We went to Canterbury for a weekend and I really enjoyed it. I am not keen on places that all look the same but I felt that Canterbury had the right mix of chain and individual shops.
We stayed at the Miller Arms, a pub, which was walking distance from everything and really nice rooms! Canterybury is 2.5 hours away from Cambridge so I think it is too much of a drive in one go so plan to stay here and do a day in Dover too!
There were a lot of pedestrian only zones which was nice.
Canterbury is for Anglicans as Rome is to Catholics. The head (Archbishop) of the Anglican Church is here in Canterbury. This is the Mother Church for Anglican Churches around the world.This church was established by St Augustine.
I really loved the charm this city had, its amenities and everything about it really.
The best way to find your way here is using Google maps. It will give you all the options, driving or using public transportation so you can make the most informed decision.
If you are looking for parking, use Parkopedia. It will tell you all the options to park in the area- carparks, private parking and parking lots. There is an app that you can download for on the go information.
Canterbury Cathedral
Canterbury Cathedral was amazing. It is bigger than Ely Cathedral but they are both beautiful. It is said that after Thomas Beckett was murdered in 1170 on the orders of King Henry II, there were miracles that occurred so it made this place popular. I would say that you should expect to spend about 2-3 hours here. There is an "American Trail" pamphlet that guides you to items that are of particular interest for Americans such as the monument to Thomas Peircy who is credited to inventing the US Navy.
Dover is famed for the white cliffs that are made out of the chalk.
I went down here because Jon was having a go at land yatching thanks to his sister Anna. It is about 2-2 1/2 hours drive from Cambridge so I think that is a bit much to do in one day so we stayed in Canterbury.
Dover has a beautiful coast and Dover Castle on top of the cliffs.
Great destination for a weekend away. I would suggest combining this with a stay in Canterbury. While Dover is lovely, there is not a lot to it. So go to Dover for the day, then stay in Canterbury and do Canterbury the next day.