Our Venues
Canterbury's museum and visitor centre is getting involved in the festival fun this year, hosting several drop in events over the festival weekend.
Central Canterbury, accessible by bus and a short walk from Canterbury East & West stations. Nearest car parking Pound Lane.
Step free access throughout, lifts available. Accessible toilets. Sensory bags & social stories available. Quiet space available.
Throughout our festival weekend you can enjoy events in the beautiful surroundings of World Heritage Site and England's oldest cathedral. Festival events are accessible for free with your Cathedral ticket or precinct pass.
Central Canterbury, accessible by bus and a short walk from Canterbury East & West stations. Nearest car parking Quenin Gate.
Step free access throughout, lifts available. Accessible toilets. Quiet space available.
Stories should be accessible to everyone, and we are working with the library to add a brilliant range of interactive events, story treasure hunts, meet the author and more in their beautiful spaces.
Central Canterbury, accessible by bus, and from Canterbury East and West train stations. Nearest car park St Radigund's.
Step free access throughout, lifts available. Accessible toilets. Sensory bags & social stories available. Quiet space available.
Sturry's very own beautiful bookshop cafe will
be hosting many events over the festival weekend, with a plethora of different things happening and all the tasty snacks for everyone while you create.
Sturry, accessible by bus (600/601/602 and 8/8A/8X) from Canterbury, Herne & Thanet, 2 mins walk from Sturry train station. Limited, on street parking (1 hour) or use Sturry Road Park & Ride.
Step free access, small spaces. Sensory bags & social stories available. Quiet space available.
We love finding lovely new venue spaces around Canterbury, and we are really excited to be able to use this beautiful room in Fenwicks department store this year.
They will be host to our first 'Meet Bunny & Monkey' event, as well as Storytimes and craft sessions through the weekend.
Central Canterbury, accessible by bus and from Canterbury East and West stations. Nearest car park Watling Street & Whitefriars.
Step free access. Sensory bags & social stories available. Quiet space available.
We are excited to add the historic Franciscan Gardens to our venues for the 2026 festival.
The gardens are hosting a range of events over the festival weekend, with garden entry included with your event tickets.
Central Canterbury, accessible by bus and from Canterbury East and West stations. Nearest car park Pound Lane.
Step free access, small spaces. Sensory bags & social stories available. Quiet space available.
Herne Bay's beautiful independent bookshop is joining our festival line-up this year with some amazing events in their secret, downstairs space.
Herne Bay, 15 minutes walk from Herne Bay Station, or accessible by bus from Canterbury & Thanet. Nearest car park William Street.
One flight of steps to event space. Toilet available. Sensory bags available.
The Old Synagogue
We are very lucky to be able to use this not often seen space tucked away in the heart of the city.
Through the main festival weekend we will be hosting a wide range of events here - come and explore!
Central Canterbury, accessible by bus or a short walk from Canterbury West and a slightly longer one from Canterbury East station. Nearest car park St Radigunds Street.
Step free access, accessible toilet. Sensory bags & social stories available. Quiet space available.
Shirley Hall
This beautiful, historic building will be host to our headline event this year, The World of Skandar with AF Steadman, and we are very excited to be able to use this larger space.
Central Canterbury, accessible by bus or an easy walk from Canterbury West, a slightly longer walk from Canterbury East. Nearest car parks are St Radigund's and North Gate.
Steps to enter. Sensory bags & social stories available. Accessible toilets available.
The children's section in Waterstones, Canterbury has always been a beautiful thing and we are thrilled to have them as one of our central venues for the festival.
Central Canterbury, accessible by bus or an easy walk from Canterbury East, a slightly longer walk from Canterbury West. Nearest car parks are Whitefriars multi storey or Watling Street.
Step free access, lift available. Accessible toilet. Sensory bags & social stories available. Quiet space available.
Stories happen outdoors just as much as indoors at tables and chairs, and there will be a range of events happening at The Wildwood Trust in Herne throughout the festival weekend. Explore stories in the open air and see some amazing animals as you go!
Usual park charges apply. Herne, accessible by bus from Canterbury, Thanet & Sturry train station. Parking on site.
Step free access, accessible toilet. Sensory bags & social stories available. Quiet space available.
Interested in your venue being part of Canterbury Children's Literature Festival in 2027?
Email canterburykidslitfest@gmail.com to discuss options
