Canterbury is a great place to learn. There is a perfect blend of city, history, coast and countryside, ensuring that however varied your interests, you will be spoilt for choice.
Since the time of the early pilgrims and Geoffrey Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, the city has welcomed students from around the world to our diverse international student community. It’s one of the best known cities in Britain, visited by over 2 million tourists every year and home to around 30,000 students.
Canterbury offers a picturesque and safe learning environment, with a temperate climate and plenty of clean, fresh air. One of the great things about studying at Canterbury College is that we are just a short walk from the town centre.
Medieval buildings sit alongside modern shopping facilities and the city has a great range of amenities such as bars, clubs, a cinema, bowling alley and sports centre to name just a few. With 5 academic institutions in the city, many of the residents of the city and its surrounding towns and villages are also students so you will certainly not be alone! Students from all corners of the globe choose to study in our small and safe city giving it a truly cosmopolitan feel while managing to retain its English charm.
Shopping
The modern Whitefriars shopping centre (http://www.whitefriars-canterbury.co.uk/) has many of the main high street retailers. It’s just 5 minutes walk from the college and is adjacent to the bus station. Shop there for fashion, food and gifts – there’s a variety of stores for all your needs. Alternatively discover the stores and boutiques along the High Street and cobbled side streets. Locals also head to Westwood Cross (http://www.westwoodx.co.uk/) for a bit of retail therapy. Located between Broadstairs and Ramsgate, it is a retail park with major high street stores, cinema, casino, supermarkets and a range of restaurants. Bus services from Margate, Broadstairs and Ramsgate railway stations operate on a frequent loop.
Canterbury benefits from excellent bus and train connections and is less than one hour from London and under 35 miles from France.
Other areas close by to Canterbury where students choose to live or spend time. Whitstable – One of the most celebrated coastal towns in the South of England, Whitstable has a lively social scene and artists’ community of its own while being within just 6 miles from Canterbury. It’s also famous for its colourful beach huts and fresh seafood, and each July the oyster festival attracts people from far and wide.
Herne Bay – Whitstable’s coastal neighbour is located just 8 miles from Canterbury. A residential seaside town with a long seaside promenade, a pleasure pier and plenty of water sport activity. Everything you need is on your doorstep and there is a good bus service into Canterbury.
Sandwich – An historic port town with many mediaeval buildings. A favourite with locals and visitors alike. It is served by a bus route into Canterbury and has a rail link to coastal towns such as Dover and Ramsgate.
Broadstairs – A pretty seaside town which was once a popular retreat for one if Britain’s most famous literary greats – Charles Dickens. Broadstairs is connected to Canterbury by bus and by train.
Ramsgate – One of the south coast’s more picturesque ports, this harbour town has a population of about 40,000 and is connected to Canterbury by bus and by train.
