Starting from the UK: Canterbury to Dover

Getting to Canterbury

Canterbury is well connected by train from London. The journey takes around 1 hour 20 minutes to 1 hour 50 minutes depending on your departure point.

Both Canterbury West and Canterbury East stations are within walking distance of the Cathedral (10–15 minutes). Canterbury West is slightly closer to the official start point at Christ Church Gate.

Book trains in advance via National Rail or Trainline — advance tickets from London are often £15–25 each way vs £40–50 on the day.

The Official Start

The Via Francigena officially begins at Canterbury Cathedral — one of England's greatest medieval buildings and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Before you leave:

• Get your first stamp — the Cathedral Visitor Centre stamps Credenziali. Open daily from 9am. Free for pilgrims on foot.
• Visit the Cathedral — allow an hour if possible. The Becket shrine and the crypt are particularly striking.
• Cathedral entrance fee: £17.50 for adults (2025) — check current prices. Many pilgrims visit at no charge by attending a service.

Exit the Cathedral through Christ Church Gate (the ornate gatehouse on Buttermarket) and head south through the city to pick up the waymarked route.

The England Route

The official English section is short: two stages, about 31 km, following the North Downs Way National Trail south-east from Canterbury to Dover through orchards, hop gardens and quiet flint-church villages. It's gentle, well-waymarked walking — the perfect shakedown for your kit before the Continent.

Stage Breakdown (England)

Making the English leg longer

Plenty of UK walkers want more than two days on home soil before the ferry. Two historic feeder routes work beautifully:

• The Pilgrims' Way / North Downs Way — Winchester or Farnham to Canterbury, the medieval corridor to Becket's shrine: roughly 200–250 km and 10–14 days of excellent waymarked walking
• Watling Street from London — via Rochester (castle, cathedral, Dickens country) and Faversham to Canterbury: around 90–120 km, history-rich if not always scenic

Accommodation in England

There are no pilgrim hostels on the England section — this is the biggest practical difference from the French and Italian sections. You'll stay in:

• B&Bs and guesthouses — the default option. Most villages along the route have at least one. Budget £55–90/night.
• Pub rooms — often the best value and the most sociable. Good food included.
• Hotels — in Canterbury and Dover especially.
• Camping — possible with a tent; wild camping is generally not legal in England but some farms and campsites are along the route.

Book ahead in summer. The North Downs Way is popular with weekend walkers — Canterbury, Shepherdswell and Dover beds fill up May–September, particularly on Fridays and Saturdays.

Dover and the Ferry Crossing

Dover is the natural end of the England section — and the gateway to France. The final descent beneath the castle, with the cliffs and the Channel ahead, is one of the most dramatic moments of the whole route.

Reaching the ferry terminal

The Eastern Docks ferry terminal is about 2.5 km from Dover town centre. You can walk it or take a short taxi (£5–8). There's no direct path from the cliff tops to the terminal — you'll descend into town first.

Booking the crossing

• P&O Ferries operate Dover–Calais for foot passengers (approx. 90 minutes) — DFDS on this route is car-only
• Foot passenger tickets: £30–55 each way (book ahead for better prices)
• Crossings run frequently — every 1–2 hours throughout the day
• Take your passport — you'll go through border control