| Southern England | |
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Beauty and the beach Rich in history and culture, Southern England is a fascinating corner of the UK. Justine Vaisutis visits four of the most diverse cities and discovers an area of magnificent contrasts |
| Canterbury | |
Canterbury draws contemporary
culture from London and mixes it
with a laid-back coastal atmosphereFamous for its rich past, Canterbury began life as a Roman town in AD 200, and its collage of historical architecture creates a breathtaking backdrop. Tucked into England’s southeast pocket, a bohemian ambience dominates the flurry of activity buzzing inside the medieval walls which still surround the city today. Days out Rivalling its counterpart in Winchester, gorgeous Canterbury Cathedral presents a dramatic spectacle, and its 12th century stained glass windows dwarf the surrounding Tudor dwellings. The city’s cosmopolitan air is accented by high-street fashion shops and distinctive bookshops.You can get your fill of sport at the St Lawrence Cricket Ground which plays host to both county and international cricket matches.Wildlife lovers are also catered for with the world’s largest collection of lowland gorillas residing four miles away at Howlett’s Wild Animal Park. Eating out Eating out in Canterbury is like dining in a global village. Bars like Tapas En Las Trece dish up traditional Spanish snippets, but the excellent tapas at Bistro Vietnam are southeast Asian. Peppery Mexican heat is up for grabs at Café des Amis, while authentic Italian sizzles at restaurants like Pinocchio’s Trattoria. A traditional English pub meal awaits on any corner and you can grab coffee and cake at cafés like The Custard Tart or healthy snacks at Canterbury Wholefoods. Nights out Medieval pubs such as the Bell & Crown or the New Inn line Canterbury’s streets and defy their size with larger than life socialising. The bridge between past and present is narrowed by stylish waterfront pubs like The Miller’s Arms and the polished, modern interiors of chic bars like Bar 11. Colossal Jones’ nightclub offers dance floors and live sports, or you can focus on hard clubbing at Escape or Bridge Place. Cultural life Canterbury has a wealth of galleries and museums, exhibiting everything from the historic at the Royal Museum and Art Gallery and the Roman Museum, to contemporary work by local artists at small, independent galleries.The Marlowe and Gulbenkian theatres fill Canterbury’s theatric schedule with contemporary and classic performances, and the University of Kent’s Cinema 3 screens art house films to mingle with the Odeon’s mainstream titles. |
