Canterburyis a historic Englishcathedral cityandUNESCO World Heritage Site, which lies at the heart of theCity of Canterbury, a local government district ofKent, England.TheArchbishop of Canterburyis theprimateof theChurch of Englandand the worldwideAnglican Communionowing to the importance ofSt Augustine, who served as theapostleto thepaganKingdom of Kentaround the turn of the 7th century. The city'scathedralbecame a major focus ofpilgrimagefollowing the 1170martyrdomofThomas Becket. A journey of pilgrims to his shrine served as theframeforGeoffrey Chaucer's 14th centuryclassicThe Canterbury Tales.
Canterbury is a popular tourist destination: consistently one of the most-visited cities in theUnited Kingdom,the city's economy is heavily reliant upon tourism. The city has been occupied since Paleolithic times and served as the capital of theCelticCantiaciandJuteKingdom of Kent. Many historical structures fill the area, including a city wall founded inRoman timesand rebuilt in the 14th century, the ruins ofSt Augustine's Abbeyand aNorman castle, and theoldest extant school in the world,the King's School. Modern additions include theMarlowe Theatreand theSt Lawrence Ground, home of theKent County Cricket Club.
