TOP 10 CANTERBURY
The Official Magazine Britain|November - December 2020
This beautiful city of narrow medieval alleys and soaring spires is a key player in Britain’s history
MONICA WOODS
TOP 10 CANTERBURY

Home to one of England’s oldest and most renowned cathedrals and a key player in the country’s history, contemporary Canterbury draws in crowds to match the flocks of pilgrims of yesteryear. But the city wears its historical heavyweight status lightly. A wander round this medieval web of alleys, lopsided Tudor buildings and riverside gardens, encircled by ancient city walls, represents a very agreeable form of time travel. As you tread the lively cobbled streets, you’ll be conscious of retracing past pilgrims’ footsteps, notably the rambunctious lot depicted in Geoffrey Chaucer’s late 14th-century Canterbury Tales.

Millions used to journey across late medieval Europe to visit the shrine of Archbishop Thomas Becket, assassinated within his own cathedral in 1170 on the apparent orders of King Henry II, following a long dispute between Crown and Church. A striking modern sculpture now marks the spot, known simply as The Martydom, where Becket met his grisly end. Scenes from his life, and miracles the saint was said to have performed (he was canonised in 1173), are shown in exquisite stained glass in the Trinity Chapel, and the cathedral is crammed with other notable monuments and tombs.

A series of events to commemorate Becket’s life and legacy was planned for 2020, 850 years after his death and 800 years since his remains were moved from the crypt to a resplendent shrine in the cathedral. With restrictions in place due to the coronavirus pandemic, many of these have had to be postponed. As the cathedral instigates a phased reopening, the hope is that the commemorations can be rescheduled.

Denne historien er fra November - December 2020-utgaven av The Official Magazine Britain.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

Denne historien er fra November - December 2020-utgaven av The Official Magazine Britain.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

FLERE HISTORIER FRA THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE BRITAINSe alt
Take The High Road
The Official Magazine Britain

Take The High Road

The North Coast 500 is an epic route that takes you past some of the country’s most spellbinding scenery

time-read
5 mins  |
Britain 2021 Guide
Where To Stay In 2021
The Official Magazine Britain

Where To Stay In 2021

Whether it’s a country house escape, a rustic bolthole or a sophisticated city stay, you’ll find your perfect getaway on these pages

time-read
10+ mins  |
Britain 2021 Guide
The EMPEROR'S ISLE
The Official Magazine Britain

The EMPEROR'S ISLE

Tresco was once a treeless and windswept island, the haunt of smugglers. Dramatically transformed by one man’s vision, it is now one of Britain’s most beautiful spots

time-read
6 mins  |
Britain 2021 Guide
Hidden Cornwall
The Official Magazine Britain

Hidden Cornwall

Discover the beautiful, beguiling and rugged land of West Penwith in the far reaches of Cornwall

time-read
6 mins  |
Britain 2021 Guide
Wonders of Wales
The Official Magazine Britain

Wonders of Wales

With its wild cliffs, pretty coves and puffins galore, St Brides Bay holds the best of Pembrokeshire

time-read
5 mins  |
Britain 2021 Guide
Yorkshire's MOORS & SHORES
The Official Magazine Britain

Yorkshire's MOORS & SHORES

Equal parts mystical moor and secluded seashore, the Yorkshire coast beats some of Britain’s more traditional summer destinations hands down

time-read
5 mins  |
Britain 2021 Guide
PEAK PERFORMANCE
The Official Magazine Britain

PEAK PERFORMANCE

From heathery moors to rolling hills and underground caverns, the Peak District is home to some of the most majestic landscapes in the country

time-read
5 mins  |
Britain 2021 Guide
Culture CAPITAL
The Official Magazine Britain

Culture CAPITAL

After a year of stop-start openings, London's museums are welcoming visitors back in 2021 with an array of blockbuster exhibitions

time-read
4 mins  |
Britain 2021 Guide
HISTORIC NORFOLK
The Official Magazine Britain

HISTORIC NORFOLK

Spend time exploring this peaceful county, whose stately homes are a grand counterpoint to its unadorned rural landscapes

time-read
6 mins  |
Britain 2021 Guide
1066 COUNTRY
The Official Magazine Britain

1066 COUNTRY

England’s sunny south coast has a rich heritage, harbouring ancient castles and evocative landscapes that tell the story of the Battle of Hastings and beyond

time-read
7 mins  |
Britain 2021 Guide