Cathedral Gate Hotel

Every effort is made by the owner and staff to make your stay comfortable in this super old 1400's hotel. Be prepared for hilariously wonky floors and fast filling baths (Room Serenity)seriously incredible water pressure, a full hot bath in 90 seconds!! You can tell all the employees love their jobs as they give recommendations on good restaurants and historical gems with pride of their city. Not perfect or 5 star, but super charming and very reasonable value considering the location and efforts made by the team to make your visit a happy one. I would return without hesitation.

Amazing grade II listed building located in front of the cathedral. The building has massive Historic charm- you can get lost from your room to breakfast in the maze of stairs and corridors and plus had to cross the roof past a terrace with a view of the cathedral! Our room faced the street but we weren't troubled by noise on a Monday or Tuesday night. Continental breakfast was included in the reasonable price. Would definitely stay here again.

Great location for a short break in Canterbury. Located right next to the Cathedral. We had a room at the back and it was lovely and quiet and we had a really comfortable stay. It is an old historic building. The continental breakfast included in the price is great and substantial and particularly appreciated the fresh fruit salad. The staff are all very friendly and so very helpful. Customer service at its best throughout from time of booking until departure. A great choice and we would certainly recommend.

My family so enjoyed our stay last summer. Our room was small but very clean. We were impressed with the breakfast, but the real stunner was the impeccable customer service. It was second to none. Our international cellular plan was out for almost the entire time we were visiting, so we relied heavily on recommendations and direction from the lovely lady at the desk. We were never disappointed. Book here. You won’t regret it. 😊

This is a gem of a hotel, right by the cathedral. The staff are very friendly and helpful. Gave us ideas where to go and visit and eat as well. We arrived early and they were happy to look after our bags before and after check in. The room was spotless clean, good shower and hot water. A very quirky place up and down stairs over roof but that was part of the fun. Very old floors not straight but that’s what made it so lovey. I can’t wait to come back again to the hotel and go around the city more. We had two nights and plan to come back but maybe in the spring. Thank you to the hotel staff had the most amazing time.

Stayed for one night only for work purposes. Check-in was quick and easy and the gentleman at reception was inviting and delightful to talk to. Didn’t get his name sadly. Didn’t have time for breakfast so I can’t comment on that but there were plenty of teas and coffees in the room and help yourself water to grab just outside reception. The room itself had all I needed. Bed was soft (though a prefer a hard mattress) it wasn’t too soft. The room being on a slight tilt was actually comforting to me and added to the buildings charm. There are plenty of exposed beams which show off the sites true charm. Beautiful. Checkout was also quick and easy. All in all a pleasant nights sleep. They do provide ear plugs incase of local late night deliveries. But still slept well. Thank you to the team @ Cathedral Gate. Will book again the next time I’m called down to Canterbury, for certain, as the location is fantastic.

Staying at the Cathedral Gate Hotel is like stepping into a living piece of history while still enjoying the warmth and comfort of a modern welcome. From the moment we arrived, the charm of this centuries-old building was undeniable. The creaking staircases, timber beams, and quirky corridors tell stories of the past, yet everything is immaculately maintained and full of character.||The location simply could not be better—right at the entrance to Canterbury Cathedral. Waking up to the sound of the cathedral bells and drawing back the curtains to a view of its towers was unforgettable. You’re also just steps away from the heart of the old city, with its cobbled streets, shops, cafés, and history at every turn.||The staff were exceptional—warm, attentive, and genuinely passionate about making guests feel at home. They went above and beyond, from sharing local tips to ensuring every detail of my stay was perfect.||The rooms balance cozy comfort with character—spotlessly clean, well-furnished, and delightfully unique (no cookie-cutter hotel here). Breakfast was excellent, with fresh, hearty options served in a setting that felt both intimate and steeped in history.||If you want a stay that feels authentic, memorable, and deeply connected to Canterbury’s heritage, the Cathedral Gate Hotel is the perfect choice. It’s not just accommodation—it’s an experience. I can’t wait to return.

First, the good. The location cannot be beat, and the building is full of quirky, historic charm. My room had a gorgeous view of the cathedral illuminated at night. The staff kindly allowed me to drop off my luggage early. The furnishings were comfortable and clean. The room was quiet except for an odd creaking in the walls. Maybe it is haunted? Just kidding. I had the breakfast which was included with the stay, and it was excellent.|Now for the not-so-good. The bathtub was small. I am 5'6" and 160#, and someone much bigger wouldn't fit. Also there was no hand spray which made it difficult to wash and rinse my hair. None of the staff introduced thrmselves so the reviews mentioning their names are puzzling. When I arrived, some guy showed me the way to my room, made sure the door opened then left. Unfortunately, he neglected to tell me thst the heat wasn't turned on. About midnight, my room started getting cold, The radiator had no instructions or obvious "on" switch, and I wasn't about to experiment with it. The hour was late, and I had already changed for bed so I just put on every extra layer I had and went to bed. The temp went down to 10 celsius that night. When I checked out in the morning, I mentioned the lack of heat and was told it hadn't been turned on yet. The woman (owner? staff? who knows) told me I should have told them. Besides, she didn't need to sleep with it on yet. Not the barest hint of an apology. I pointed out that it didn't become obvious that there was no heat until late at night. Also why didn't someone tell me that I would need to turn on the radiator? Unbelievable.

A very quaint, hidden hotel. Right at the foot of the square, yet unobtrusive. The history of the hotel, the original floor plan and great staff make this a wonderful place to stay! Natalie was exceptional. Helping with ideas for dinner, to where to shop for a warm coat. (Temps dropped quickly!) Continental breakfast is included - was much more! Fruit, croissants, cereals and even porridge (delicious). Rooms were very clean, with updated bathrooms. Strong water pressure and fluffy towels. Stayed Friday/Saturday nights so the street below was noisy - but quieted down by midnight. I will be returning!

I have just returned from Canterbury where myself and a couple of friends stayed at the Cathedral gate hotel. I really can't find a fault - the location couldn't be anymore central, right next to the cathedral, room with a view on the main square, very clean. Hosts are extremely friendly and accommodating. Continental breakfast is included in price, for a British fry-up you have to have breakfast. But honestly, continental was more than enough for me! Bathrooms/showers are shared, but cleaned often.

For a place that is so reasonably priced, it blew expectations out of the water: (1) it is the best location possible, in the heart of town and literally right next to the cathedral; (2) the history and architecture of the hotel itself make it interesting and unique; (3) the breakfast is great (especially if you pay a little extra for the full English breakfast -- but even the included continental is good, with fresh warm croissants and great fruit salad, for example); (4) service was very friendly and accommodating -- they went above and beyond what I expected. The only downside was no air conditioning (but there is a fan in the room, and that turned out to be enough when we were there)... and many of the rooms have shared bathroom, but we paid a little extra for en suite and it was quite nice.

The location is fantastic, as it's just next door to the cathedral (no, really, at first I thought it was in the entrance!). The rooms are warm enough, and the beds are fine. It's not luxury accommodation by any means - in some ways it's a bit weird, as we had to go up, then around, then up, then out, then in, then around to get to our room - but it's affordable, the breakfast is good, and the staff is pleasant.