Canterbury’s biggest
Sturry Road Community Park
Park or garden
20 ha (50 acres)2.7 km of path
35 minto walk all 2.7 km of path
28 pitchesfootball pitches would fit
1.4 mi north-eastfrom the centre
Directionsto the nearest entrance
Photo: Philip Halling · CC BY-SA 2.0B+Outdoors Grade
Outdoors in Canterbury · parks, paths & countryside
Canterbury has more footpath per square kilometre than 9 in 10 UK towns
261 km of footpaths run through the town and the kilometre around it, 5.7 for every square kilometre. The Kent Downs National Landscape begins 0.6 mi from the town’s edge. Parks and playing fields in Canterbury add up to 1.6 ha for every 1,000 residents; the typical UK town has 2.1. Canterbury grades B+ for the outdoors: #37 of 87 in Kent. A character grade: it isn’t part of the overall grade.
Green space
1.6 ha
per 1,000 residents
Typical UK town 2.1
Near a park
77%
of residents within 400 m
Typical UK town 83%
Footpaths
261 km
5.7 km per km², town + 1 km
Typical UK town 3.0 per km²
Protected landscape
19%
of the land within 5 km
Nearest: Kent Downs National Landscape
Character
What kind of outdoors town is Canterbury?
Read from the data: what stands out first, good and bad.
A town of footpaths5.7 km of path per km², more than 96% of UK towns. The typical town has 3.0.Countryside close byThe Kent Downs National Landscape starts 0.6 mi south.On a National TrailThe North Downs Way passes through.Less park per person1.6 ha of parks and playing fields per 1,000 residents; the typical UK town has 2.1.
Canterbury’s strongest suit is dense footpaths, followed by the Kent Downs National Landscape close by. Where it falls short is park space per person.
Outdoors grade
Canterbury grades B+ for the outdoors
Each chart is every UK town of 1,000 or more on one measure: the green bar is Canterbury, the dashed line the typical town. The number is the share of towns it beats; the five are averaged and the average ranked again.
B+
Better than 70% of UK towns#37 of 87 in Kent · 26th of 60 UK towns its size
Public green space1.6 haper 1,000 residents: parks, gardens, playing fields, play spaces
32out of
100
100
A park within a walk77%of residents within 400 m (a 5-minute walk)
41out of
100
100
National Park or National Landscape19%of the land within 5 km
78out of
100
100
Footpaths5.7 kmper km², the town and 1 km around it
97out of
100
100
The sea0%of the area within 5 km · Inland
42out of
100
100
Graded, never part of the overall grade (like History and Civic life). It measures what is mapped: OS Open Greenspace leaves out woodland and open-access land that isn’t a park, and OpenStreetMap’s rural paths are more complete in some places than others.
Towns its size
Canterbury is 26th of 60 UK towns its size for the outdoors
The 60 UK towns and cities of 47,600 to 63,800 people with an Outdoors Grade. Hover a dot for its figures; tap one for its page.
Outdoors score: the share of UK towns each one beats
Footpath, km per km²
Canterbury5.7
Towns its size3.5
Kent towns2.6
All UK towns3.0
Green space, ha per 1,000 residents
Canterbury1.6
Towns its size2.3
Kent towns2.3
All UK towns2.1
Residents within 400 m of a park
Canterbury77%
Towns its size86%
Kent towns78%
All UK towns83%
Against towns its size, Canterbury stands out most for path per km²: only 4 of the other 59 have more. It falls furthest behind on park space per resident, where 51 of the others do better.
