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Summary of reviewsCathedral Gate in Canterbury is a highly praised three-star hotel perfectly nestled in the heart of the city, right next to the iconic Canterbury Cathedral. Its prime location offers guests picturesque views and convenient access to the city’s historic and cultural attractions, making it an ideal base for sightseeing and shopping. The central position also appeals to those keen on enjoying Canterbury’s local dining and nightlife, although light sleepers should be prepared for some nocturnal street noise.
Guests rave about the hotel's breakfast, noting its extensive variety and fresh, delicious offerings ranging from continental options to hearty full English breakfasts. The availability of room service and the opportunity to enjoy meals with scenic views further enhance the experience. The breakfast service, provided by friendly and attentive staff, receives particularly high praise.
The rooms at Cathedral Gate embody a blend of historical charm and modern comfort. They vary in size but are consistently clean and comfortable with many offering stunning views of the cathedral. While some rooms are on the smaller side and the historical layout might pose navigation challenges, the quaint decorations and well-equipped interiors more than compensate for these minor issues. Despite some occasional maintenance needs and the lack of air conditioning, the cozy atmosphere and modern amenities like ensuite bathrooms ensure a pleasant stay.
Cleanliness stands out as a key attribute with both private and shared spaces meticulously maintained. This commitment to hygiene greatly enhances the overall experience, making guests feel comfortable and cared for.
The quality of service provided by the staff is a highlight of many reviews. The team, described as friendly, helpful and knowledgeable, goes above and beyond to ensure guests have a memorable stay. Their exceptional hospitality, from providing local insights to personalized care, significantly contributes to the hotel's welcoming atmosphere.
Although feedback on the beds is mixed, the majority of guests find them comfortable with soft pillows and fluffy towels contributing to a restful night's sleep. Some concerns were raised about bed sizes and mattress quality, but these are outweighed by positive comments on overall comfort and the thoughtful provision of earplugs for light sleepers.
In summary, Cathedral Gate excels in delivering a unique and characterful experience that surpasses its three-star rating. Its exceptional service, unmatched location, delightful breakfast and historical charm make it a top choice for visitors to Canterbury, promising both a comfortable stay and a convenient gateway to explore the city's rich heritage. Show more
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Hotel near Nightlife Spots
3-Star Hotel
Room Types
Double Room with Shared BathroomThis room offers a TV, telephone, hairdryer, and tea and coffee making facilities. The room has access to a shared bathroom.
Double Room with BathroomThis room offers an en suite bathroom, a TV, telephone, hairdryer, and tea/coffee making facilities. This room type constitutes different rooms (see room photos) and the room allocation will be subject to availability. Please note all our rooms are non-smoking this also includes the use of e-cigarettes.
Single Room with Shared BathroomThis room offers a TV, telephone, hairdryer, and tea and coffee making facilities. The room has access to a shared bathroom.
Twin Room with BathroomThis room offers an en suite bathroom, a TV, telephone, hairdryer, and tea/coffee making facilities.
Guest Reviews
8.8
Excellent
Location
Nestled in the heart of Canterbury, 'Cathedral Gate' boasts a location that simply cannot be beat. Situated literally next to Canterbury Cathedral and within the city's pedestrianized area, this historic hotel offers unrivaled access to the sights, shops and charm of the old town. Guests consistently praise the location as fabulous, superb and absolutely central, making it easy to explore everything Canterbury has to offer.
The hotel's prime position provides breathtaking views of the cathedral and the main square from many of its rooms, enhancing the authentic experience of staying here. Visitors find that it offers an unbeatable spot for activities like Christmas shopping, sightseeing and enjoying local dining and shopping areas. Furthermore, the proximity to Canterbury Cathedral’s gate and other main attractions makes it an ideal base for tourists keen on exploring the city's rich history.
Despite the occasional challenge in navigating the cobbled streets, the overwhelmingly positive feedback about the central location stands out. The unique and historic ambiance of the building, coupled with friendly and helpful staff, adds to the hotel’s appeal for those seeking both character and convenience in their stay.
Overall, 'Cathedral Gate' is celebrated for its fantastic and incredibly convenient location, making it a top choice for anyone visiting Canterbury. Its centrality allows easy access to all major attractions, ensuring that guests can fully immerse themselves in the city's medieval charm.
Breakfast
The breakfast at Cathedral Gate receives high praise from guests, highlighting it as a standout feature of their stay. Many reviews commend the extensive and varied options available, from continental to full English breakfasts. Fresh fruit salads, yogurt, warm croissants and other pastries are frequently mentioned as delicious and plentiful. Guests particularly appreciate the freshness and taste of the offerings with many highlighting the croissants as the best they've had.
The option to have breakfast delivered to the room or enjoy it in a dining area with picturesque views adds a touch of luxury and comfort, appreciated by many. The breakfast service is often described as fantastic with friendly and helpful staff enhancing the overall experience. Whether opting for a hearty English breakfast or a lighter continental spread, visitors find the food well-prepared, tasty and satisfying. Even the room service breakfast is noted for its timeliness and quality.
