Hello-
Any suggestions on the best way to travel to see Canterbury Cathedral from Camberly?
Husband and 3 teenage daughters in tow
Thanks!

Wow, I just checked the train scheduling to Canterbury at www.nationalrail.co.uk Are you sure we can't convince you that you would rather visit Winchester cathedral or Salisbury cathedral or Chichester cathedral?

I assume you'll have a car. The drive is fairly long but almost entirely by Motorway. Count on 2 hours or a bit more.

Janisj-Yes, we will have a car, although first time driving UK style-tough to get used to? 2 hours for us is not long-we are used to very long car rides--is car the best way to get there vs. other method of transportion with cost in mind as well?

Ron-why Winchester, Salisbury or Chichester over Canterbury?

The National Rail website pushes you towards the high-speed line from St Pancras. You can make the changing a bit easier by using the Advanced Search to change at London Waterloo to Waterloo East, but even so, it takes about 3 and a half hours by train.

Your problem is that Camberley is on a branch line, and is the opposite side of London from Canterbury. Winchester, Salisbury and Chichester are all served by the same train company's lines as Camberley, but even then there aren't any easy connections by train from there.
http://www.southwesttrains.co.uk/networkmap.aspx#

"<i>Ron-why Winchester, Salisbury or Chichester over Canterbury?</i>"

I'm not Ron - but I'm pretty sure he said that because those are closer to Camberley. For instance Camberley to Winchester is less than an hour by car. (still not an easy train ride -- about 90 minutes w/ 2 changes). Canterbury is half way across the country -- but for that it is mostly divided Motorway.

A map is your friend

But Canterbury is very, very special and certainly worth the effort to get there.

Canterbury is worth whatever it takes to get there.

Janis basically answered correctly for me. I was assuming public transport, with Canterbury taking more than twice as long, including a possibly awkward transfer in London, than going to Winchester.

While others think the extra time spent travelling is worth it, it seems to me it would only be worth it if "The Murder in the Cathedral" location was a must-see or if one was an Anglican cleric wanting to make a pilgrimage to the mother church of his religion.

All four mentioned are great medieval cathedrals worthy of visit. But, with three others so much closer to you, I would leave Canterbury for another time.

If you do drive to Canterbury, be wary of driving within the city walls. Parking and navigating are difficult. To my regret, I did that on my first visit. On my second I left the car in Faversham and took the train.

If you are going by train from Camberley to I think Waterloo then get to Victoria, use the tube, from Victoria take the Dover train to Canterbury East and the Cathedral is short walk from the station. If you want somewhere to have a coffee or a light meal try 'Tiny Tim's Tearoom' in the road down the side of Lloyd's Bank, sorry the name escapes me.

Certainly all four cathedrals are worth visiting but, as ron states, Winchester, Chichester and Salisbury have just as much to offer.

Winchester was once home to the West Saxon kings, and its cathedral has the distinction of being the longest in England. Like so many of England's cathedrals it is a hodgepodge of styles or, perhaps more accurately, demonstrates the evolution of English architecture, but the overall effect is splendid. I especially like the remnants of medieval paintings still visible in the chapel in the north transept. The town of Winchester is one of the prettiest in this part of England, and there's plenty to see here besides the cathedral.

Salisbury Cathedral was completed in less than forty years, resulting in one architectural style ( Early English Gothic) and beautiful symmetry. One of my favorite aspects of the cathedral is the Trinty Chapel and its stained-glass window dedicated to prisoners of conscience. Absolutely breathtaking when sunlight streams through. You'll also find one of the copies of Magna Carta in the Chapter House. Take a tour of the tower and walk around the Cathedral Close.

The town of Chichester is not as appealing as either Winchester or Salisbury IMO, but the cathedral has some fine Romanesque carvings and a stained-glass window by Marc Chagall.

If your heart is set on Canterbury fine, but there are other excellent options.

"we are used to very long car rides"

UK roads are somewhat busier than you are used to, the roads have lots of bends and the speed varies from zero to 80mph for no apparent reason.

UK roads are somewhat busier than you are used to, the roads have lots of bends and the speed varies from zero to 80mph for no apparent reason.>>

and if you were really unlucky, you could get stuck for hours in a traffic jam on the M25.

i'm in the Salisbury, Winchester and Chichester camp. if you go to Chichester in the car, do try to get to nearby Bosham [pronounced "Bozum"] as well - it's very picturesque.

Are we sure the traffic will be worse?

Granted it can take a little while to get used to driving on the opposite side of the road - but I've never seen or heard of traffic worse than the LIE on a friday afternoon in summer.

You're going to have to get used to driving here sooner or later.

And there is simply no debate that getting from Camberley to Canterbury can only sensibly be done by car.

There's also no doubt that for most people, Canterbury is no more interesting (or historic, or spiritual) than Winchester, Salisbury or Chichester – and a great deal easierto get to from Camberley– than Canterbury.

But if for some reason you're set on seeing Canterbury, then you've really got to drive.

"but I've never seen or heard of traffic worse than the LIE on a friday afternoon in summer."

You are talking about events that happen a few times a year we are talking about DAILY events.

Why?
1. Tomb of St Anselm, perhaps unexpected in an Anglican church.
2. Place of Pilgrimage for many centuries.
3. Site of historic events
4. Seat of the Primate of England
5. Nice town, pleasant pedestrian precinct

We lived in near Camberley for 12 years and regularly made the trip to Dover. Canterbury is a lovely town to wander around after you've visited the cathedral.

It's easy enough to jump on the M3-M25-M20 and much easier than public transport. However there are, as mentioned above, cathedrals that are closer to Camberley.

Kent is a beautiful county and if you're set on Canterbury cathedral it might be worth an overnight stay so you can visit Dover Castle or Rye?

WOW-
It seems as though I need to check fodors moew oftne than I am prior to departure to stay updated--thank you all for your input--yes, Canterbury was a top-of-the-list location for it's great history as well as many other facotrs, including getting to Dover-however, we have relaize that we have bitten off more than we can chew and are downgrading our expectations of traveling for hours upon end when there is much to see that we have never laid eyes on much closer to Camberley--I will check out those cathedrals listed-thank you so much--we leave this Thursday from Maine, USA will be in London til Wednesday-can't wait!