Spend some time at one of Canterbury’s best attractions: St. Augustine’s Abbey. This UNESCO World Heritage Site has beautiful ruins and sacred religious artifacts from the sixth century. Take an audio tour to fully enjoy your visit, and be sure to explore the on-site museum.
The abbey was built around A.D. 598, after St. Augustine had made the journey from Rome to Britain on a mission to convert Anglo-Saxons to Christianity. One of Britain’s oldest remaining monastic sites, the abbey was originally built as a burial place for the kings of Kent. Much of the layout of the abbey has been preserved and its ruins can be seen around the grounds.
Get an audio kit, included in the admission price, from the reception and begin an informative self-guided tour of the site. See a wall of the abbey nave, still standing resolute after no less than seven centuries, and the foundations of a workshop and a chapel used for burials from the 16th century. Look for the medieval stone carving in the ruins of St. Anne’s chapel.
The tour will alert you to the numerous significant burial sites of former archbishops. Take a moment to pay a visit to the original tomb site of St. Augustine, the founder and first Archbishop at the Canterbury Cathedral.
Capture the ancient stone constructions on camera. The ruins are contrasted with the vibrant green grass that England is so famous for.
After a tour of the abbey, visit the on-site museum to see protected artifacts and learn more about the history and original layout of the site.
The opening hours for St. Augustine’s Abbey are announced on a seasonal basis, so check the abbey's website before you go. Entry fees include access to the museum.
You can combine your visit to the abbey with a visit to the stunning Canterbury Cathedral. Take a walk around the gardens and enjoy the soaring Gothic spires of St. Augustine’s proudest work.
