Canterbury to Cambridge

posted September 21, 2010 by Holly Hayes part of trip: Solo UK + France by Train

Yesterday morning we went inside Canterbury Cathedral as soon as it opened at 9am and started our visit in the crypt, which was closed last time we visited. It is the biggest crypt I've ever seen, stretching underneath almost the whole length of the cathedral. It's also the oldest part, dating from the early 1100s. That means it's Romanesque, my favorite flavor of architecture, and it has some great carvings and frescoes from that period.

Crypt: South Aisle
Side aisle in the crypt
Crypt: St. Gabriel's Chapel Murals
Romanesque frescoes and carvings in the crypt

We had the whole place to ourselves for about 10 minutes, then busloads of people came streaming in the crypt and cathedral above. How rude! I think the cathedral should open an hour earlier for guests of the Cathedral Lodge, like Costco.

But some of the busloads were a men's choir from Germany, who sung beautifully while we took our photos. Press play to hear them!

A few more cathedral highlights:

West towers against a cloudy sky
Trinity Chapel Architecture
Gothic architecture in the Trinity Chapel (1220)
Eagle lectern in the choir
Cloister
Roof boss in cloister - a shepherd playing pipes, I think

We stayed in the cathedral until almost checkout time at 11am, after which we put our stuff in the car (what a luxury to have a trunk!) and walked around Canterbury for an hour or so.

The first item of business was lunch, which we found at Pret a Manger, a healthy fast food place we visited a lot in Oxford. David had tuna and cucumbers on a baguette with chicken and mushroom soup; I had a toasted tuna melt on multigrain bread with capers and Greve cheese and a carrot-coriander soup. The soup was one of the best I've ever had. We ate on a bench in a little courtyard just off the main pedestrianized street.

IMG_0944p
Just part of the sandwich selection at Pret

My carrot and coriander soup

Then we visited the following sights before returning to our car:

Eastbridge Pilgrims' Hospital. In the Middle Ages, poor pilgrims who couldn't afford a place to stay would sleep crowded together on this floor.
Fresco in the refectory of the pilgrims' hostel.
Greyfriars Chapel, founded by the Franciscans in 1224. A river runs underneath it.

By around 1pm we were on the road again heading for Cambridge, which took 90 minutes and unfortunately was mostly on the motorway - including part of the big ring road around London (the M25). But the BMW sure seemed to like it! That thing is zippy.

In Cambridge I'd booked an apartment outside the city center for two nights. We had to call ahead upon arrival, so we decided to park behind King's College to take a few photos and call from there.

Parking spot
Chapel and Gibbs' Building from West
King's College from

next: Good Night from Lincoln

previous: Canterbury Sneaky Beak

Article Info

Page Title
Canterbury to Cambridge
Added By
Holly Hayes
Date Published
September 21, 2010
Last Updated
September 12, 2023