Show as a table
| Town | Outdoors | Green space | Near a park | Path per km² | Protected | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Folkestone Kent | A+ | 2.3 | 95% | 4.9 | 45% |
| 2 | Lancaster Lancashire | A+ | 2.4 | 96% | 3.5 | 22% |
| 3 | Runcorn Cheshire | A | 4.9 | 87% | 4.6 | 0% |
| 4 | Scarborough North Yorkshire | A | 2.4 | 86% | 3.1 | 17% |
| 5 | Cannock Staffordshire | A | 5.5 | 88% | 3.5 | 26% |
| 6 | Andover Hampshire | A | 2.7 | 91% | 4.4 | 21% |
| 7 | Gravesend Kent | A | 1.4 | 84% | 6.4 | 14% |
| 8 | Salisbury Wiltshire | A | 2.7 | 94% | 3.9 | 22% |
| 9 | Barry South Glamorgan | A | 2.9 | 94% | 3.3 | 0% |
| 10 | Weymouth Dorset | A | 2.6 | 55% | 3.5 | 35% |
| 11 | Sittingbourne Kent | A | 1.9 | 93% | 2.8 | 17% |
| 12 | Banbury Oxfordshire | A | 2.6 | 96% | 4.1 | 0% |
| 13 | Farnborough Hampshire | A | 4 | 77% | 4.9 | 3% |
| 14 | Eastleigh Hampshire | A− | 3 | 76% | 4.9 | 17% |
| 15 | Tynemouth Tyne and Wear | A− | 2.2 | 85% | 4.6 | 0% |
| 16 | Hereford Herefordshire | A− | 2.6 | 92% | 3.6 | 6% |
| 17 | Christchurch Dorset | A− | 2.1 | 70% | 3.3 | 14% |
| 18 | Royal Tunbridge Wells Kent | A− | 2.2 | 93% | 2.7 | 73% |
| 19 | Crosby Merseyside | A− | 4.6 | 89% | 2.3 | 0% |
| 20 | Washington Tyne and Wear | A− | 4.5 | 90% | 4 | 0% |
| 21 | Ashton-under-Lyne Greater Manchester | A− | 3.1 | 85% | 3.6 | 0% |
| 22 | Mansfield Nottinghamshire | B+ | 2.7 | 93% | 4.6 | 0% |
| 23 | Carlton Nottinghamshire | B+ | 4.9 | 82% | 4.3 | 0% |
| 24 | Dewsbury West Yorkshire | B+ | 3.3 | 92% | 3.7 | 0% |
| 25 | Bootle Merseyside | B+ | 2.1 | 93% | 2.7 | 0% |
| 26 | Canterbury Kent | B+ | 1.6 | 77% | 5.7 | 19% |
| 27 | Torquay Devon | B+ | 1.8 | 87% | 2.9 | 0% |
| 28 | Thundersley and South Benfleet Essex | B+ | 3.2 | 69% | 3.2 | 0% |
| 29 | Bridgwater Somerset | B+ | 1.9 | 86% | 3.7 | 2% |
| 30 | Yeovil Somerset | B+ | 2 | 90% | 3.2 | 2% |
| 31 | Bebington Merseyside | B+ | 3 | 86% | 2.2 | 0% |
| 32 | Royal Leamington Spa Warwickshire | B+ | 2.7 | 91% | 3.8 | 0% |
| 33 | Huyton with Roby Merseyside | B+ | 3.7 | 89% | 3.2 | 0% |
| 34 | Wokingham Berkshire | B | 4 | 84% | 3.5 | 0% |
| 35 | Horsham West Sussex | B | 1.5 | 83% | 3.9 | 19% |
| 36 | Widnes Cheshire | B | 3 | 86% | 2.1 | 0% |
| 37 | Beeston Nottinghamshire | B | 2.7 | 77% | 6 | 0% |
| 38 | Taunton Somerset | B | 1.2 | 80% | 4.9 | 16% |
| 39 | Sale Greater Manchester | B | 2 | 86% | 5.8 | 0% |
| 40 | Barrow-in-Furness Cumbria | B | 2 | 91% | 1.9 | 0% |
| 41 | Macclesfield Cheshire | B | 1.8 | 80% | 3.3 | 18% |
| 42 | Winchester Hampshire | B | 1.2 | 79% | 3.8 | 35% |
| 43 | Altrincham Greater Manchester | B | 2.2 | 91% | 3.6 | 0% |
| 44 | Welwyn Garden City Hertfordshire | B | 2.2 | 80% | 4.9 | 0% |
| 45 | Margate Kent | B | 1.8 | 88% | 2.1 | 0% |
| 46 | Brentwood Essex | B− | 3.9 | 69% | 3.7 | 0% |
| 47 | Bloxwich West Midlands | B− | 3.6 | 74% | 3.4 | 0% |
| 48 | Kettering Northamptonshire | B− | 2.1 | 90% | 3.3 | 0% |
| 49 | Smethwick West Midlands | C+ | 2 | 88% | 3.1 | 0% |
| 50 | Wellingborough Northamptonshire | C+ | 2.7 | 95% | 1.9 | 0% |
| 51 | Hinckley Leicestershire | C+ | 1.8 | 87% | 3.3 | 0% |
| 52 | Halesowen West Midlands | C+ | 2.1 | 77% | 3.6 | 0% |
