Westgate Gardens

Westgate Gardens is the city's riverside garden, a green strip along the River Stour that begins beside Westgate Towers and runs quietly away from the busy streets. It is a peaceful, flowery place for walking, picnicking or simply sitting by the water, and in spring and summer the beds and lawns are bright with colour. Mature trees give shade, the river is lined with willows and reeds, and you can watch punts glide past on their way along the Stour. The gardens are free to enter and sit within a few minutes of the High Street, so they make an easy break from sightseeing. They are also a good place to see the back of Westgate Towers and the line of the old city wall, with the towers rising above the trees. In short, Westgate Gardens is where Canterbury goes to relax, and visitors are welcome to join in.

The gardens work best as a slow stop rather than an attraction. Enter beside Westgate Towers, follow the main path along the river and loop back through the lawns. The walk takes twenty to thirty minutes without stopping and as long as you like with a picnic. There are benches along the water, shady corners for a book and open grass for children, and the surroundings are calm even on busy weekends.

Spring brings blossom and early flowers, summer brings colour and full shade, and autumn adds golden leaves, while winter shows the bones of the garden and the towers behind the bare trees.

The river is the star. From the bank you can watch punts and boats on the Stour, and a punt trip itself is the best way to see the gardens from the water, as the tours pass along this stretch of the river. Combining the two gives you a view from both sides.

The gardens are also a convenient place to meet before a walking tour or to rest after climbing Westgate Towers, and the bar and terrace in the towers are close by if you need refreshments. Opening times follow daylight hours, and gates may close at dusk, so check local signs.

Westgate Gardens are an easy fit with the rest of the city. They sit next to Westgate Towers and a short walk from the Franciscan Gardens, so a river-side walk can link three peaceful spots, and the Beaney and the Roman Museum are a few minutes away. Families will find room to run, and couples will find a quiet bench.

The paths are generally level and suitable for pushchairs, though some surfaces can be uneven or muddy after rain. For anyone who wants to relax between the cathedral and the shops, the gardens are the best free place in the city. Bring a blanket on a warm day, buy a picnic on the High Street and make a slow hour of it.

A few practical notes will help you make the most of it. Early morning and early evening are the quietest times, and the light on the water is lovely just before dusk. Bring insect repellent in high summer, because the river attracts midges, and bring a waterproof in autumn, when the grass stays damp.

Dogs are common in the gardens, so children who are nervous around them may prefer the open lawn by the towers. Because the gardens are only a short walk from the shops and the cathedral, they make an ideal place to pause, eat lunch and plan the rest of the day.