Canterbury in Eight Dates

Our tour guide, Andreas, from Canterbury Guided Tours was really brilliant. he was funny, knowledgeable and helpful. Our tour was an "interactive tour." But what was also really good was that he didn't just want use to learn a bunch of facts then forget about dear Canterbury, he wanted us to try and remember some key points.

So these are Andreas' Eight key dates in the history of Canterbury: 

1.  43 AD – Britain conquered by the Romans.
2. 410 – Romans left and returned to Italy.
3. 597 – Augustine came to Canterbury from Rome to establish Christianity.
4. 1066 – Norman invasion of Britain.
5. 1170 – On 29^th December, Archbishop Thomas Becket was murdered in Canterbury Cathedral.
6. 1538 – King Henry VIII changed the religion of Britain. The dissolution of Catholic faith and reformation of Christian Church.
7. 1830 – The world’s first passenger railway journey took place, from Canterbury to Whitstable.   

I can’t remember the specific 8^th date that Andreas told us (I’ve got a few) so I’m just going to add:

8. 1543 - Christopher Marlowe was born. The same year as one William Shakespeare

Read my other posts about my trip to Canterbury:

• Trip to Canterbury - An Overview
•  Eating and Accommodation
• Guided Tour of Canterbury

Guided Tour of Canterbury

On the day we arrived, we went on a walking guided tour of the city. Website http://www.canterburyguidedtours.com/. If you are in Canterbury for even just one day, you have to go on this tour. You will receive a comprehensive, interesting tour of the whole (historical) city. In summer the tours are 11am and 2pm, in winter only in the morning. Tickets cost £7.50. Apparently the ticket allows a discount at some places but when I asked at the places, they didn’t know anything about the discount!

Our tour guide was called Andreas, who was very knowledgeable and enthusiastic. A walking history book! He made the tour interactive and kept repeating important dates, so that we would walk away with some information retained! 

Sights included:

• The Old Buttermarket (starting point).
• Taken inside the precincts of the Cathedral, but not the Cathedral itself, viewing of the King’s School.
• Around the narrow winding roads of Durovernum Cantiacorum.
• Interesting places: jutted houses, Tudor architecture, the wonky house, first inn in Canterbury, house of Mary Tourtel (Rupert, you’re a wonderful bear), the place where the plot to murder Thomas Becket was planned, residence of Mr Parker, Marlowe Theatre and much, much more.

You will not be disappointed.