How to get to Canterbury, Whitstable and Herne Bay

By Road - The Canterbury district has excellent road links with the M20 (M25/M26) and M2 motorways providing easy links to London and its airports. The A2 and A260 connect Canterbury with the port of Dover and the Eurotunnel terminal in Cheriton near Folkestone. Herne Bay and Whitstable are both a short drive from Canterbury, via the A28/A291 and A290. Helpful route planners: www.multimap.com and www.theaa.com

Park and Ride - Canterbury Park and Ride is the greenest, cheapest and fastest way to get to the heart of the city and helps more than one million shoppers, commuters and visitors a year beat city centre congestion. The all day Park and Ride fee is £2.50 and customers can park in one of the 1,800 spaces available across the three sites at New Dover Road, Sturry Road and Wincheap. Each site is conveniently situated on the main routes into the city. Buses run approximately every eight minutes, Monday to Saturday from 7am to 7.30pm. For more details please visit www.canterbury.gov.uk/parkandride.

By Rail - Canterbury has two mainline railway stations, East and West and is served by frequent trains to and from London Charing Cross, London Victoria (approximately 90 minutes) and elsewhere in Kent. The new Channel Tunnel Rail Link (CTRL) will provide a journey time from London's St Pancras International to Canterbury West of approximately 59 mintues. Passengers getting off Eurostar at Ashford International will find that Canterbury is just a 20-minute rail journey. Whitstable and Herne Bay are both on a direct line to London Victoria (approximately 80 minutes journey time). For National Rail enquiries telephone +44 (0) 8457 484 950.

By Bus - The district is well served by Stagecoach East Kent buses from Canterbury Bus Station. For timetable enquiries, telephone +44 (0) 8707 433 711. Buses 4, 4A, 4B and 5 travel at regular intervals between Canterbury Bus Station and Whitstable town centre. For Herne Bay take either the 6, 6A, 6B or 7. National Express coaches run to Canterbury from London Victoria Coach Station. For all enquiries, Tel +44 (0) 8717 818 181 or check out the National Express Timetable Information website www.nationalexpress.com.

By Bicycle or on Foot - Canterbury has a network of safe cycle routes, including 5 national and regional trails. For the more adventurous, there are signposted long-distance cycle routes along country lanes - one towards Dover and one towards Folkestone and the Channel Tunnel. You can also ride to Whitstable following part of the famous 'Crab and Winkle Line'. For cycling information contact Spokes on +44 (0) 1227 738 296.

If you're on foot, why not purchase one of the many Self Guided Tours available within the Canterbury Visitor Information Centre or join a guided tour operated by the Canterbury Tourist Guides. These leave daily from Easter to October from the Canterbury Visitor Information Centre, which is clearly signposted throughout the city. Telephone +44 (0) 1227 459 779.

By Air - London Airports are all approximately under two hours drive from Canterbury City Centre.

Gatwick Airport 1 hour 15 minutes

Heathrow Airport 1 hour 45 minutes

Luton Airport 1 hour 50 minutes

Stansted Airport 1 hour 30 minutes

Kent International Airport 30 minutes

Visitors arriving at any of London's airports and wanting to travel by public transport to the area must first travel to central London and change to a connecting coach or train service.

By Sea - The Canterbury district is very close to mainland Europe. A day trip or stay is a great way to sample the continental atmosphere. Take the car ferry from Dover or take your vehicle through the Channel Tunnel from Folkestone.

Useful contact details for cross-channel operators:

Eurotunnel: +44 (0) 8443 353 535 or www.eurotunnel.com (vehicle-carrying shuttles through the Channel Tunnel)

P&O Ferries: +44 (0) 8716 645 645 or www.poferries.com (ferries: Dover to Calais)

Norfolk Line: +44 (0) 8448 475 042 or www.norfolkline.com (ferries: Dover to Dunkirk)

LD Lines: +44 (0) 844 576 8836 or www.ldlines.co.uk (ferries: Dover to Boulogne)