Peace And Quiet
Living in the modern world can get a little hectic from time to time. You know that taking some time for yourself, away from the chaos is the best thing to do but it’s not always easy.
After seven weeks of almost non stop travelling, weddings, birthdays, parties, catch ups with family and friends...(the list is wonderful but endless) I needed to find a quiet place for my head to rest and my body to re set so I took myself off away for a couple of nights,.
Canterbury is where I went to university so it didn’t feel like a strange place for me to travel to alone. I took the high speed train from Kings Cross St Pancras in London on the second hottest day ever recorded in London (thank you Southeastern Rail for the A/C!) and arrived at Canterbury West in just under an hour. A small city, Canterbury’s centre is made up of cobbled streets, cosy pubs, cute tea rooms, shops and historical buildings. It’s pretty and quaint - especially when the sun is shining!
Where I stayed:
House of Agnes is a lovely little family run B&B a short walk from the station and only a couple of minutes into the centre of the city. I stayed in one of their Stable rooms that looked out onto the garden at the back of the property. A well stocked honesty bar where you can help yourself and pay later, and deck chairs set out on the grass made it a heavenly spot for an afternoon sundowner.
Where I ate & drank:
Tower House Terrace Cafe is tucked away just inside Westgate Gardens along the canal that runs through the city. The house itself is a popular wedding venue and the cafe with its simple selection was the perfect spot for a coffee in the sunshine.
Cafe St Pierre has always been a favourite of mine. An authentic French cafe on the high street with a small sunny courtyard, I stopped here for an (ice) coffee and a pastry.
The Goods Shed a beautiful upmarket farm shed with local produce and a restaurant, I parked myself at the bar with a book for the evening and indulged in their selection of small plates, gin cocktails infused with locally grown fruits and herbs and English sparkling wine.
Mister Miyagi has to be the best sushi in Canterbury. A tiny restaurant with only a few seats offering delicious fresh sushi not far from the cathedral. I ate here early evening and was the only person there!
What I did:
With no set plans and feeling pretty disconnected from my practice, I looked for a yoga class that might work but ended up going along to a free meditation class with a group run by a teacher from Sahaja Yoga instead. I was a little apprehensive, it was a style of meditation I’d never tried before (Kundalini based) and although I didn’t fully connect with it, ultimately it was an hour of almost complete silence, focusing on my breath, sitting next to a meadow of wild flowers with only the sound of the birds and the wind…pretty much exactly what I needed!
I spent almost two days in silence, I read, I caught up on Fleabag which all of my UK friends have been telling me I have to watch (am now in LOVE), I did a nighttime meditation both nights, I walked around and saw all the things that had changed over the last ten years (not as much as you’d think!) and it made me wonder why I don’t do things alone more often! If you’re looking for a mini break close to London, i’d highly recommend Canterbury. There’s lots of other boutique hotels to choose from, great restaurants and so much history to explore. Well worth the trip.
