2026 has seen the reopening of The Canterbury Tales Experience which was closed for refurbishment for multiple years. Following in the footsteps of Chaucer’s anthology of the same name, the experience encourages visitors to step back in time to the author’s medieval world and join the pilgrims on a journey from the Tabard Inn in London to the Chequers of Hope in Canterbury. Immersive, interactive and engaging, this experience is a delight to have back open in the city and even though we live in Canterbury and it is predominantly for tourists, I wanted to experience the new visitor attraction for ourselves. We recently embarked on the pilgrimage with a group of friends who were visiting for the weekend and I am pleased to report that I can definitely see the appeal.
Appropriate for Chaucer newbies
The day before our booking I suddenly thought, how will the experience fare if you have limited knowledge of Chaucer and the tales themselves? Fortunately, knowing the anthology in detail is not a prerequisite and you can go in with as little knowledge as just acknowledging that the Tales existed. Throughout the journey you get to experience a bit of medieval life and see several of the tales presented in front of your very eyes, through projections, sound design, lighting design and various special effects. Each tale has a moral at its core and no presentation of a narrative is ever the same. The storytelling is bound to make visitors jump, laugh and smile, providing a great visual introduction to Chaucer’s work.
Technology and immersion
The technology and artistry of the experience is a standout factor, encompassing projections, projection mapping, holograms and special effects. There is a theatrical and cinematic quality to the experience, from the storytelling to the interactivity that makes you forget where you are in the world for 45-60 minutes. The creators have clearly thought about the walkthrough route in detail, really making visitors feel like they are on a journey with the pilgrims.
Historical and interactive
It is wonderful to have this medieval-themed experience open in the city again. In my opinion, it is probably an experience that you’d only ever do once, unless the creators choose to present different tales in the future, but it’s definitely worth booking to learn more about The Canterbury Tales in a modern, fun and engaging way. You can also enjoy a medieval-themed drink in the Chequers of Hope pub at the end of the route and drinks are fairly priced at upwards of £4. Tickets for the experience can be purchased via the attraction’s website. There are reduced prices for Youth and Children’s tickets, alongside concession fares for Bluelight card holders, residents (CT1, CT2 and CT3 post codes), students and those over 60.
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