Best Things to Do in Canterbury (If You Actually Live Here)

Go to The Marlowe for a Proper Night Out

If you live in Canterbury, The Marlowe is one of the easiest ways to turn an ordinary week into something more memorable. It hosts touring theatre, comedy, musicals, dance, family shows and live performance in the city centre.

It is especially worth checking midweek availability rather than only looking at Friday or Saturday nights. The Marlowe currently lists selected participant discounts and £12 ticket opportunities for certain performances and bands, so it is worth checking before you assume theatre is too expensive.

Best for: theatre, comedy, musicals, dance and bigger planned evenings.

Use Gulbenkian for Film, Theatre and Less Obvious Events

Gulbenkian, based at the University of Kent, is one of Canterbury’s most useful local venues because it covers more than one type of evening out. It lists cinema, theatre, music gigs, concerts, dance, stand-up comedy and live events.

This is a good place to check when you want something different from mainstream cinema or the usual city-centre options. It often feels more local and less tourist-facing than many “what’s on” lists.

Best for: independent cinema, smaller performances, comedy, music and cultural events.

Try Curzon Canterbury for a Relaxed Cinema Night

Curzon Canterbury is a good option when you want a low-effort evening that still feels like a proper plan. It shows blockbuster films, indie releases and world cinema, and its Canterbury Westgate listings are worth checking regularly.

Curzon also advertises cinema savings and membership benefits, including discounted tickets and savings on food and drinks. If you go to the cinema more than occasionally, it is worth checking whether membership makes sense.

Best for: relaxed evenings, film nights, rainy days and last-minute plans.

Make More of Canterbury’s Independent Food Scene

Going out locally does not always need to mean a full event. Sometimes the best plan is simply choosing somewhere better than your usual fallback.

For food, Canterbury has several reliable local favourites, including The Goods Shed, Café des Amis, The Cook’s Tale, The Parrot and Corkk. The better local choices are often slightly less obvious than the places you pass every day.

If you are planning food around an evening out, start with our Best Restaurants in Canterbury guide.

Best for: meals out, relaxed evenings, wine, small plates and trying somewhere new.

Look for Current Deals Before You Book

A good local plan feels even better when it is good value. Canterbury venues regularly have set menus, theatre discounts, cinema memberships, midweek offers or seasonal deals, but they are not always advertised in one place.

Before booking, check our Best Local Deals in Canterbury guide to see whether there is a current offer worth using.

Best for: midweek meals, cinema savings, theatre tickets and lower-cost evenings out.

Use Westgate Gardens and the Riverside for an Easy Local Reset

Not every good thing to do needs a ticket. Westgate Gardens, the riverside paths and quieter walks around Canterbury are useful when you want to get out without overplanning.

This is especially good earlier in the day, before or after lunch, or when you want to combine a short walk with coffee, food or a drink somewhere nearby.

Best for: simple days out, relaxed walks and low-cost plans.

The Local Rule: Choose One Good Thing, Not a Packed Schedule

The best Canterbury days are usually not overplanned. Pick one good anchor — a show, a film, a meal, a walk, or a small event — and build around that.

That is the difference between “we should do something” and actually getting out.

👉 See our Sunday plan for Canterbury