A Francigena Extension from London to Canterbury
We are delighted to introduce the Francigena Britannica, an official 148km extension to the Via Francigena, connecting London with Canterbury. On this page you will find information about the route and a downloadable guide.
Whether you are the start of your journey to Rome, or looking for a walk within easy reach of London, there is so much to enjoy on this beautiful seven day pilgrimage through ‘The Garden of England’. We hope to see you on the path soon!
The Via Francigena Extension from London to Canterbury – 140kms
The number of pilgrims walking from Canterbury to Rome on the Via Francigena has increased markedly in the past decade, and despite the temporary fall during the Covid years, the numbers have begun to climb to record highs.
Back in 2019 the trustees of the Confraternity of Pilgrims to Rome (CPR) decided to investigate the viability of re-establishing the historic pilgrimage route from Southwark Cathedral to Canterbury. This route, as described by Geoffrey Chaucer in the 14th-century Canterbury Tales, is a significant pilgrimage route in its own right, but also a logical extension to the Via Francigena in the UK. There has been a route connecting London to Dover via Canterbury since Roman times, and though much of this original road is now buried under towns and transport infrastructure, it remains in our collective memories. Indeed, during the Saxon era the Via Cantii became known as Watling Street, a name which continues to this date.
The CPR felt the pilgrim community would appreciate the opportunity to approach the starting point of the Via Francigena on a seven-day pilgrimage from London to Canterbury, either as the start of their European odyssey or to follow in the steps of those who travelled for centuries to the shrine of St Thomas Becket.
Our preliminary thinking investigation found the A2-based route excessively urban as it crossed south London with too much traffic and very poor air quality. We set ourselves the task of finding a new route which would be easy to follow, tracked river valleys, had good transport infrastructure, and lots of heritage interest. In 2021 we asked members if they would be interested in such a route were it available. 71% of respondents said that they would; indeed 80% said that if a route existed, they would walk it!
This CPR online guide and route have been thoroughly tested for the past two years. It is our hope that the final version of the guide will provide more options and variants, so that the individual pilgrim can choose which option best suits their needs.
Since the idea of the Britannica was floated to a European audience, in 2022, it has steadily gained support from the broadest base which included the leadership of the EAVF, and on 18 October 2025 the European Association of the Vie Francigene, formally recognised the Britannica as an extension of the Via Francigena (click to read article).
Now the really hard begins!
The route
The CPR route knits together a number of established and well waymarked paths:
- Thames Path
- Green Chain Walk
- Darent Valley Walk
- Pilgrims Way
- North Downs Way
- Medway River Walk
- Stour Valley Way
- Online Version
A new route designed with the long-distance walker in mind, from Southwark Cathedral through the Darent Valley, along the North Downs Way and Stour Valley Path to Canterbury. The route takes in the Greenwich UNESCO World Heritage Site, Eynsford Castle, Otford Palace, Aylesford Priory and tranquil chalk grasslands, woods and orchards.
Download the current guide and gpx file for free. This version of the guide is still in draft form and we welcome any comments and corrections in the form below.
You can download the full guide below, as well as the gpx file.