| 53 | Willenhall West Midlands | C+ | 3.4 | 66% | 3 | 0% |
| 54 | Kingswinford West Midlands | C+ | 2.6 | 71% | 3.2 | 0% |
| 55 | Clacton-on-Sea Essex | C | 1.7 | 73% | 1.9 | 0% |
| 56 | Durham County Durham | C | 1.1 | 68% | 6 | 0% |
| 57 | Stourbridge West Midlands | C | 1.9 | 72% | 3 | 0% |
| 58 | Keighley West Yorkshire | C | 1.6 | 73% | 3.3 | 0% |
| 59 | Kidderminster Worcestershire | D | 1.2 | 72% | 2.6 | 0% |
| 60 | Bridgend Mid Glamorgan | D | 0.9 | 78% | 2 | 0% |
The map
Parks, footpaths & countryside
Tap a number to zoom to a park. Tap a layer to hide it. The dashed line is Canterbury’s built-up area.
Green space: parks, gardens, playing fields and play spaces, named or not.© OpenStreetMap contributors · Contains OS data © Crown copyright · Natural England / NRW
Places to walk
Parks to walk in, in and around Canterbury
The biggest is Sturry Road Community Park, 20 ha (50 acres). Directions go to the park’s nearest public entrance where Ordnance Survey maps one.
All 14 named parks by size: 47 ha (117 acres) and 9 km of path
Parks & gardens 33 haPlaying fields 14 ha
The two biggest, Sturry Road Community Park and Dane John Gardens, are 48% of the named green space and carry 4 km of path between them. 8 of the 14 are under 2 ha: small gardens, play spaces and pitches.
Historic park · Grade II
Dane John Gardens
Park or garden
2.4 ha (6 acres)1.6 km of path
20 minto walk all 1.6 km of path
3 pitchesfootball pitches would fit
0.4 mi southfrom the centre
Dane John Mound and Roman and medieval remains in Dane John Garden monument +10 listed
Directionsto the nearest entrance
Dukes Meadow
Park or garden
3.6 ha (9 acres)0.7 km of path
10 minto walk all 0.7 km of path
5 pitchesfootball pitches would fit
1 mi westfrom the centre
Directionsto the nearest entrance
Westgate Gardens
Park or garden
1.8 ha (4 acres)1.0 km of path
15 minto walk all 1 km of path
3 pitchesfootball pitches would fit
Centralin the middle of Canterbury
City wall and bastion in Westgate Gardens monument Former Church of the Holy Cross Grade II* +10 listed
Directionsto the nearest entrance
Beverley Meadow
Playing field
4.5 ha (11 acres)0.5 km of path
6 pitchesfootball pitches would fit
Centralin the middle of Canterbury
Directionsto the nearest entrance
Greyfriars Garden
Park or garden
1.4 ha (4 acres)1.0 km of path
15 minto walk all 1 km of path
2 pitchesfootball pitches would fit
Centralin the middle of Canterbury
Greyfriars Monastery Grade I Greyfriars, Canterbury monument +2 listed
Directionsto the nearest entrance
Victoria Memorial Recreation Ground
Playing field
4.9 ha (12 acres)
7 pitchesfootball pitches would fit
0.5 mi westfrom the centre
Directionsto the nearest entrance
Thanington Recreation Ground
Playing field
4.4 ha (11 acres)0.2 km of path
6 pitchesfootball pitches would fit
1.2 mi south-westfrom the centre
Directionsto the nearest entrance
All 14 named parks and green spaces
Sturry Road Community ParkPark or garden · 20 ha · 2.7 km of path
DirectionsDane John GardensPark or garden · 2.4 ha · 1.6 km of path
DirectionsDukes MeadowPark or garden · 3.6 ha · 0.7 km of path
DirectionsWestgate GardensPark or garden · 1.8 ha · 1.0 km of path
DirectionsBeverley MeadowPlaying field · 4.5 ha · 0.5 km of path
