Student Portal > Campuses > Canterbury > Canterbury Local Area Guide

Canterbury Local Area Guide

New to Canterbury? Here's some places your may want to know about...

  • Banks and building societies
    • Barclays
      9 St Georges Street CT1 2JX 
      +44 (0)345 734 5345
    • Halifax 
      Unit 6, The Clocktower, 29 St George’s Street CT1 2LE 
      44 (0)345 720 3040 
    • HSBC
      9 Rose Lane CT1 2JP 
      +44 (0)345 740 4404 
    • Lloyds 
      49 High Street CT1 2SE 
      +44 (0)345 602 1997 
    • Metro Bank 
      2 St George’s Street CT1 2SR
      +44 (0)345 080 8500
    • Nationwide Building Society
      4-5 High Street CT1 2JH 
      +44 (0)345 266 0287
    • Natwest
      11 The Parade CT1 2SQ 
      +44 (0)345 788 8444
    • Santander
      48 High Street CT1 2SD 
      +44 (0)800 085 1491 

    To open a UK bank account as a student, make an appointment and bring: 

    • Photo ID (for example, a passport or driving license) 
    • Proof of address (for example, a recent utility bill or council tax letter) 
    • A confirmation letter of enrolment from UCA (go to MyUCA > myRecords > scroll to request supporting letters) 
  • Cinemas
  • Dentists and opticians
    • A1 Teeth
      52 London Road       CT2 8LF 
      +44 (0)1227 765 851  
    • Burgate Dental Practice 
      14 Burgate CT1 2HG 
      +44 (0)1227 462 857  
    • Castle Street Dental Practice 
      69 Castle Street CT1 2QD 
      +44 (0)1227 761 111 
    • Dental Care Centre
      60 Dover Street CT1 3HD 
      +44 (0)1227 462 521  
    • St George’s Dental Practice 
      9 Upper Bridge Street CT1 2NA 
      +44 (0)1227 450 300
    • The Smile Centre Canterbury
      11 Upper Bridge Street CT1 2NA 
      44 (0)1227 462 574 
    • DentaLine 
      Provides out of hours emergency treatment when dental surgeries are closed. 
      Monday – Sunday, 18.00-23.00 
      Weekends/Bank Holidays: 8.30-13.30 and 18.00-23.00 
      Out of hours telephone: +44 (0)1634 890 300 
      Daytime telephone if your surgery is closed: +44 (0)300 311 2233 
    • NHS 111 Service 
      For information and help finding a local NHS dentist. 
      Telephone: 111 
    • Boots Opticians
      12 Gravel Walk CT1 2TF 
      +44 (0)1227 462 106 
    • Cargills Optometrists 
      59 St Peter’s Street  CT1 2BE 
      +44 (0)1227 766 670 
    • David Grimes Opticians 
      44 St Peter’s Street CT1 2BG 
      +44 (0)1227 463 341 
    • Pybus Opticians
      5 Palace Street CT1 2DY 
      44 (0)1227 760 501  
    • Specsavers Opticians 
      7 Rose Lane CT1 2SJ 
      +44 (0)1227 811 580 
    • Vision Express Opticians
      6-8 Rose Lane CT1 2SJ 
      +44 (0)1227 763 930
  • Dispensing chemists
    • ASDA Supermarket Pharmacy 
      Sturry Road CT1 1DG 
      44 (0)1227 462 039 
    • Boots 
      Whitefriars Shopping Centre, 12 Gravel Walk CT1 2TF 
      +44 (0)1227 470 944 
    • Boots 
      29 Oaten Hill CT1 3HZ 
      +44 (0)1227 457 830 
    • Cheadles Chemist 
      68 St Dunstans Street CT2 78BN 
      +44 (0)1227 462 422 
    • Eckersley Pharmacy 
      2 Northgate CT1 1WJ 
      +44 (0)1227 453 969 
    • Morrisons Pharmacy 
      Ten Perch Road CT1 3TQ 
      +44 (0)1227 764 663 
    • Porter Chemist 
      2B Hales Drive CT2 7AB 
      +44 (0)1227 781 588 
    • Superdrug Pharmacy 
      23 St Georges Street CT1 2SS 
      +44 (0)1227 462 039 

    There are a number of chemists and pharmacies in and around Canterbury available to choose from. Note that many supermarkets offer basic over the counter medicines. 

  • Gas and electric

    Who to contact if you smell gas? 

    British Gas
    24 hour gas emergency service. 
    Telephone: +44 (0)800 111 999 or dial 105 for electrical emergency 

    Who to contact in a power cut? 

    UK Power Networks 
    24 hour power failure and emergencies service. 
    Telephone: +44 (0)800 3163 105 or dial 105 for electrical emergency

    Energy advice for households

    Ofgem
    Energy advice for households. 
    Telephone: +44 (0)20 7901 7295 

    Ofgem accredited price comparison websites

    Citizens Advice Consumer Service 

    If disconnected or off supply: 

    Your rental agreement should say if you, your landlord or your letting agent are responsible for gas and energy bills. It’s important to check your rental contract for gas and energy supplier clauses. 

    Consumer protection law says you must be able to choose your gas and energy supplier if it is your responsibility to pay these bills. 

    Your landlord could be responsible for paying gas or energy bills. If they pay, it’s worth noting your rights to switch and checking the Citizens Advice guide on what your landlord can charge for your gas and energy. 

    If you have moved to a property with a pre-payment meter, tell the supplier you are a new tenant quickly. This is to make sure you don’t take on a former tenant’s debt in your prepayment meter charges. 

    Prepayment meter tariffs usually cost more. You may want to ask about different options, including changing to a smart or standard meter. Most suppliers offer meter change services for free. 

