Cantebury shops

Canterbury's shopping streets weave through the heart of the walled medieval city, offering an unusually appealing mix of national high-street names, independent boutiques, bookshops, antique dealers and artisan food stalls. The principal shopping arteries are the pedestrianised St Peter's Street, the High Street and St George's Street, which together form the spine of the old city between the Westgate Towers and the bus station.

Tucked off these main thoroughfares are narrow lanes such as Mercery Lane, Burgate and Palace Street, where timber-framed buildings house cafes, jewellers, gift shops and traditional sweet shops. The compact Whitefriars development brings together larger contemporary retailers within easy reach of the cathedral precinct, while The Goods Shed beside Canterbury West station is a permanent farmers' market and food hall championing Kent produce, from Romney Marsh lamb to local cheeses, ciders and ales.

Shopping in Canterbury is very much a stroll rather than a sprint. The pedestrianised streets pass beneath the Westgate, alongside the River Stour and within sight of the cathedral towers, so visitors can easily combine retail browsing with sightseeing, a punt on the river or a coffee in one of the many independent cafes.