DirectionsGreyfriars GardenPark or garden · 1.4 ha · 1.0 km of path
DirectionsVictoria Memorial Recreation GroundPlaying field · 4.9 ha
DirectionsThanington Recreation GroundPlaying field · 4.4 ha · 0.2 km of path
DirectionsKingsmead Recreation GroundPark or garden · 1.5 ha · 0.4 km of path
DirectionsToddler's CovePark or garden · 1.7 ha · 0.3 km of path
DirectionsCastle GardensPark or garden · 0.3 ha · 0.2 km of path
DirectionsDeanery GardenPark or garden · 0.3 ha
DirectionsThe OaksPark or garden · 0.2 ha
DirectionsCanterbury Three Cities GardenPark or garden · 0.0 ha
DirectionsClose to home
8 in 10 Canterbury residents live within a 5-minute walk of a park
Each square is 1 in 100 residents: green lives within 400 m of a public park, garden or playing field (Census 2021 output areas against OS Open Greenspace).
Within 400 m (77%)Further (23%)
Canterbury77%
Towns its size86%
Kent towns78%
All UK towns83%
About 13,000 people live further than that. Playing fields count, so a park within reach isn’t always one with paths or trees; 43 playgrounds are mapped in and around the town, about one for every 1,282 residents.
National Parks & National Landscapes
The Kent Downs National Landscape is 0.6 mi away
Protected landscapes within 30 km, by direction and distance from the edge of the built-up area; circle size shows each one’s area. National Landscapes were called Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty until 2023.
National ParkNational LandscapeThe 5 km the grade counts
19% of the land within 5 km of Canterbury is National Park or National Landscape, more than 77% of UK towns.
Footpaths & waymarked walks
13 waymarked walks pass through or near Canterbury
261 km of footpaths, bridleways and rights of way are mapped in Canterbury and the kilometre around it, 5.7 km for every square kilometre (the typical UK town has 3.0). Bars show each route’s kilometres within 2 km of the town.
NationalRegionalLocalOther waymarked
Canterbury Outer Ring Walk25.8 km
Canterbury Middle Ring Walk16.9 km
Stour Valley Walk14.0 km
Augustine Camino13.9 km
North Downs Way (Canterbury loop)10.1 km
Kent County Council Centenary Walk9.6 km
Otford to Canterbury Cathedral5.5 km
Black Trail5.4 km
Elham Valley Way4.9 km
Via Francigena - 01 part Great Britain4.7 km
Red Trail4.4 km
Canterbury Inner Ring Walk3.2 km
Green Trail3.0 km
The North Downs Way, a national route, passes Canterbury. Close to home, the Canterbury Outer Ring Walk has 26 km of local walk within 2 km of the town. 4 regional routes pass through, including the Stour Valley Walk, Augustine Camino, Otford to Canterbury Cathedral and Elham Valley Way.
Waymarked walks are OpenStreetMap walking routes. Public rights of way are only as complete as the map in each area.
History along the way
A historic park in the middle of Canterbury
Historic England’s register of parks and gardens, and the listed buildings and scheduled monuments that stand inside Canterbury’s named parks.
Registered park · Grade II
Dane John Gardens
2.4 ha. A registered historic park (Grade II). 11 listed structures and monuments stand inside it or at its edge, including Dane John Mound and Roman and medieval remains in Dane John Garden (a scheduled monument).
