UK's 'little Venice' has crystal clear waters and a fascinating history
The picturesque city of Canterbury in Kent is home to a series of stunning waterways, offering visitors the chance to explore its famous landmarks from a unique perspective
Picture yourself drifting through the historic streets of Canterbury, effortlessly cruising on the pristine waters in a classic punt, basking in the warm glow of the sun. In this charming corner of Kent, visitors are treated to the tranquil pleasure of a guided canal tour along the idyllic River Stour.
As you nestle into your seat, a well-versed guide will enchant you with stories of the city's storied past, highlighting notable sights such as time-worn bridges, picturesque weaver's cottages, theatres, ancient monasteries and peaceful orchards. The journey also reveals some of Canterbury's more sombre tales, including the grim beheading of an unfortunate priest and the harrowing tale of a mill engulfed by flames.
The roughly 45-minute excursion provides a distinctive vantage point of Canterbury's lesser-known treasures, with one visitor lauding the experience for its "crystal clear waters, beautiful buildings, plants and a really unique view passing under bridges and streets."
The esteemed Canterbury Punting Company, honoured with the Tripadvisor Travellers' Choice Award 2024, is celebrated for its traditional handcrafted wooden boats and engaging guides who are not only local historians but also possess a natural flair for storytelling, as reported by KentLive.
Their enthralling narratives and adept punting ensure a memorable adventure for everyone embarking on this relaxed voyage, reports Kent Live.
This top-rated company proudly holds an impressive 4.8 out of 5 stars, based on a staggering 1,388 reviews on Tripadvisor. Just this month, a customer raved: "What a fantastic experience and led by a very knowledgeable and entertaining guide/punter - not sure what correct terminology is - by the name of Freddy.
"He kept us thoroughly entertained with his tales of yonder whilst on the history boat ride. It was a lovely experience and so relaxing and informative.
"Can't wait to try the nature tour next. I highly recommend it to anyone wanting to do something a bit different and to see Canterbury from the River Stour."
Sharing the enthusiasm, another visitor from May wrote: "Sebastian was a very talented storyteller and informed us of the magical world that is Canterbury.
"The tour was relaxing and enjoyable, and my family thoroughly enjoyed it. I highly recommend this to any family who wants a day out relaxing on the river."
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Daily Mirror
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- Daily Mirror
'Hidden gem' British town once loved by royals is now thriving again
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Broadstairs is a tranquil, understated and charming holiday spot, appealing to couples of all ages as well as families with young children. Here's everything you need to know about the town and what it has to offer, as reported by Kent Live. From sailors' shrine to seaside resort For centuries, Broadstairs was simply a quiet fishing village linked to the inland church of St Peter's-in-Thanet. It was part of the coastal confederation of Cinque Ports during medieval times, alongside 42 other towns and villages around Kent and Sussex, but it didn't rank among the five most significant towns - Hastings, New Romney, Hythe, Dover and Sandwich. Broadstairs, once a significant religious site for sailors due to its Shrine of Our Ladye Star of the Sea, derived its name from the stairwell carved into the cliff that allowed seafarers to reach their pilgrimage site and pray for safe journeys. In the 17th century, the shrine was replaced by the Chapel of St Mary's. 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Daily Record
22-05-2025
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'Little Venice' in UK where you can take a punt down the river and learn dark history
The historic is home to a tranquil canal tour where visitors can take a punt down the river and learn about the city's dark past Imagine meandering through some of the UK's most scenic and historic byways, gliding over pristine waters in a traditional punt, soaking up the sun's gentle rays. In this quaint enclave, travellers can savour the serene delight of a guided punt tour along the gentle river. Settling into your seat, you'll be captivated by the knowledgeable guide's tales, chronicling the ancient city's history and pointing out remarkable landmarks including age-old bridges, beautiful weaver's cottages, local theatres, centuries-old monasteries, and idyllic orchards. The darker chapters of Canterbury's history are not forgotten either; stories include