th and 15th Centuries, but most of those buildings were destroyed by Henry the 8th in 1538.
St Martin’s Church
A small, unassuming church that plays a crucial part in the city’s history. It is where Queen Bertha practised her Christian faith once she had moved to England after marrying King Ethelbert.
Sir John Boys’ House
One of the most photographed buildings in the city, this distinctively-shaped construction is the result of subsidence over centuries. A steel frame inserted in the late 20th Century should ensure it survives for a few more years yet.
The West Gate
Designed by Henry Yevele, who also created the original London Bridge, was once home to a drawbridge, which used to seal off the city from dusk until dawn – providing security and a useful way to collect taxes!
The Museum of Canterbury/Rupert Bear Museum
The Museum of Canterbury features prehistoric and Anglo-Saxon displays, a medieval gallery and a wartime blitz experience, among other attractions, while the Rupert Bear Museum is the perfect place to find out about the history of this 20th Century cartoon creation.
The Canterbury Tales
A very popular visitor attraction (entrance fee applies), the Canterbury Tales allows you to ‘step into medieval Canterbury and accompany Geoffrey Chaucer’s colourful characters on their magical pilgrimage from London to the shrine of Thomas Becket’. |
