Lords of the Ring: A Self-Guided Canterbury City Walls Tour

Overview

Walking the walls that encircle Canterbury is one of the most exciting historical experiences in England. Attacked on at least seven occasions by invaders, from the Danes to the Nazis, the walls have been used to protect residents for over 1,700 years. On this self-guided walking tour, you'll follow Canterbury‘s historic city walls and dive into the city‘s story of violence, cruelty, fire, and destruction – but also extraordinary hope and progress. You‘ll discover the gruesome fate of Archbishop Simon Sudbury, who paid for the wall with his head. I‘ll show you the statues of King Ethelbert and Queen Bertha, who famously converted pagan England to Roman Christianity. You‘ll also hear about the Canterbury Blitz of 1942, when German bombers devastated the medieval city. The tour ends at the Westgate Bridge where you‘ll see the enigmatic Alluvia, the haunting underwater sculpture inspired by Millais‘ Ophelia and linked to Judge Sir James Hales‘ 1554 suicide.