The King's Mile
The King's Mile
4
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 10:00 PM
About
Canterbury's King's Mile, a collection of streets nestling beneath the spires of Canterbury's ancient Cathedral and alongside the King's School, is a haven for anyone seeking the taste and feel of real Canterbury. This creative & independent quarter includes historic Sun Street, Palace Street, Guildhall Street, Orange Street, named after William of Orange, The Borough, and Northgate, formerly a gate to the walled city. The King's Mile, steeped in history, is just a step away from the busy high street. It's where you will find independent shops and traditional traders offering handcrafted jewellery, arts, crafts, games and gifts, new and original clothing and more, alongside places to eat and drink. Whether it's for a quiet pint of local ale or European beer, wine and fine English dining, tapas, pizza made in a wood-fired oven, the King's Mile menu is always full of varied appetising home-cooked flavours. Here you can sample English street food on sunlit roof terraces overlooking the cathedral, watch a patissiere at work through a glass floor, decorate your own pottery, hire a bike to ride out into our beautiful coutryside for a picnic, play with reptiles and watch artists & artisans of all kinds at work in their studios. Drink coffee in the ancient Norman undercroft from 12th Century Canterbury, where the four Knights Templar Reginald FitzUrse, Hugh de Moreville, William de Tracy, and Richard le Breton were said to have met on 29th December 1170, before going on to assassinate Thomas Becket at Canterbury Cathedral. Have your photograph taken by the crooked door and then browse for second hand books inside the 17th Century Crooked House, also known as Sir John Boys House, possibly the second most photographed historic building in Canterbury, and reputedly mentioned in the novel David Copperfield by Charles Dickens. While you are here, why not try some hand made chocolate, shop at a traditional greengrocers, get your hair cut or styled at a range of hairdressers and barbers, have your bicycle serviced and your clothes dry cleaned, learn to bake and research your ancestry. Try some 'bubble tea' and sushi. Relax with a massage or organic facial, get your nails done, and restore balance with some acupuncture. New meets old, with second hand books and original clothing and antiques alongside modern artwork. Fairtrade clothing and gifts, leather coats and traditional or running shoes, there's something for everyone here. But it's not just the sheer quality and variety of what's on offer that makes the King's Mile so special, it is also about the people. Start your visit to the King's Mile by meeting the residents and shopkeepers. Take a look behind the shops and plan your visit today, you won't be disappointed.
Duration: 1-2 hours
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
95 reviews
Excellent
36
Very good
47
Average
7
Poor
5
Terrible
0
srmopiper
Gulfport, MS95 contributions
Oct 2019
Imagine all those pilgrims of old walking along the "mile", the same path as Chaucer, anticipating the view of that magnificent cathedral. Quite an experience.
Written November 23, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Christine R
Welwyn Garden City, UK947 contributions
Sep 2020 • Couples
Take a walk along King’s Mile and enjoy the variety of shops and independents. The old buildings are lovely.
Written September 23, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mindy1001
Walsall, UK473 contributions
Feb 2020
Enjoyable walk down the King's Mile, window shopping, having a look in some of the shops, with the option of having a tea or a coffee and a cake if you fancy one.
Written February 10, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
KirillLukjanov
London, UK72 contributions
Aug 2018 • Couples
The highlight of the King's Mile is of course this crooked house which is used as a bookshop. There's a few floors where you can browse books and even buy one - they are very cheap here. The quote on the house by Charles Dickens says : '...a very old house bulging out over the road... leaning forward, trying to see who was passing on the narrow pavement below...'
You will most definitely come across the King's Mile and this house when visiting Canterbury (being so central), so ensure to take a picture of it and go in.
You will most definitely come across the King's Mile and this house when visiting Canterbury (being so central), so ensure to take a picture of it and go in.
Written August 26, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Leslie L
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia1,547 contributions
Sep 2017 • Solo
It was absolutely lovely walking along the King's Mile this morning. There are lovely old and quaint buildings along the narrow street, including the crooked building which is now a bookstore. Simply breathtaking.
Written September 19, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
vin2308
London, UK150 contributions
Aug 2022
we went to the information centre who directed us to a ice cream parlour - she did not direct us very well and we ended up at the end of the Kings Mile where I did not feel at all safe - there is not much in the mile until you get back to the last 40 metres - would not walk it in the dark or alone and nothing special only by the cathedral
Written August 24, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Vicuska
6 contributions
Dec 2019
it's a very beautiful and interesting, old house with sweet book-shop. Real couriosity. I suggest to see it.
Written January 8, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kez C
Canterbury, UK5 contributions
Oct 2019
This road has a lot of historical buildings, especially the leaning doorway and the 12th century Conquest House. These buildings have been taken by lots of independant shops, including a zero waste food shop, bookshops, resturants, a pub and jewellery makers.
The shops do change fairly frequently, but this just ensures you stop by frequently to see what new things have opened! There is a cheese shop I have been meaning to try, and the art gallery always has something new in.
The shops do change fairly frequently, but this just ensures you stop by frequently to see what new things have opened! There is a cheese shop I have been meaning to try, and the art gallery always has something new in.
Written October 15, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ejfraser
Solihull, UK771 contributions
Aug 2019
Some nice old buildings to look at . These mainly house independant shops with many craft and similar wares. It's nice just to have a stroll through without purchasing.
Written September 4, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CARLMLivepoolUK
Bootle, UK167 contributions
Aug 2019 • Couples
Shocked to see the angle of this small bookshop. The frontage is so distorted. How on earth the front door closes, it must be a brutish joiner to make it fit. At the end of a row of typical Canterbury shops, must be seen
Written August 20, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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