Canterbury Leicester Train

Canterbury, in the south east of England, can trace its history back to before the Romans in the 1st century AD but grew in importance following the Kingdom of Kent's conversion to Christianity in 597 when St Augustine founded a bishops seat in the city and then became the first Archbishop of Canterbury, a position that now heads the Church of England and the worldwide Anglican Communion. Thomas Becket's murder at Canterbury Cathedral in 1170 led to the cathedral becoming a place of pilgrimage for Christians worldwide.

The city is on the River Stour or Great Stour, flowing from its source at Lenham north-east through Ashford to the English Channel at Sandwich. The river divides south east of the city, one branch flowing though the city, the other around the position of the former walls. The Stour is navigable on the tidal section to Fordwich, although above this point canoes and other small craft can be used. Punts and rowed river boats are available for hire in Canterbury.

Canterbury is home to many historic structures in addition to its cathedral. These include the city wall built in Roman times and rebuilt in the 14th century, the ruins of St Augustine Abbey and a Norman castle. The city is also home to perhaps the oldest school in England, The King's School.

Located in the county of Leicestershire, the city of Leicester is a modern city, rich in arts, culture, sports and heritage, and offers something of interest for all ages. The city has lots of things to see and do, with state-of-the-art, award-winning venues including Curve, Highcross Shopping Centre and the National Space Centre, a fantastic calendar of events and festivals, renowned museums and galleries, a range of cuisines and areas of natural beauty. Alternatively enjoy a family day out at Twycross Zoo where there are around 500 animals of 150 species to see including many endangered animals and native species. Snibston Discovery Museum at Coalville offers a day out for all the family - look out for the colliery tours and special event days when the trains are running. The Great Central Railway is the United Kingdom’s only double track, main line heritage railway and Teddy Bear Picnics regularly take place throughout the summer along with other special events. Set in the heart of one of England's most attractive counties, the surrounding villages and countryside are easily accessible to explore. Our central location in the Midlands, makes it easy to get to from all directions. Leicester is just an hour away from London by train.