Canterbury, Kent (birthplace of English Christianity)
Canterbury is the city in Kent, known of course for its association with the Canterbury Tales. But it has much more to offer, including ancient streets and buildings, and a stunning cathedral. Home to the world’s oldest school, it’s also where English Christianity was born, with St Martin’s Church the oldest parish church in the English-speaking world.
In fact, those in charge of Canterbury Cathedral rejected masses sums of money for it to be used as the backdrop for Hogwarts Castle in the first Harry Potter film. Thinking it not appropriate for ‘a place of worship’.
Sir Thomas More was a well-known writer, and although executed at the Tower of London, his severed head is actually buried inside a sealed vault at St Dunstan’s Church in Canterbury. Why was he beheaded? For refusing the acknowledge King Henry VIII as Supreme Head of the Church of England. He quietly defied the Reformation and paid the ultimate price.
You can take a train to the nearby town of Whitable, which has more independent shops than anywhere else in England! Also nearby is Fordwich, the smallest town in England, which used to serve as the main port for Canterbury.
Just outside the city is Blean Woods Nature Reserve, where wild European bison roam free, as part of a landmark wilding project to naturally manage ancient woodland.
