The Beaney House of Art & Knowledge
18 High St, Canterbury, England
The fascinating Beaney House of Art and Knowledge is a one-stop cultural shop in the heart of Canterbury. It’s a visitor center, library, workshop space, museum, and art gallery. The Beaney has won awards for its family friendliness, too. Whatever your interests and whoever you’re traveling with, the Beaney should be on your agenda.
The basics
The Beaney House of Art and Knowledge is divided into several rooms that each present a different aspect of local culture or history, such as artworks related to people and places, animal and bird specimens, international artifacts, and crafts. You can browse them all or pick the areas that interest you. Most people visit independently while exploring other central Canterbury attractions such as Canterbury Cathedral, the Westgate Gardens, and the city’s cobbled lanes and timber-framed houses.
Things to know before you go
The Visitor Centre can provide handy maps, brochures, and ticketing information for Canterbury.
Entry is generally free although there may be charges for special events and exhibitions.
You can book guided highlights tours for groups of 8–30 people, which have a small per-person charge. You should book at least two weeks in advance.
The Beaney is accessible for wheelchair users and strollers.
How to get there
The Beaney is right in the center of Canterbury, so it’s easy to reach from other parts of the town. It’s in an attractive timber-framed building that you can’t miss. Canterbury itself is about 60 miles (97 kilometers) southeast of London. Drive yourself there by following the A2 or M2 from the capital. You can also get there by train from London St. Pancras International on the Southeastern line. Taking the train takes a bit longer than driving.
When to get there
The museum and galleries are open from Tuesday to Sunday from mid-morning until early evening, with shorter hours on Sundays. The Visitor Centre is open daily, including Mondays, but has slightly different opening and closing hours each day. The Library is closed on Sundays.
Drop into the Canterbury Roman Museum
Right beside the Beaney is another of Canterbury’s must-visit attractions, the Roman Museum. It presents one of the only remaining in situ Roman pavement mosaics in the UK, the remains of a Roman house, and other artifacts brought from elsewhere. It’s a good place to learn more about Roman Britain.
Travel Like an Expert with AAA and Trip Canvas
Get Ideas from the Pros
As one of the largest travel agencies in North America, we have a wealth of recommendations to share! Browse our articles and videos for inspiration, or dive right in with preplanned AAA Road Trips, cruises and vacation tours.
Build and Research Your Options
Save and organize every aspect of your trip including cruises, hotels, activities, transportation and more. Book hotels confidently using our AAA Diamond Designations and verified reviews.
Book Everything in One Place
From cruises to day tours, buy all parts of your vacation in one transaction, or work with our nationwide network of AAA Travel Agents to secure the trip of your dreams!