I went to a popular city 50 mins from London and it was underwhelming until I did one thing
When embarking on a journey to new cities or countries, it's often suggested to avoid the typical tourist hotspots. The belief is that these attractions only offer a superficial glimpse of the place and can detract from experiencing its true culture.
Seasoned travellers usually advise: dodge the crowds, don't buy into the social media hype, and follow the locals' lead - but this isn't always the best course of action. I recently visited a renowned historic city in the UK; despite its undeniable beauty, I expected more excitement given its ranking among the top 10 cities in the country.
For my cousin's hen do, we set off for Canterbury in Kent, armed with a list of 'must-see' sights. However, we were surprised to find that we ticked most of them off rather quickly.
As we strolled around, we asked several locals for their recommendations, but nothing truly caught our attention. During the trip planning, I'd stumbled upon a touristy activity that seemed too 'clickbaity' to commit to, especially since we were keen on exploring the iconic Canterbury Cathedral, reports the Express.
However, upon arrival, the lengthy queues, ongoing construction work, and hefty £21 entry fee quickly dampened our enthusiasm. That evening, as I was mindlessly browsing TikTok, one video piqued my interest: Canterbury's Historic River Tour.
At just £16 per person for a 45-minute journey with a small group of 12, it seemed almost too good to be true. But it provided a tranquil, picturesque, and surprisingly captivating experience that became the standout moment of our trip.
What do you experience on the tour?
According to the Canterbury Historic River Tour website, visitors will "discover the city's unique history from a different angle on one of the guided river tours."
The description continued: "Sit back and relax as our tour guides take you under the King's Bridge, one of the oldest working road bridges in Britain, up towards the hidden serenity of the Greyfriars' Island, once the home to the Franciscans, one of Canterbury's many religious orders."
Visitors will travel downstream, passing notable landmarks, including the 16th-century Old Weavers' House and a replica ducking stool.
The tour guide will take you past the modern Marlowe Theatre, where you'll enjoy views of the historic Blackfriars' Monastery, now part of the renowned King's School, which opens out onto the tranquil greenery of Solly's Orchard.
Religion, witches and beautiful women: Canterbury's fascinating history
The boat tour consisted of travelling down the stunning chalk stream, River Stour. "In Roman and Medieval times, the river was a major transport route, connecting Canterbury with mainland Europe. Fordwich, on the edge of the city, was an important port. And the river played a key role in the spread of Christianity," reported the Kentish Tour.
Throughout the boat journey, we heard fascinating stories about Canterbury's rich heritage. In 597 AD, Saint Augustine of Canterbury was declared as the first archbishop, establishing the renowned cathedral.
The cathedral suffered extensive fire damage on two occasions, in 1067 and 1174, before being reconstructed into the magnificent structure we witness today.
The city is also notorious for the murder of Thomas Becket, an English cleric and intimate companion of Henry II. Becket held the position of Archbishop of Canterbury from 1162 until his assassination in the Cathedral in 1170.
As we journeyed backwards and forwards along the waterway, we passed the ducking stool replica. This was a form of punishment for women who faced accusations of witchcraft.
"Victim's legs and thumbs were tied together before they were flung into water, and there was no winning. If you sank, you were innocent, but if you floated, it was clear you had renounced baptism when entering the Devil's service, and would be murdered by other means," said Kent Online. In 1542, under Henry VIII, witchcraft became a capital offence in Britain.
However, long before the 16th-century Witchcraft Act reached the courts, the ducking stool served as a public punishment and humiliation method for "common scolds" - those deemed disruptive (mainly women).
We also encountered more contemporary architecture, including the Marlowe theatre (named after the renowned playwright), which was originally constructed in 1933 but renovated and reopened in 2011. Adjacent to it stands the 'must-see' bulkhead statue crafted by Rick Kirby.
The sculpture drew inspiration from Christopher Marlowe's famous description of Helen of Troy (a Greek mythology figure renowned for being the most beautiful woman) as "the face that launch'd a thousand ships," and is constructed from scrap metal salvaged from vessels along the Kentish coast, according to Visit Canterbury.
Why it's worth it
This excursion represents not only a history enthusiast's absolute dream but also offers incredible, picturesque vistas that make you feel as though you've entered a fairytale. My absolute favourite aspect of escaping London is being immersed in stunning nature that remains perfectly untouched and unspoilt by rubbish or habitat destruction.
It was so heartwarming witnessing the little ducks paddle by and a pigeon peacefully nesting its chick. This boat journey was entirely smooth, which was remarkable as 12 passengers were guided by just one person (Abbie) who also chatted throughout without becoming breathless.
We were able to peacefully savour our tinned cocktails whilst having a laugh with our tour guide during our trip. It was also delightful to share quick jokes and friendly competition with the other boat tours passing by.
It was entertaining shouting "ahoy" every time we needed to announce our presence to other vessels before navigating blind corners or passing beneath low and narrow bridges. It was also charming how the boaters kept exchanging 'high fives' with their oars as they sailed past one another.
Overall, this boat excursion genuinely enhanced our time in Canterbury. It provided everything we were seeking: scenery, learning, tranquillity, yet entertainment and thrills from a completely fresh and distinctive experience. I certainly recommend it for all tourists during the warmer months.
Other reviews
The historic boat tour achieved an outstanding 4.7 bubbles on TripAdvisor from over 2,000 reviewers. One delighted adventurer commented: "We all had a lovely trip, very informative and learnt lots about the local area as well. Beautiful trip and very picturesque. Would recommend to people visiting the area."
One person remarked: "The tour was great, the guide had so much knowledge of the surrounding area and a great sense of humour.
" Architecture, folklore, history, wildlife, contemporary developments, biodiversity and community was also cleverly interwoven into the content. Good banter between tour guides of various vessels added to the enjoyment factor. Picturesque and pleasant experience."
Another chimed in: "Had a lovely trip, enjoyed it, and it was relaxing and fun. I gave only 3 stars because it was quite a short distance travelled overall, and I was expecting travelling a bit further...this didn't bother my husband and I, but it's worth knowing if you are a large family or don't have a lot of money."
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