Overall, the breakfast at Cathedral Gate leaves a lasting impression with its variety, quality and thoughtful presentation, making it a key highlight that enhances the guest experience.
Rooms
Cathedral Gate offers a unique blend of modern comfort and historical charm, situated in a traditional 16th-century building. The rooms vary in size but are consistently praised for their cleanliness and comfort. Guests have highlighted the beautiful views from many rooms, especially those overlooking the cathedral. Despite some rooms being small, they are described as cozy, quirky and characterful with some even featuring quaint decorations like four-poster beds.
The rooms are well-equipped and often spacious, although access can be tricky due to the historical layout requiring navigation of stairs and corridors. Some minor issues were noted, such as rooms lacking air conditioning and occasional maintenance needs. However, these are often viewed as part of the building's charm. Modern amenities like ensuite bathrooms, high-quality toiletries and well-furnished interiors add to the comfort.
Guests appreciate the peaceful atmosphere and the mix of historical features with modern touches. Communal areas and charming outdoor terraces enhance the overall experience, making Cathedral Gate a delightful choice for those looking to enjoy a blend of old-world charm and modern comfort.
Beds
Cathedral Gate has garnered a variety of guest opinions regarding its beds with the majority being positive. Many guests have praised the beds for their comfort, often highlighting their soft pillows and fluffy towels that add to a good night's rest. Words like comfy and comfortable frequently appear, indicating that numerous visitors found the beds to meet or exceed their expectations. The mattresses, when mentioned positively, are described as wonderful, very comfy and super comfortable with some guests noting that they awoke feeling refreshed.
On the other hand, certain guests highlighted some challenges. A number of reviewers pointed out that the beds were on the smaller side with some specifically mentioning small double beds and even canopy beds being relatively good but not exceptional in size. Others noted issues with the mattresses, describing them as lumpy, old or hard, which occasionally detracted from the overall comfort. The phrase uncomfortable mattress surfaced in some reviews, underlining that bed comfort experienced varied among guests.
Additionally, a few guests mentioned practical issues like squeaky beds, noise disturbances from outside and short bed lengths, although the provision of earplugs by the hotel helped mitigate the noise problem for some.
Overall, while most guests appreciated the comfortable and well-maintained beds, there is room for improvement in mattress quality and bed sizes to enhance the sleep experience further.
Cleanliness
Cathedral Gate stands out for its exceptional cleanliness, consistently praised by guests for its meticulous standards. Reviewers frequently highlight the hotel as spotless with rooms described as exceptionally clean and comfortable. The stunning and well-designed interiors, along with clean and tidy accommodations, contribute to a pleasant stay. The shared bathrooms and common areas also maintain a high level of cleanliness, adding to the overall immaculate environment. The provision of clean towels and toiletries further reinforces the hotel's commitment to guest satisfaction. With cleanliness and comfort at the forefront, Cathedral Gate ensures a pristine and inviting atmosphere for all its visitors.
Staff
The guest reviews for Cathedral Gate highlight the exceptional quality of the hotel's staff, who consistently receive praise for their friendliness, helpfulness and professionalism. The terms used to describe the staff range from friendly and attentive to extremely polite, welcoming and accommodating. Individual staff members, such as Rob and Monica, were frequently mentioned for their outstanding service, providing detailed information and making guests feel welcome.
Guests appreciated the team's great local knowledge, proactive assistance and the warm, home-like atmosphere they created. The staff's willingness to go above and beyond to cater to guests' needs stood out in many reviews, from upgrading rooms to assisting with luggage and offering valuable local insights.
Breakfasts were described as fantastic and the service was exceptional across the board with the reception team frequently singled out for their excellent greetings and attentive care. The staff's politeness and warmth contributed significantly to guests' overall satisfaction, making their stays memorable. The reviews paint a picture of a hotel where the staff plays a central role in ensuring a delightful and welcoming experience for visitors.
Nightlife
Cathedral Gate, a centrally located hotel in a lively area, offers guests easy access to numerous cafes and bars perfect for a late-night drink. However, the vibrant nightlife comes with its share of noise. Expect some level of disturbance from the nearby pubs and clubs, especially over the holiday weekends and late into Saturday nights. Revelers and pub-crawlers contribute to intermittent noise that can persist into the early hours with instances of loud shouting and vehicle noise. While the hotel's location is ideal for those looking to enjoy the local nightlife, light sleepers should be prepared for a certain degree of street noise.
3 Star
Cathedral Gate is a charming hotel that offers exceptional service often described as exceeding its three-star rating. Guests appreciate its location, which is perfectly integrated into the historical attractions they come to see. Many express a desire to return or recommend the hotel without hesitation, reflecting their satisfaction with their stay. Despite being a three-star establishment, visitors find it to offer great value for money and character. Descriptions such as "good, decent and convenient" are common, highlighting its middle-of-the-road quality in terms of facilities and services while maintaining a unique and characterful appeal.
No, Cathedral Gate doesn't have any pool.
No, a spa isn't available at Cathedral Gate.
No, Cathedral Gate doesn't allow dogs.
No, parking facilities aren't available at Cathedral Gate.