Westgate Towers Museum & Viewpoint - Canterbury

Kazi N. K.

Westgate Parks, Canterbury – A Peaceful Riverside Retreat

Westgate Parks is a beautiful green space along the River Stour, just a short walk from Canterbury’s historic center. With well-maintained gardens, scenic walking trails, and a mix of formal and wild landscapes, it’s perfect for a relaxing stroll or a family outing. Highlights include the stunning Westgate Gardens, the ancient Oriental Plane tree, and the historic Westgate Towers. Whether you’re enjoying the riverside views, cycling the Great Stour Way, or unwinding in nature, this park offers a peaceful escape in the heart of the city.

Bret G.

Interesting little gatehouse/ prison.
Lovely views from the top, but many stairs to climb and the door at the top can be tricky to navigate around whilst on the stairs.
Curator was very knowledgeable and easy to talk too.
Tiny gift shop selection in the corner.

D S.

Although we had no plans to visit Westgate Towers Museum & Viewpoint, we were pleasantly surprised to find out that dining at The Pound granted us free entry and decided to take advantage of this.

We felt that having lunch, drinks, and a visit to the museum all included was fantastic value. The burgers we had at the Pound were delicious and the £10 cocktails were incredibly good value for the quality.

We thought we'd just take a quick look at the museum, but it ended up being a lot more engaging than we could have expected - we learned about the history of Canterbury's medieval past, the strategies in planning out resistance to potential French invasions, the building's transformation into a prison as well as the justice systems within towns and cities at the time, and even how the building played a role in WWII resistance!

The views from the tower are fantastic, especially over the river and the town. We could clearly see the Cathedral and it was a nice viewpoint.

Best of all were our interactions with the people working that day - we spoke quite a bit with Bob, who was incredibly knowledgeable about the building and its history as well as the history of Canterbury. Because it was a quiet day with not a lot of visitors, it felt as if we had a guided tour thanks to the information Bob provided - we felt very well taken care of and grateful for him taking the time to educate us about the topics that interested us.

I do hope to come back someday - I also told that there were two cats who used to live in the tower and have since passed, and the only thing that could make the museum better is if it got new cats. Otherwise the visit was perfect and I would strongly encourage visitors to get lunch at the Pound and go see this museum for free! It's a fantastic deal.

lokee Y.

I thought I completely ruined my Uniqlo puffer I just bought when some curry spilled on it. In a last ditch effort, I went to the Dry Cleaners and I'm so grateful I did! They did such an amazing job!👏 The stain is completely gone and there is no trace that there ever was a stain in the first place. Definitely recommend!

uzunnhikaye

It's a small museum. It is a museum that can be easily visited in a short time. There are historical military objects. It has a beautiful view from its tower, where you can see Canterbury panoramic. You should stop by to watch the city.

win T.

This 14th century tower is holding many historical stuff on display and were built in Medieval times. On a clear day you can have wonderful views from the rooftop. Museum itself was interesting, but there were also other activities for all to enjoy! Narrow staircases are not so easy to use for everyone so careful but worth to do for beautiful city views. It's location is good too just near to the riverside.

Fionn M.

The largest surviving city gate in England. Affordable entry fee compared to other attractions in the city. With a musuem on the gatehouse history and panoramic views of Canterbury. Staff was very friendly and had lots of knowledge on Canterbury, which they were happy to discuss.

Simmy

Amazing views of the city from the tower top! There’s escape room and bar as well.