Where Is Canterbury in Relation to London?

By Robert Palmer

Canterbury, a historic city in Kent, England, is located southeast of London. It is approximately 60 miles (97 kilometers) away from the capital city. Canterbury is easily accessible from London by road, rail or bus.

Road

If you are traveling to Canterbury by car, you can take the M2 or A2 motorway from London. The journey takes about an hour and a half, depending on traffic conditions. Once you arrive in Canterbury, there are plenty of parking options available in the city center.

Rail

Canterbury is well-connected to London by train. There are frequent trains that run from various stations in London such as St Pancras International, Victoria and Charing Cross to Canterbury West and Canterbury East stations. The journey takes around an hour and there are usually several trains per hour.

Canterbury West Station

This station is the closest one to the city center and offers easy access to popular tourist attractions like Canterbury Cathedral, St Augustine’s Abbey and The Marlowe Theatre.

Canterbury East Station

This station is located on the outskirts of the city but still within easy reach of central Canterbury. It offers easy connections to other parts of Kent such as Whitstable and Margate.

  • St Pancras International Station – Canterbury West: Direct trains run every half an hour with a travel time of approximately 56 minutes.
  • Victoria Station – Canterbury West: Direct trains run every half an hour with a travel time of approximately 80 minutes.
  • Charing Cross Station – Canterbury East: Direct trains run every half an hour with a travel time of approximately 90 minutes.

Bus

If you prefer traveling by bus, there are several companies that offer services between London and Canterbury. National Express and Megabus are two popular operators that run daily services from London Victoria Coach Station to Canterbury Bus Station.

National Express

National Express offers a direct service between London Victoria Coach Station and Canterbury Bus Station. The journey takes around 2 hours.

Megabus

Megabus also offers a direct service between London Victoria Coach Station and Canterbury Bus Station. The journey takes around 2 hours and 15 minutes.

In conclusion, Canterbury is located southeast of London and is easily accessible by road, rail or bus. Whether you choose to drive, take the train or hop on a bus, you can reach the historic city in under two hours from the capital city. So why not plan a day trip or weekend getaway to this charming English city?