City Wall Tower

City Wall Tower is a small chapel built into the city wall at Canterbury, on Burgate Lane. It sits in a circular stone tower, is Grade II listed and stands a few minutes from the cathedral. It is hired for ceremonies only.

Why it suits LGBTQ+ couples

City Wall Tower is a strong fit for couples who want a ceremony with real character and no fuss. The venue hosts just one wedding per day, so you have the whole chapel to yourselves, with time to decorate beforehand and time for photographs afterwards. It is a dry-hire space, so you choose who joins you and where the celebration goes next.

Ceremonies

The chapel is licensed for civil ceremonies and takes up to 80 guests. Hire covers the venue only, so a registrar or celebrant is booked separately. The venue has a resident celebrant if you would like to use one. Stone walls and the circular tower give the room a calm, historic feel without much decoration. Because the hire is flexible about how you use the time, you can plan the order of the ceremony, music and readings yourselves, and invite as many or as few guests as you like. There is no minimum guest number.

Receptions and food

There are no receptions on site and no catering. Instead, you can walk into the city centre, where restaurants, bars and hotels are close to the chapel. This suits couples who want a relaxed meal in a favourite restaurant, a pub booking or a private room elsewhere. The venue can recommend nearby places. A smaller group often works well here, with the ceremony in the morning and a long lunch afterwards. Evening plans can then be made around the city at your own pace.

Getting there and the area

Canterbury has two mainline railway stations, and the city centre is compact and walkable. Cars can drop off directly outside the chapel, and the nearest city car parks are a short walk away. The cathedral, the old streets and the River Stour are all close for photographs.

Good to know

• Venue hire is for the ceremony only, with no catering on site.
• Only one wedding is held per day.
• A registrar or celebrant is not included in the hire.