Enjoying Canterbury during rainy days!
Let’s face it, even a beautiful city like Canterbury can lose its attraction when it’s pouring down with rain and although we aim to give our guests the best stay possible, we have no control over the weather! We have therefore come up with some of our favourite things to do in the city when the weather isn’t as good as we would like it to be!
Canterbury is famous for its majestic cathedral, resplendent in its blend of Romanesque and Gothic architecture. Founded in 597 AD by Augustine, it became a place of pilgrimage following the murder of Archbishop Thomas Becket in 1170 AD, and today it welcomes one million visitors each year. This World Heritage Site is the perfect haven to take shelter from any bad weather and is exquisite in its architecture and its beautiful stained-glass windows.
The Beaney is a superb museum, art gallery, library and visitor information centre which lies in the centre of Canterbury on the High Street. Marvel at the showcase of animals, birds, butterflies and rocks and minerals arranged in perfect rainbow order in the Colour and Camouflage room; take in the work of Canterbury born artist Thomas Sidney Cooper in the Garden room; or visit the various changing exhibitions that are featured in the museum each month. To add to this, The Beaney houses a wonderful library including a fantastic children’s section.
The Roman Museum can be found on Butchery Lane and is open Monday to Sunday (10am to 5pm). This fantastic museum, which includes the remains of an original Roman townhouse and one of the UK’s only in situ Roman pavement mosaics, allows visitors to immerse themselves in over 2000 years of history. With real Roman artefacts to handle, dressing up clothes for the children, and an audio guided tour, the Roman history of the city is really brought to life. One of our favourite views of the city is just outside this museum. Turn right onto the cobbled streets as you step out of the museum and marvel at the beautiful cathedral which rises majestically above the shops and houses
For a more active venture, why not try the Chimera Climbing Wall. This modern indoor rock-climbing gym has been designed and built by dedicated enthusiasts and is suitable both for first time and advanced climbers. The gym has a variety of different angled walls with varying routes to offer a range of challenges for all and it has a café for some well-earned refreshments afterwards. Children are also very welcome so this is a perfect place to have some family fun and wear out the little ones when the weather is not so good outside.
Escape Rooms
There are two fantastic escape room companies in Canterbury which offer some great adrenaline-fuelled entertainment! Escape Kent has lots of exciting rooms to choose from, ranging from exciting family rooms to those with a higher scare factor and therefore geared more towards adults. Escape in the Towers has rooms set within England’s oldest medieval gateway and city jail so are full of history and atmosphere. Downstairs there is a restaurant and bar serving some great cocktails for you to sample when celebrating your escape.
Theatre and Cinema
We are so lucky in Canterbury to have not one but three amazing theatres which bring a huge range of shows and theatrical delights to the city. Whether you wish to take in a West End touring show, ballet, live comedy or a family friendly performance, there is a huge choice for any theatre lover at the Marlowe Theatre, the Gulbenkian and the Malthouse.
The Curzon cinema is a brand-new cinema complex positioned near the river with five spacious screens, Dolby Atmos screen for peerless surround sound, and a modern bar serving luxury cocktails and pizzas. It’s the perfect place to escape for a couple of hours if the weather isn’t so good, or as a relaxing evening out.
There is so much to do in Canterbury, come rain or shine! Book your trip to Canterbury now to sample all that it has to offer.