SMDane John Mound and Roman and medieval remains in Dane John GardenIIDane John Mound PinnacleIIFormer Municipal BuildingsIIMemorial to Christopher MarloweIISundialIIThe Invicta Engine Set on PlinthIIWorthgate House
Listed buildings insideWestgate GardensCity wall and bastion in Westgate Gardens, Former Church of the Holy Cross and Arch in Grounds of Tower House to North East of the House and 9 more
Listed buildings insideGreyfriars GardenGreyfriars Monastery, Greyfriars, Canterbury and Wall to North East of Greyfriars Monastery and 1 more
Listed buildings insideCastle GardensCanterbury Castle, Canterbury Castle and Oasthouse
Heritage walks
Otford to Canterbury Cathedral 5.5 km
A listed building or monument counts when it sits inside the park’s OS Open Greenspace outline (to about 15 m), so a few at the boundary are included. Historic England, National Heritage List for England.
When to get out
The best walking months in Canterbury: May to September
The town’s 1991–2020 averages (Met Office HadUK-Grid) and the daylight at its latitude. Outlined months have 12½+ hours of daylight, highs of 15 °C or more and little rain for the town.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daylight (h) | 8.3 | 9.9 | 11.7 | 13.8 | 15.6 | 16.6 | 16.1 | 14.6 | 12.5 | 10.6 | 8.8 | 7.9 |
| High (°C) | 8 | 8 | 11 | 14 | 17 | 20 | 23 | 23 | 19 | 15 | 11 | 8 |
| Rain (mm) | 61 | 49 | 40 | 42 | 48 | 49 | 48 | 59 | 52 | 79 | 77 | 73 |
March is the driest month (40 mm) and July the warmest (highs of 23 °C). Winter days are short, about 8 hours of daylight in December, and 79 mm of rain falls in October, the wettest month. Frost comes on about 34 nights a year. The climate in Canterbury →
Things to do
2 viewpoints, 43 playgrounds and the nearest beaches
Mapped within 2 km of the town in OpenStreetMap, against the typical UK town its size per resident. Named places are listed with directions; unnamed ones are only counted.
2Viewpoints1Hills and peaks2Nature reserves3Picnic sites2.7× towns its size43Playgroundsabout the same as towns its size1Dog parks4Campsites4.4× towns its size
The nearest beaches
Canterbury is inland. These are the nearest named beaches, measured from the edge of the town.
Herne Bay Beach5.1 mi from Canterbury’s edge
DirectionsSouth Shellness Beach6.5 mi from Canterbury’s edge
DirectionsShellness Beach7.0 mi from Canterbury’s edge
DirectionsShellbeach7.2 mi from Canterbury’s edge
DirectionsRamsgate Western Undercliffe12 mi from Canterbury’s edge
DirectionsGood to know
Check the water before you swim. The Environment Agency tests designated bathing waters from May to September and publishes a rating for each beach.
Every named place, with directions
Viewpoints 2
Legacy Park Viewpoint0.0 mi from town
DirectionsPlus 1 viewpoint without a name on the map.
Hills and peaks 1
Bab's Hillin town
DirectionsNature reserves 2
Keir's Meadow0.9 ha · 0.5 mi from town
DirectionsLarkey Valley Wood47 ha · 0.5 mi from town
DirectionsPlaygrounds 43
Bishops Way Play Areain town
DirectionsHawe Close Play Areain town
DirectionsHollow Lane Play Areain town
DirectionsKingsmead Recreation Groundin town
DirectionsWincheap Play Areain town
DirectionsLime Kiln Road Play Area0.0 mi from town
DirectionsToddler's Cove0.1 mi from town
DirectionsPlus 36 playgrounds without a name on the map.
Dog parks 1
Plus 1 dog park without a name on the map.
Campsites 4
Canterbury Camping and Caravanning Club Site0.0 mi from town
DirectionsFleets Paddock Glamping & Camping0.6 mi from town
DirectionsPlus 2 campsites without a name on the map.
Next door
The outdoors in nearby towns
The nearest towns of 1,000+ within 12 miles. Tap a town for its outdoors page.
