Canterbury has been drawing visitors since the Middle Ages, when pilgrims flocked to the cathedral where Archbishop Thomas Becket was murdered in 1170. Chaucer immortalised those journeys in The Canterbury Tales, and the city still trades on that heritage today, though it has plenty more to offer.
Canterbury Cathedral dominates the city, a vast and beautiful building that mixes Norman, Gothic and Perpendicular styles. The medieval centre is compact and largely pedestrianised, with timber-framed buildings leaning over narrow lanes. The River Stour runs through the middle, and you can punt along it for a different perspective on the old city walls and gardens.
Beyond the cathedral, the city has a lively student population thanks to the University of Kent and Canterbury Christ Church University. This keeps the pubs busy and ensures a reasonable restaurant scene for a city of its size. The Marlowe Theatre hosts touring productions and is worth checking for shows.