What to do and see in Canterbury, England: The Best Private Tours

August 30, 2021 Layne Dawes

Canterbury (/ˈkæntərbri/ ( listen), /-bəri/, or /-bɛri/) is a historic English cathedral city and UNESCO World Heritage Site, which lies at the heart of the City of Canterbury, a local government district of Kent, England. It lies on the River Stour.
Restaurants in Canterbury

1. Canterbury Private Day Tour With Option For White Cliffs of Dover

Ye Olde England Tours
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5.0 based on 3 reviews

Take a private guided tour of the city of Canterbury and Canterbury Cathedral, the mother church for Anglicans worldwide and site of the martyrdom of Thomas Becket. Travel through the scenic Kent countryside and perhaps enjoy a light snack and drinks in an old country pub.

Inclusions: Driver/guide, Local guide, Professional guide, Hotel pickup and drop-off, Private tour, Private transportation

Exclusions: Food and drinks

Reviewed By mandywC2882US

Stephen is so knowledgable! This private walking tour was a super experience full of history that the average person would never see or notice. Thank you Stephen!

2. Kent : Gardens, Castles and Cathedrals : Private Driving Tour from London

Homer's Odysseys
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5.0 based on 1 reviews

This tour of the Garden County of Kent includes a visit to the medieval Leeds Castle, said to be the most beautiful in England. It is the place where King Henry VIII stayed on his way to negotiating with the French king at The Field of the Cloth of Gold. It has has a fascinating recent 20th Century history having been owned by a wealthy aristocrat. After lunch in one of Kent's lovely garden villages, we spend the afternoon visiting Canterbury with its magnificent cathedral and medieval streets. You will hear about the incredible stories attached to this home of the Church of England and will have the opportunity to explore this remarkable town.

Inclusions: Private transportation, Air-conditioned vehicle

Exclusions: Lunch, Coffee and/or Tea

Reviewed By Zenzaro

We had met Nigel Homer earlier in December when he guided us on the Rabbies Oxford & Traditional Cotwold Villages 1 Day Tour. We had such a wonderful day that we booked Nigel again. Nigel has such a delightful manner, is extremely knowledgeable & has a very inviting sense of humour all of which enables him to deliver the most relaxed, comfortable, fun & enjoyable tour. Thank you so much & best wishes, Nigel. ????

3. Leeds Castle, Canterbury and White Cliffs of Dover Private Car Tour

Bespoke England Tours
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5.0 based on 1 reviews

All our tours have been made Covid secure and are carried out in daily sanitised vehicles. We have personal protective equipment (PPE) such as antibacterials, face coverings and disposable gloves.  Our staff carry out a daily health check with temperature checks. The venues have sanitising stations and respect UK government rules on social distancing and safe travel. 10 hour private driver-guide tour to Leeds Castle, Canterbury and White Cliffs of Dover. Leeds Castle was once described as 'The loveliest castle in the world'; see its fairytale-like towers, moat, stunning gardens and explore one of the most beautiful historic buildings in Britain. Visit the cathedral city of Canterbury with its the medieval town centre of cobbled streets and timber-framed houses. See the iconic white cliffs of Dover. You will spend the day in the beautiful county of Kent, the garden of England. An unforgettable experience.

Inclusions: Bottled water, Air-conditioned vehicle, WiFi on board

Exclusions: Entrance fees to venue(s) are not included, Gratuities. (We suggest a tip of approximately 10% of the tour cost for outstanding service).

Reviewed By AdeWotton

I have a completed three of David's Virtual Tours during lockdown including Shoreditch Street Art, China Town and Covent Garden. David always goes above and beyond and has a wealth of knowledge and is very interactive and accessible. Really recommend him

4. Private Tour to Canterbury, Leeds Castle and The White Cliffs of Dover

Tailored Tours
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5.0 based on 2 reviews

Enjoy unrivalled service with collection and drop-off from your hotel; no need to worry about finding a meeting point early in the morning. All our tours are run by some of the most experienced and highest rated guides in London with more than 10 years’ experience in the industry and degrees in history. Your overall tour experience will be greatly enhanced by your local guide. Your tour is entirely bespoke and can be changed at any time; even on the day. We understand that every family has different passions and interests, so we cater our service to your personal needs. Our tour itineraries stand out from the crowd. We won’t ever oversell a product and firmly believe in providing more value through allowing more time at the sights than the big bus tours. We are a small, bespoke company so we guarantee that you won’t be left with an inexperienced backup guide during the busy season. We provide the highest quality guides all year round.

