The cathedral city of Canterbury is a jewel in Kent's crown, with a bustling city centre, plenty of eateries and, of course, a rich history. Living in Kent, I visit the city frequently and always leave wishing I'd spent longer exploring. Canterbury has recently been named one of the "best places to go in autumn in the UK" by Conde Nast Traveller - and it's easy to see why.
In autumn, the city's historic architecture is highlighted by browning trees and shorter days. In October, Halloween decorations adorn shop windows and in November, the smell of chimney smoke wafts through the city streets. Occupied since Paleolithic times, the city's long history is hard to ignore.
The city wall, which was founded in Roman times and rebuilt in the 14th century, is one of the first sights visitors will see. The Westgate, a medieval gatehouse, stands tall at 60 feet and is the largest surviving city gate in England. The gatehouse was built in 1379 and is now one of the city's most distinctive landmarks.
Walking around these spectacular monuments and Canterbury's narrow, cobbled streets is like stepping back in time. One experience visitors must try if they're visiting Canterbury for the first time is to walk a section of The Pilgrims' Way. The ancient pilgrimage route runs from Winchester to Canterbury or Southwark to Canterbury and is a massive 138-mile journey that spans woodlands and fields.
Visitors can attempt a section of the route from the village of Wye to Canterbury which is 12.5 mi.