Canterbury and the wider district are experiencing a remarkable renaissance. Once known primarily for its historic cathedral and heritage appeal, this vibrant part of Kent is now a magnet for leading national and lifestyle brands. Significant private and public investment is boosting jobs, strengthening the visitor economy and reshaping the district’s commercial profile.
This shift is redefining Canterbury District as a future-ready destination where retail, leisure, culture and business come together – supported by hard economic fundamentals as well as its world-class heritage.
A new generation of brands on Canterbury’s High Street
Recent years have seen a series of high-profile brand arrivals that reflect growing confidence from national retailers and premium dining operators.
Canterbury’s Whitefriars Shopping Centre has welcomed lifestyle names like Oliver Bonas, offering fashion, accessories and homeware in one of the city’s largest retail spaces. Urban Outfitters has added further pull with its two-floor flagship, bringing its distinctive fashion and lifestyle mix into the heart of the city. These openings strengthen the retail mix, increase dwell time and attract new audiences into the city centre.
The dining scene has also been elevated by the opening of The Ivy Canterbury Brasserie, which has brought stylish all-day dining to the city and created around 140 new hospitality jobs. Alongside other notable openings such as Space NK, ProCook and Lucy & Yak, Canterbury’s high street is evolving into a destination that blends heritage character with contemporary lifestyle appeal.
This retail and hospitality momentum is closely linked to the city’s strong visitor economy. In 2024 alone, Canterbury City recorded over 5.5 million tourism trips, including more than 5.1 million day visits, underlining the scale of footfall supporting high street and food & drink investment.
The role of the Canterbury BID: Supporting growth and confidence
Behind the visible transformation of Canterbury’s high street is the ongoing work of the Canterbury Business Improvement District (BID), which plays a vital role in supporting businesses, improving the trading environment and strengthening the city centre’s appeal.
The BID works in partnership with local retailers, hospitality operators, property owners and the council to drive footfall, promote the city, enhance safety and cleanliness, and deliver events and campaigns that animate the city centre throughout the year. From marketing initiatives and seasonal activity to business support and public realm improvements, the BID helps ensure Canterbury remains competitive, attractive and commercially resilient.
For investors and incoming brands, a strong, active BID sends an important signal of confidence and coordination. It demonstrates that the city centre is being proactively managed, promoted and enhanced – not just maintained. In practical terms, this creates a better environment for trading, supports stronger visitor numbers, and helps protect and grow the long-term value of high street and leisure investments.
Leisure and well-being: Investment beyond retail
Investment across the district goes well beyond shops and restaurants. The opening of David Lloyd Leisure in Herne Bay has introduced a premium health, fitness and wellness destination, supporting new jobs across fitness, hospitality and customer service, while enhancing the area’s lifestyle offer for residents and visitors alike.
High-quality leisure infrastructure plays a crucial role in extending visit length, increasing local spend and improving quality of life. With visitors in Canterbury City spending more than £132 million a year on food and drink alone, and significant additional spend on entertainment, travel and shopping, the case for continued leisure and experience-led investment is strong.
Tourism: A pillar of economic strength
Tourism remains one of Canterbury’s most powerful economic engines – both in the historic city and across the wider district.
In 2024, Canterbury City alone recorded:
- 5.6 million total trips, including 5.1 million day trips and around 437,000 staying trips
- 1.8 million overnight stays in the city
- £323 million in direct visitor spending during trips
- £403 million in total economic impact once supply-chain and induced effects are included
- Around £27 million injected into the local economy every month through tourism activity
Staying visitors generated around £123 million, while day visitors contributed approximately £201 million, highlighting the importance of both markets to the city’s economy.
Tourism now supports over 8,000 jobs in Canterbury City alone, with more than 6,400 roles directly supported by visitor spending. That equates to roughly 12% of all employment, underlining just how central the visitor economy is to local prosperity.
These figures show that tourism doesn’t just bring people into the district – it underpins jobs in hospitality, retail, transport, attractions and services, and provides the commercial foundation that makes high street and leisure investment viable.
Jobs and economic impact across the district
Across the wider Canterbury District, the economy supports more than 60,000 jobs, with major employment in retail, tourism, education and professional services.
Brand investments in retail and leisure – from The Ivy and Urban Outfitters to David Lloyd and a growing mix of lifestyle retailers – contribute directly to job creation and indirectly support roles across supply chains, logistics and local services.
To put that impact in context:
- The Ivy alone created around 140 new roles.
- Tourism supports 8,000+ jobs in Canterbury City, with thousands more across the wider district.
- Visitor spending drives significant employment in catering, retail, accommodation, transport and entertainment
Crucially, these opportunities span entry-level roles through to managerial, operational and professional positions, helping to diversify career pathways for local residents and retain talent in the area.
Commercial confidence and long-term growth
This wave of investment signals growing commercial confidence in Canterbury District. Premium brands, leisure operators and developers are choosing the area because of:
- Millions of visitors each year and consistently strong footfall.
- A resilient high street and improving retail mix.
- A visitor economy generating over £400 million in annual economic impact in Canterbury. City alone.
- Proactive local strategies focused on attracting quality investment across retail, leisure, hospitality and mixed-use development.
- Continued interest from institutional and private investors in commercial property and experience-led destinations.
The district’s proximity to London – with fast rail links to St Pancras in under an hour — and its strategic location in the South East further strengthen its appeal as a base for retailers, hospitality operators and growing businesses.
A district reimagined: Attractive, diverse, forward-looking
Today, Canterbury District is redefining what a modern high street and regional economy can be: one that blends world-class heritage with contemporary retail, leisure and lifestyle experiences.
The arrival of brands such as Oliver Bonas, Urban Outfitters, The Ivy, Space NK, ProCook and Lucy & Yak, alongside major leisure investments like David Lloyd, sends a clear signal: investors see long-term value and growth potential here.
Backed by a tourism economy worth over £400 million a year, supporting thousands of jobs and drawing millions of visitors, Canterbury offers a compelling proposition. For investors, businesses and community partners alike, the district stands out as a vibrant, connected and confident place to live, work and invest – and one that is firmly poised for continued success.