Inclusions: Air-conditioned vehicle, All Fees and Taxes, Private transportation

Exclusions: Lunch

Reviewed By TrentBarn0209

We had an amazing trip to Stonehenge, Bath and the Cotswolds with Oz; our courteous driver and tour guide. The trip was very professional and very well organized. From the outset, we could tell we were in good hands. Oz really knows his way around the area and his depth of knowledge of the history of the locations is fantastic. You could not ask for a better guide. Our trip was a little different because we asked not to go to The Roman Museum and spend more time in the Cotswolds. Oz picked us up on time and the van was very comfortable. We were provided hand sanitizer in the van for our use and offered face masks if needed which was also reassuring. It was quite a long drive out to Stonehenge, but Oz kicked things off with an interesting talk on London as we passed by important buildings. He then gave us an amazing introduction speech about Saxons, Vikings and ancient history that really had us hooked on what we were going to see! The whole day was superb, we never felt rushed and enjoyed it so much from beginning to end. Thanks for a great day Oz - this was the best day of our holiday!

5. Historic Canterbury Private Day Tour from London

Station Approach, Bromley BR1 1LX, UK John England Tours
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5.0 based on 2 reviews

Canterbury offers a wealth of British history spanning centuries. Avoid London's heavy traffic. - I will pick you up by car at Bromley South station. We will drive through the scenic Kent countryside for about 90 mins before arriving at beautiful Canterbury. Travelling by car gives you access to other wonderful locations in Kent, many hard to reach by train or crowded coaches. (Please see my profile for more information). Explore the city’s quaint streets with me, a Kent local, who will point out places of historical interest, including the locally named 'Crooked House’, The Old Weavers' House and Buttermarket. How about a spot of English cream tea at one of the tea houses? N.B. Tickets to Canterbury Cathedral* may only be bought at the entrance. Queuing times vary. To ensure you have privacy, I won’t be accompanying you if you wish to visit the Cathedral, however, will meet you again afterwards. *Check 'Upcoming Closures'

Inclusions: Air-conditioned vehicle, Guided walk outside, All Fees and Taxes, Car parking, No tour fee for kids 10 years and under. (Must be accompanied by a relative 21+ years old).

Exclusions: Hotel pick-up, Tickets to Canterbury Cathedral and tour inside, Meals and beverages

Reviewed By Pooh122019

I have been a huge Winnie the Pooh fan ever since my mother got me my first Winnie the Pooh stuffed animal when I was 3 years old. Having my friends and family find Winnie the Pooh gifts for me encouraged me to be interested in Pooh more and more over the years. Now most people who know me relate me with Pooh. This private tour is designed perfectly for me and my husband because John was able to fulfill our request by being flexible. He took us to Pooh Corner where we were greeted by not only thousands of Poohs but also very friendly owner and staff. We had cute Pooh shaped sandwiches at their tea room and were able to purchase some stuff I had never seen. After that John took us to Pooh Bridge and Enchanted place where you can look down the part of 100 Acre Wood! It was simple but those places look just like in his book and It made me feel like I was able to share the same air with Pooh and his friends! If you love Winnie the Pooh so much like me, this tour is highly recommended!

6. Private Tour to Canterbury, Dover Castle & Chilham

Tailored Tours
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5.0 based on 1 reviews

Enjoy unrivalled service with collection and drop-off from your hotel; no need to worry about finding a meeting point early in the morning. All our tours are run by some of the most experienced and highest rated guides in London with more than 10 years’ experience in the industry and degrees in history. Your overall tour experience will be greatly enhanced by your local guide. Your tour is entirely bespoke and can be changed at any time; even on the day. We understand that every family has different passions and interests, so we cater our service to your personal needs. Our tour itineraries stand out from the crowd. We won’t ever oversell a product and firmly believe in providing more value through allowing more time at the sights than the big bus tours. We are a small, bespoke company so we guarantee that you won’t be left with an inexperienced backup guide during the busy season. We provide the highest quality guides all year round.

Inclusions: Air-conditioned vehicle, All Fees and Taxes, Private transportation, Walking Tour of Canterbury, Guided Walk around Dover Castle

Exclusions: Lunch, Entry to Canterbury Cathedral, Entry to Dover Castle

Reviewed By TrentBarn0209

We had an amazing trip to Stonehenge, Bath and the Cotswolds with Oz; our courteous driver and tour guide. The trip was very professional and very well organized. From the outset, we could tell we were in good hands. Oz really knows his way around the area and his depth of knowledge of the history of the locations is fantastic. You could not ask for a better guide. Our trip was a little different because we asked not to go to The Roman Museum and spend more time in the Cotswolds. Oz picked us up on time and the van was very comfortable. We were provided hand sanitizer in the van for our use and offered face masks if needed which was also reassuring. It was quite a long drive out to Stonehenge, but Oz kicked things off with an interesting talk on London as we passed by important buildings. He then gave us an amazing introduction speech about Saxons, Vikings and ancient history that really had us hooked on what we were going to see! The whole day was superb, we never felt rushed and enjoyed it so much from beginning to end. Thanks for a great day Oz - this was the best day of our holiday!