Rough CommonBleanSturryBridgeCharthamLittlebourneCanterbury
ABCDOutdoors Grade
| Town | Outdoors | Green space, ha per 1,000 | Near a park | Protected within 5 km |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canterbury | B+ | 1.6 | 77% | 19% |
| Rough Common 1.6 mi | A+ | 11.0 | 100% | 1% |
| Blean 2.4 mi | A− | 5.9 | 80% | 0% |
| Sturry 2.4 mi | B+ | 2.7 | 80% | 1% |
| Bridge 3.2 mi | B− | 2.2 | 60% | 44% |
| Chartham 3.5 mi | B | 2.3 | 67% | 44% |
| Littlebourne 3.7 mi | B+ | 1.6 | 100% | 9% |
Rough Common, 1.6 miles away, grades A+, the best next door: every resident lives within 400 m of a park. Rough Common and Blean have at least twice Canterbury’s green space per resident.
Questions about the outdoors in Canterbury
What is the biggest park in Canterbury?
Sturry Road Community Park, 20 ha (50 acres), with 2.7 km of path. Dane John Gardens (2.4 ha) is second. 14 named parks, gardens and playing fields are in the town or within 400 m of it.
Is Canterbury near a National Park?
The nearest protected landscape is the Kent Downs National Landscape, 0.6 mi south of the town’s edge. It covers 879 km² and was designated in 1968.
What are the best walks near Canterbury?
13 waymarked walking routes pass within 2 km of the town, including the Canterbury Outer Ring Walk, Canterbury Middle Ring Walk and Stour Valley Walk. Sturry Road Community Park alone has 2.7 km of path.
What is the nearest beach to Canterbury?
Herne Bay Beach, 5.1 mi from the edge of the town, then South Shellness Beach (6.5 mi). Canterbury itself is inland.
How many people in Canterbury live near a park?
77% of residents live within 400 m, about a 5-minute walk, of a public park, garden or playing field (Census 2021 output areas against OS Open Greenspace). The typical UK town is 83%.
When is the best time of year for walking in Canterbury?
May to September: the longest days, the warmest afternoons and the least rain of the year, from the Met Office 1991–2020 averages.
Which parks in Canterbury are historic?
Dane John Gardens (Grade II) is on Historic England’s register of parks and gardens.
Is Canterbury good for walking?
For paths, yes: 5.7 km of footpath and right of way per square kilometre, more than 97% of UK towns. For park space per person it beats 32% (1.6 ha per 1,000 residents).
How is the Outdoors Grade worked out?
From five measures, each placed among UK towns of 1,000 or more: public green space per resident, the share living near a park, National Park or National Landscape within 5 km, footpaths per square kilometre, and the sea within 5 km. It is a character grade and isn’t part of Canterbury’s overall grade.
Sources
Where Canterbury’s outdoors figures come from
- Parks and green space: Ordnance Survey OS Open Greenspace (parks and gardens, playing fields, play spaces, and their access points). Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2026, Open Government Licence v3.0.
- National Parks and National Landscapes: Natural England and Natural Resources Wales boundaries, areas and designation dates, Open Government Licence v3.0.
- Footpaths, walking routes, beaches and things to do: © OpenStreetMap contributors, Open Database License (ODbL), via Geofabrik, 16 October 2026.
- Historic parks, listed buildings and monuments: Historic England, National Heritage List for England, Open Government Licence v3.0.
- Rain and temperature: Met Office HadUK-Grid 1991–2020 averages for the town; daylight calculated from its latitude.
- The sea: ONS Countries (December 2024) boundaries clipped to mean high water. Residents near a park: ONS Census 2021 output areas.
- Grade: TownRatings’ Outdoors Grade, ranked against UK towns only.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Contains HM Land Registry data © Crown copyright and database right 2026. Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2026 (ONS boundaries). Northern Ireland: Source: NISRA; contains Land & Property Services data and Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland information, © Crown copyright, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Scotland: contains National Records of Scotland data, Registers of Scotland data and SEPA data, © Crown copyright / © SEPA 2025, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.