Historic River Tours

Historic River Tours in Canterbury is one of those rare "sit down and still see everything" experiences. Drifting gently along the River Stour, you get a completely different view of the city, slipping under King's Bridge, one of the oldest working road bridges in Britain, and gliding past tucked-away corners you'd easily miss on foot. Dogs are welcome on board and go free of charge, so they can join you for the ride, likely taking their role as river explorer very seriously.

Along the way, the stories start to layer up. You pass the Old Weavers' House, spot the replica ducking stool (a reminder that history here wasn't always kind), and move through areas once home to religious orders like the Franciscans at Greyfriars. The route carries on past the Marlowe Theatre and towards Blackfriars' Monastery and the quieter edges of the city near Solly's Orchard, giving you a mix of old and new woven together by the river.

It's calm, gently paced and surprisingly absorbing, the kind of activity where you can just sit back and let the guide bring the city to life while the water does the moving. Dogs can settle in for the journey, making it a genuinely dog-friendly day out that keeps everyone together on the water.