Hidden in the centre of historic Canterbury, the beautiful Franciscan Gardens is a heritage site that is home to the first Franciscan settlement in England which was established in 1224.

If you need to escape the busy high street of Canterbury, we offer a haven of peace, where you can walk in the footsteps of the first Franciscans in England. Explore the nature and wildlife of the monastic lands whilst taking in the 800 years of history.

In 1538, the Franciscans were forced to surrender their lands due to their refusal to accept Henry VIII’s reformation of religion. Between 1538 and the late nineteenth century the lands on which the friary stood, now known as the Greyfriars Estate, passed through a succession of private owners.