25 March 2026 marks a landmark day in Kent's long and remarkable history. On the Feast of the Annunciation, Dame Sarah Mullally will be installed as the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury at Canterbury Cathedral, making her the first woman ever to hold the role and lead the worldwide Anglican Communion. It is a moment of profound national and spiritual significance, and Kent, the ancient cradle of English Christianity, is the perfect place to be part of it.
Whether you want to witness the atmosphere in Canterbury itself, follow in the footsteps of centuries of pilgrims across the North Downs, or simply raise a glass in a pub that has welcomed wayfarers since the Middle Ages, there are countless ways to mark this once-in-a-generation occasion across the Garden of England.
Canterbury: At the Heart of the Celebrations
Canterbury Cathedral has stood at the centre of English spiritual life for over fourteen centuries, and on 25 March it will once again take centre stage. The installation ceremony, historically known as an enthronement, will see Archbishop Sarah installed first on the Cathedral Chair (Cathedra) as Diocesan Bishop of the See of Canterbury, the oldest diocese in the English Church, and then on the ancient Chair of St Augustine, symbolising her leadership of the global Anglican Communion's 85 million members across 165 countries.
The official service itself is a private occasion, but the city of Canterbury will be alive with the spirit of the day, and visitors are warmly welcome to join in the atmosphere. Hotels, restaurants and shops throughout the city are expected to be buzzing with pilgrims, well-wishers and history-lovers from around the world - though do book ahead, as accommodation is likely to fill up quickly.
While in the city, make the most of its extraordinary heritage. Canterbury Cathedral is one of the oldest and most important Christian structures in the world, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the destination that drew millions of medieval pilgrims after the martyrdom of Archbishop Thomas Becket in 1170. Explore the ancient precincts, visit the shrine and crypt, and pause to reflect in a place that has witnessed over a thousand years of archiepiscopal history. The Cathedral also holds a remarkable connection to the installation service itself as Archbishop Sarah will take her oath on a sixth-century manuscript gospel book brought to England by St Augustine, normally held at Corpus Christi College Cambridge but returned to Canterbury for each new Archbishop's oath-taking.
Just a short walk from the Cathedral, St Augustine's Abbey offers another powerful layer of the story. Founded by Augustine himself in 598 AD and a burial place for the earliest Kings of Kent, it was Augustine's mission that first brought Christianity to the kingdom, and it is in direct succession to that mission that Archbishop Sarah now stands.
Walk the Pilgrims' Way: A Living Journey Through History
There is no better way to honour this historic occasion than to walk, as countless thousands have done before you, towards Canterbury along the ancient Pilgrims' Way. Since the canonisation of Thomas Becket in 1173, pilgrims from across England and beyond have journeyed to his shrine along the natural corridor of the North Downs, a trackway that archaeologists trace back to at least 600 BC, and perhaps as far as the Stone Age.
Today, the North Downs Way National Trail follows much of this same route - a 153-mile journey from Farnham in Surrey to Canterbury and the White Cliffs of Dover, weaving through the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. But don't worry, you don't need to walk the whole thing as the Kent sections alone offer exceptional walking, rich in history, wildlife and those sweeping views across the Weald that reward every climb.
The Canterbury Loop: Chilham to Canterbury
For those wanting to arrive in Canterbury as a true pilgrim, the section from Chilham to Canterbury (approximately eight miles) is among the most evocative stretches on the entire trail. The medieval village of Chilham, with its castle and half-timbered square, is a beautiful starting point. From here you pass through the ancient woodland of King's Wood, where medieval pilgrims once gathered in numbers for safety against robbers, before emerging to catch your first glimpse of Canterbury Cathedral rising above the Stour valley. It is a sight that has moved travellers for eight centuries.
Charing to Wye: In the Footsteps of Pilgrims
The village of Charing occupies a uniquely special place in the pilgrimage story. Sitting on the Pilgrims' Way between Maidstone and Ashford, it was a regular overnight stop for archbishops travelling between Lambeth Palace and Canterbury, and at its heart stand the remarkable ruins of the Archbishop's Palace, a Scheduled Ancient Monument with origins in the eighth century. Thomas Becket himself is said to have stayed here, and the great hall, now a barn, still speaks of the feasts and ceremonies of a thousand years of Church history. Remarkably, it is still the custom for the Archbishop of Canterbury to robe at the Palace when visiting Charing before entering the church. What better backdrop for a pilgrimage walk in the week of the installation?
As part of the Heart of Kent Walking Festival (running 20–29 March 2026, perfectly timed to coincide with the installation), a guided walk from Charing to Wye on 22 March follows this ancient trackway in the footsteps of pilgrims and drovers, visiting the haunting ruins of St Mary's Church at Eastwell along the way. A guided rail ramble from Charing to Hollingbourne is also offered on 21 March
Rochester Cathedral and the Augustine Camino
For those wishing to undertake a longer pilgrimage, Rochester is the traditional starting point of the Augustine Camino - a long-distance walking route from Rochester Cathedral to the Shrine of St Augustine in Ramsgate, via Canterbury and Faversham. Rochester itself boasts the second-oldest cathedral in England and a magnificent Norman castle, and Chaucer's pilgrims would certainly have passed through here on their journey from London. The Heart of Kent Walking Festival features an Augustine Camino walk from the Friars at Aylesford, a beautiful Carmelite priory built on the return from the Crusades, and one of the oldest Christian sites in England, up to the North Downs Way and on towards Hollingbourne.
Raise a Glass: Pubs with Pilgrimage History
The villages along the southern foot of the North Downs have welcomed weary travellers since time immemorial. Pilgrims, drovers and wanderers found food, drink and shelter in inns that in some cases have barely changed since. These are among the finest places to pause and mark the Archbishop's installation over a pint of Kentish ale, or a glass of Kentish sparkling wine.
The Black Horse Inn, Thurnham
Sitting directly on the Pilgrims' Way in the hamlet of Thurnham, three miles north-east of Maidstone, the Black Horse Inn is as close to the authentic pilgrim experience as you can find. This 18th-century inn serves Kentish real ales and locally sourced food in a setting that has changed little since the time when pilgrims passed by outside. The team even provides maps of walks from the front door, taking in sections of the North Downs Way and Pilgrims' Way. With 27 comfortable rooms in Kentish barn-style buildings on the grounds, it makes an ideal base for a pilgrimage walking break.
The Woolpack Inn
The picturesque village of Chilham, at the gateway to the final stretch of the Pilgrims' Way into Canterbury, has long offered hospitality to those making the journey. The Woolpack Inn has welcomed walkers and travellers here for generations, and with the castle and medieval square just steps away, there are few more evocative places to pause before or after completing the walk into the cathedral city.
Planning Your Pilgrimage
Getting here: Canterbury is well served by rail from London St. Pancras with Southeastern (under an hour on High Speed services) and London Victoria. Many of the North Downs Way walking stages are accessible by train - the Heart of Kent Walking Festival places strong emphasis on rail access, with walks starting from Charing, Harrietsham, Hollingbourne and other stations along the Maidstone East line.