7. Private Kent castles

London Country Tours
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4.3 based on 3 reviews

We offer unique private tours. Using a luxury vehicle. We can take upto 8 passengers. We collect and drop off at your accommodation. We can guide you inside the locations. We are very experienced and very knowledgeable and friendly. We have over 16 years experience. Check us out on trip advisor.

Inclusions: Wifi, Snacks.soft drinks, All taxes and parking

Exclusions: Admission fees, Food and drink

Reviewed By lisa_fauvely

We had so much fun on our first tour that we booked a second one later in the week! The first day we did Windsor Castle, Stonehenge and Lacock (instead of Bath). David was very patient and easy to chat with. He even showed us the Eton area and Woodhenge. He gave us pastries when we finished Windsor Castle. We all had a lovely day. Later in the week, we did Leeds Castle, Bodiam Castle, Canterbury and White Cliffs of Dover, which was also excellent. We saw so much in those two days and David was so kind. He was like a dad, making sure we had umbrellas and that we weren't hungry. We'd definitely book another tour with him in the future.

8. Pilgrims and Pit Stops: A Canterbury Trail Walking Audio Tour by VoiceMap

80 St Dunstan's Cl, Canterbury CT2 8LP, UK VoiceMap London
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3.7 based on 3 reviews

Chaucer, murderers, pilgrims, actors, witches. Canterbury is not simply a city of pleasant coffee-shops and quaint gardens. The shady corners and ancient buildings conceal stories, mysteries, and speculation. This will be a whistle-stop and anecdotal tour of one of the most famous cities in England. Walk in the footsteps of the medieval pilgrims, who flocked to see the shrine of St Thomas Becket. Along the way, you will pick up some quirky facts and – importantly – some eating and drinking tips! The total walking distance is about 2km and takes just over half an hour without stopping. The VoiceMap app uses your location to trigger each part of the walk automatically. So, relax, enjoy exploring and feel free to pause the tour at any point!

Inclusions: Lifetime access to Pilgrims and Pit Stops: A Canterbury Trail tour, VoiceMap Application, Offline access to audio, maps, and geodata

Exclusions: Smartphone, Transportation, Food/Drink, Tickets or entrance fees to any museums or other attractions en route

Reviewed By Daneil101

It was a lovely tour on Halloween night and with a blue moon. Our guide was Sophie and she was a fabulous story teller. Recommended if you like gruesome stories.

9. Private Tour of Leeds Castle and Canterbury

You’ll depart from London in the morning on a drive to Leeds Castle, the former royal residence of 6 of England's medieval queens. The palace was transformed by Henry VIII, and became a retreat for the rich and powerful. Explore the chapel, galleries, courtyards, and the banqueting hall. Afterwards, you’ll see the grounds that are home to wildfowl, black swans, and birds in the aviary. After your visit, experience the ancient city of Canterbury, the center of Christian worship for almost 1,700 years. Tour its greatest treasure, the Canterbury Cathedral, probably best known as the site of the brutal murder of Thomas Becket in 1170. After touring the cathedral you’ll have free time to explore Canterbury.

Inclusions: Private guide, Hotel pickup and drop-off, Transport by private vehicle

Exclusions: Food and drinks, Gratuities, Entrance tickets for everyone and the tickets for the tour guide

10. Privately Guided Tour of Canterbury and Canterbury Cathedral

Canterbury West, Station Rd W, Canterbury CT2 8AN, UK Kent and Sussex Tours

Explore  the World Heritage Site of Canterbury with an expert local guide. I'm a fully qualified "Blue Badge" Guide, with two degrees and have lived in Canterbury for over 20 years. This is a private walking  tour lasting approximately three hours. Follow in the footsteps of Thomas Becket and the pilgrims made famous in Geoffrey Chaucer's "Canterbury Tales". Let me take you to the centre of it all with a private tour of Canterbury Cathedral. Here at first hand, you will see, amongst its many delights, the most beautiful stained glass panels going back to the 12th Century. Discover the tranquil Franciscan Friary, a tucked away treasure off the beaten track  in this beautiful city. Venture into the fascinating Eastbridge hospital (open during the Summer months), dating from early medieval times. Include a stop at one of Canterbury's many charming cafes. Canterbury is less than an hour away by train from St Pancras Station in London.

Inclusions: Blue Badge guide

Exclusions: Food and drink, Transportation to/from attractions, Gratuities, All entrances, including Canterbury Cathedral and Eastbridge Hospital.

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