Searching “london to canterbury” usually means one of two things: you want the quickest train, or you are working out whether a day trip is worth the effort. We will answer both honestly, then explain where a private driver fits.
London to Canterbury: train, coach or car?
By train. Canterbury has two main stations. Canterbury West is on the high-speed line from London St Pancras and takes roughly an hour. Canterbury East is reached from London Victoria and is a little slower. Both stations are a short walk from the centre. Timetables and fares are on National Rail, and an advance off-peak ticket is usually far cheaper than buying on the day.
By coach. Coaches from Victoria are the lowest-cost option for a single traveller, but they run on the same congested roads as a car, so journey times vary with traffic.
By car. Canterbury is 62 miles from central London, about 1 hour 35 minutes without traffic. The route is the M2 and A2 through Kent. Allow longer on Friday evenings and bank holiday weekends, when the Kent roads fill up.
For one traveller, the train wins on cost. For three or more people, or a family with pushchairs and bags, the sums change. A private driver is one fixed price for the whole car, and nobody needs to work out onward connections.
Why book a private driver to Canterbury
- Door to door. We collect you from your hotel, home or office anywhere in London and take you straight to the city centre.
- Stop where you like. Want to see Leeds Castle or a Kent village on the way? Tell us and we will build it into the day.
- One vehicle for the group. An E-Class or S-Class takes up to 3 passengers, a Range Rover takes up to 4, and a V-Class takes up to 8. For bigger parties we quote a Sprinter minibus for up to 16 people, or see our minibus and coach hire.
- Your driver waits. On a day trip our driver stays with the car while you explore, so there is no train timetable to chase at the end of the afternoon.
What a day trip to Canterbury costs
Outside the M25 we charge by the hour, with a 4-hour minimum, and VAT is included. A normal day looks like this: 1 h 35 min each way plus about three and a half hours in Canterbury, which comes to 7 hours of hire. At the hourly rates that is £490 in an E-Class, £595 in an S-Class or V-Class, and £735 in a Range Rover. Divide the V-Class price between a family or friends of up to 8 and it compares well with eight individual train tickets.
The fixed price is agreed before you book. See the full price table for every vehicle.
What to do in Canterbury
Canterbury is built around its medieval centre, and most things are within a short walk of each other.
Canterbury Cathedral
The cathedral is the mother church of the Anglican Communion and part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site with St Augustine’s Abbey and St Martin’s Church. It is the destination of the old London to Canterbury pilgrimage that Chaucer wrote about. Check opening times and ticketing on the official cathedral website before you go, as services and events can close parts of the building.
The old town and river
The pedestrianised streets around Mercery Lane, the medieval city walls and the Westgate Gardens are all easy to cover on foot. Boat trips run on the River Stour in the warmer months. There are many cafés and pubs for lunch, and it is worth booking a table at weekends.
Fitting in a stop on the way back
Because the car is yours for the day, an hour at a Kent coastal town such as Whitstable or a castle on the way can be added with no extra planning. Tell us when you request the quote.
London to Canterbury distance and the best route
The distance from central London to Canterbury is 62 miles. Most journeys leave London via the A2 or the Blackwall Tunnel and join the M2, then follow the A2 into the city. The drive is simple, but the first 20 miles out of London are where delays happen, particularly during the morning and evening peaks. We plan the departure time with you so you miss the worst of it, and our drivers know the alternatives if the M2 or the Dartford Crossing is congested.
If you are travelling from the airports, Gatwick is the closer of the two to Kent on paper, but the route still depends on the M25. Ask us for a quote for any airport to Canterbury journey, as these are priced on request.
Is Canterbury better as a day trip or an overnight stay?
A day trip works well. You can arrive in time for the morning, spend the middle of the day in the cathedral and the old streets, and be back in London for the evening. If you want to include the Kent coast or a wedding venue in the area, a longer booking is easy to arrange. Hourly hire has a 4-hour minimum, and there is no need to settle the plan before you ask for a price.
Groups going to a wedding, a school visit or a family occasion often find that one larger vehicle is simpler than several train tickets. For those trips we can also quote wedding car hire.
Canterbury station to the centre
Canterbury West and Canterbury East are each a short walk from the cathedral area, so the train can feel simple. The catch is the return leg: carrying shopping, tired children or luggage back to the station in the evening, then another journey across London at the other end. By car, the last leg ends at your own front door.
How to book your Canterbury transfer
- Use the form below or our contact page with your pick-up address, date, number of passengers and luggage.
- Tell us whether you want a one-way transfer or a full day with a wait in Canterbury.
- We send you a fixed quote with VAT included.
- Confirm, and your driver arrives at the agreed time.
If you also need a car for the rest of your stay, our chauffeur service in London covers hourly hire, and airport trips can be arranged from Heathrow or Gatwick. Looking for more ideas? Browse our best day trips from London by car.
Last updated 20 October 2026.