the tragic beheading of a priest and the devastating fire that claimed a historic mill. This approximately 45-minute journey in this charming corner of Kent affords onlookers an exclusive glimpse of Canterbury's hidden gems, with one enthusiastic visitor praising the "crystal clear waters, beautiful buildings, plants and a really unique view passing under bridges and streets" of the idyllic River Stour. The Canterbury Punting Company, recipients of the esteemed Tripadvisor Travellers' Choice Award 2024, is known for its classic handcrafted wooden punts and charismatic guides who blend local historical knowledge with a talent for storytelling, reports the Mirror. Boasting an enviable 4.8-star rating from over 1,388 reviews on Tripadvisor, this company has clearly left an indelible mark on its customers. This month alone, one enthused customer commented: "What a fantastic experience and led by a very knowledgeable and entertaining guide/punter - not sure what correct terminology is - by the name of Freddy." The same customer continued: "He kept us thoroughly entertained with his tales of yonder whilst on the history boat ride. It was a lovely experience and so relaxing and informative." They went on to say, "Can't wait to try the nature tour next. I highly recommend it to anyone wanting to do something a bit different and to see Canterbury from the River Stour." Echoing this praise, a visitor from May added: "Sebastian was a very talented storyteller and informed us of the magical world that is Canterbury. "The tour was relaxing and enjoyable, and my family thoroughly enjoyed it. I highly recommend this to any family who wants a day out relaxing on the river." The River Stour was historically used as a key highway by the Romans and during Medieval times as a crucial link between Canterbury and continental Europe. Nearby Fordwich became important to shipping after the silting up of the southern entrance to the English Channel. The town of Canterbury itself also has deep historical roots, being used by the Romans as a town and hillfort and much of it's Roman history has been unearthed during archaeological digs over the years.
Daily Mirror
21-05-2025
- Daily Mirror
UK's 'little Venice' has crystal clear waters and a fascinating history
The picturesque city of Canterbury in Kent is home to a series of stunning waterways, offering visitors the chance to explore its famous landmarks from a unique perspective Picture yourself drifting through the historic streets of Canterbury, effortlessly cruising on the pristine waters in a classic punt, basking in the warm glow of the sun. In this charming corner of Kent, visitors are treated to the tranquil pleasure of a guided canal tour along the idyllic River Stour. As you nestle into your seat, a well-versed guide will enchant you with stories of the city's storied past, highlighting notable sights such as time-worn bridges, picturesque weaver's cottages, theatres, ancient monasteries and peaceful orchards. The journey also reveals some of Canterbury's more sombre tales, including the grim beheading of an unfortunate priest and the harrowing tale of a mill engulfed by flames. The roughly 45-minute excursion provides a distinctive vantage point of Canterbury's lesser-known treasures, with one visitor lauding the experience for its "crystal clear waters, beautiful buildings, plants and a really unique view passing under bridges and streets." The esteemed Canterbury Punting Company, honoured with the Tripadvisor Travellers' Choice Award 2024, is celebrated for its traditional handcrafted wooden boats and engaging guides who are not only local historians but also possess a natural flair for storytelling, as reported by KentLive. Their enthralling narratives and adept punting ensure a memorable adventure for everyone embarking on this relaxed voyage, reports Kent Live. This top-rated company proudly holds an impressive 4.8 out of 5 stars, based on a staggering 1,388 reviews on Tripadvisor. Just this month, a customer raved: "What a fantastic experience and led by a very knowledgeable and entertaining guide/punter - not sure what correct terminology is - by the name of Freddy. "He kept us thoroughly entertained with his tales of yonder whilst on the history boat ride. It was a lovely experience and so relaxing and informative. "Can't wait to try the nature tour next. I highly recommend it to anyone wanting to do something a bit different and to see Canterbury from the River Stour." Sharing the enthusiasm, another visitor from May wrote: "Sebastian was a very talented storyteller and informed us of the magical world that is Canterbury. "The tour was relaxing and enjoyable, and my family thoroughly enjoyed it. I highly recommend this to any family who wants a day out relaxing on the river."
