Canterbury beyond the historic cathedral

The town may be anchored by its storied cathedral, but there's more fun to be had exploring its gardens and crooked bookshops

- Teja Lele

Early morning is the best time to explore a new city. The cobbled streets of Canterbury are hushed, but I can sense the thrum of a new morning: pale pink rays lighting up the sky, the occasional ring of a bicycle bell, and the echo of thudding footsteps of joggers.

I explore the shadowed lanes, the half-timbered houses, and old city walls as Canterbury sheds its blanket of darkness. But no matter where I go, the cathedral is never far, its great spire rising above rooftops as it stands guard like a timeless sentinel.

The Canterbury area in the county of Kent has been inhabited since prehistoric times. The main settlement of the Celtic tribe of the Cantiaci, it was captured by the Romans in the 1st century AD and named Durovernum Cantiacorum.

Over centuries, the historic town has become known for its beating heart: Canterbury Cathedral. A masterpiece of Gothic architecture, with soaring pointed arches, intricate stone carvings and stunning stained glass windows, the cathedral's vaulted ceilings and towering pinnacle draw the eye upward. "The cathedral, the primary ecclesiastical centre of England, has been a major pilgrimage destination for hundreds of years," says David Adkins, an expert, during a free talk that aims to squeeze the cathedral's 1,400-year history into 15 minutes.