Westgate Parks – diverse past, exciting future

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Situated alongside the Great Stour in the historic city of Canterbury, Westgate Parks are four unique green spaces. Use this website to plan your visit, find out about Heritage and get involved through volunteering and community activities.

About Westgate Parks

Westgate Parks are owned by Canterbury City Council, who manage and maintain them in partnership with the Friends group. After the five-year Heritage Lottery Fund project ended in 2018, the Friends of Westgate Parks became a Registered Charity (no. 1178364).

About Friends of Westgate Parks

Canterbury’s Medieval Pageant

Sound the fanfare and grab your knightly shield as Canterbury’s Medieval Pageant returns for a special 10th anniversary edition on Saturday 5th July 2025. This year’s pageant puts a spotlight on the medieval pilgrims that came to Canterbury to visit the shrine of Thomas Becket, and the author that wrote Canterbury into the history books – Geoffrey Chaucer !

Meet colourful characters, peaceful pilgrims and the author himself, as you explore 21 trail stops, each with plenty of tales to tell.

Embark on the Family Trail, brimming with interactive stops. Collect and decorate a pilgrim badge, take a vow with the visiting medieval royal household, watch knights battle, meet squires, weavers, blacksmiths, millers, writers, bakers and more. You can even visit England’s oldest toilet (although you can’t use it!).

For more information see the Pageant website at : Canterbury Medieval Pageant.