    See Ofgem for further information. 

  • GPs and health centres

    The surgeries asked that students register online and not go into surgeries. You need to be living in Canterbury and medical notes will be transferred to the practice. 

    • Canterbury Health Centre
      26 Old Dover Road CT1 3JH
      +44 (0)1227 931 999
      Registration: Online through website. Click on ‘new patients’ tab and then ‘registration’.
    • Canterbury Medical Practice
      Ethelbert Road CT1 3NR
      +44 (0)1227 463 128
      Registration: Online through website. Click on ‘patient access’ then ‘patient access registration’.
    • New Dover Road Surgery
      10 New Dover Road CT1 3AP
      Telephone: +44 (0)1227 462 197
      Registration: Online through website under ‘how do I…?’
    • Northgate Medical Practice
      1 Northgate       CT1 1WL
      +44 (0)1227 208 556
      Registration: Online through website, click ‘join the practice’. 
    • University of Kent Medical Centre
      Also provides mental health support services.
      Giles Lane CT2 7PB
      +44 (0)1227 469 333
      Registration: Online through website. Follow the ‘student registration’ link. 
  • Health, safety and emergency services
  • Hospitals
  • Leisure centres
  • Libraries

    Note that a library account enables you to request resources from other campuses and UK libraries, including resources from the British Library.  

  • Post offices
    • Main Post Office (inside WHSmith) 
      19 St George’s Street CT1 2LB 
    • St Martin’s Hill
      CT1 1PU 
  • Public information and services

     If you have questions on council services or council tax, feel free to speak to our Specialist Adviser or book an appointment.

    Phishing and scams

    Be aware that you may occasionally receive fraudulent texts, phone calls or emails where fraudsters pretend to be officials and then attempt to extract personal details from you. Such messages or calls are often framed as urgent to make you feel worried. If you receive such a text, call or email, don’t respond and just hang up. Only use legitimate official contact details to check that your arrangements are in order. More information is available on the Gov.uk website or visit the Campus Life team for advice and support.  

  • Public transport & student travel discounts

    18+ Student Oyster card

    • 30% discount on adult rate travel cards
    • To be eligible for an 18+ Student Oyster card you must be a student aged over 18 and living in a London borough during term time. 
    • Visit the TFL website for full terms and conditions:  
      tfl.gov.uk/fares/free-and-discounted-travel/18-plus-student-oyster-photocard 
    • You must apply online and pay a £25 admin fee with a debit/credit card. The fee is non-refundable. 
    • Choose UCA at Canterbury as your educational establishment. Please make sure you choose the campus where you are studying. 
    • Your application will be approved when you’ve fully physically enrolled and your term time address in our records has been confirmed as being in London. Please ensure your term time address is up to date on myUCA before applying and throughout the year. 

    16-25 Railcard 

    • £35 a year or £80 for 3 years
    • Available to anyone aged 16-25 or students 25+ in full time study.
    • Gives discounts on travelling around the UK (1/3 off most national rail fares). Note: a minimum fare of £12 applies when travelling before 10am, Monday – Friday, September – June.
    • You can also get discounts on the Oyster off-peak pay as you go daily price cap and off-peak Day Travelcards for Zones 1-6.
    • See the 16-25 railcard website for terms and conditions and further details on how to apply.

    Stagecoach 

  • Sexual health
    • The Gate Clinic
      Kent & Canterbury Hospital, Ethelbert Road CT1 3NG
      +44 (0)300 790 0245 
    • FPA Sexual Health and Advice
      +44 (0)300 123 7123       
    • National Sexual Health Helpline 
      Monday – Friday: 8.00 – 21.00
      Saturday – Sunday: 11.00 – 16.00       
      +44 (0)300 123 7123
  • Supermarkets
    • Aldi 
      St Andrews Close CT1 2LN 
    • Asda  
      Includes Dispensing Chemist and Optician
      Sturry Road CT1 1DG 
    • Canterbury Wholefoods 
      Wholefoods, organic, vegan & vegetarian products
      1-3 Iron Bar Lane 
      CT1 2HN 
    • Kukki 
      Japanese, Chinese, and Korean speciality foods
      2 Station Road West CT2 8AN 
    • Lidl 
      116-118 Sturry Road CT1 1HJ 
    • Marks and Spencer 
      4 St George’s Street CT1 2SR 
    • Morrisons 
      Includes Dispensing Chemist
      Ten Perch Road CT1 3TQ 
    • Premier 
      31-32 Oaten Hill CT1 1BW 
    • Sainsburys 
      Includes Dispensing Chemist
      Kingsmead Road CT1 1BW 
    • Starry Mart 
      Asian Market
      Unit 2 Broad Oak House, Broad Oak Road CT2 7PX 
    • Tesco Express 
      New Dover Road CT1 3AS 
    • Tesco Metro 
      Whitefriars Shopping Centre, Gravel Walk CT1 2SN 
    • Thais R Us Oriental Grocers 
      20 Lower Bridge Street CT1 2LG 
    • Waitrose 
      St George’s Centre CT1 1UL 
  • Taxis
  • Visitor and tourist information

Places of Worship

The information below is intended as a guide to helping you find a suitable place of worship while you study here at UCA. Please note religions are listed alphabetically. 

If you need reliable, balanced and relevant information about a particular religious group or new religious movement you can speak to Information Network On Religious Movements (INFORM).  

They provide information about new and minority religions as well as alternative spirituality that is balanced and up to date.

If you have any enquiries about a religious movement you can call INFORM on +44 (0)20 7848 1132 or email inform@kcl.ac.uk.