- Recommended
The Beaney House of Art & Knowledge
Engaging Roman museum built around the remains of a town house. See mosaics, artefacts and displays that bring Roman Canterbury to life.
Cheapest price on 18 Sept
£0.00
Average ticket price on 18 Sept
£-0.01
Fastest journey on 18 Sept
1 h 35 m
Average journey duration on 18 Sept
1 h 35 m
Buses on 18 Sept
6
Distance
39 km
The best way to find a cheap coach ticket from Maidstone to Canterbury is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid travelling at rush hour.
On Fri 18 Sept, we found 6 buses from Maidstone to Canterbury, including 6 direct services.
These direct buses cover the 39 km distance in an average of 1 h 35 m but if you time it right, some buses will get you there in just 1 h 35 m .
The slowest buses will take 1 h 37 m and usually involve a change or two along the way, but you might be able to save a few pennies if you’re on a budget.










Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Maidstone to Canterbury among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price, take the train, with an average ticket price of £10 For those with little time, consider booking a coach, which has an average total journey time of 1h 10m. Average ticket prices depend on the travel mode: a train costs an average of £10, while a coach costs an average of £25.
Distance: 39 km
| Coach | Most popular Train | Driving |
|---|---|---|
£25 Average Price | £10 Average Price Cheapest | £8 Average Price (fuel + tolls) |
1h 10m Average total duration Fastest 40m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 1h 34m Average total duration 1h 4m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 42m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
![]() Most popular bus company | ![]() Most popular train company | Your own car or car rental |
Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options |
This is compared to other travel options from Maidstone to Canterbury:
A train is £15 less than a coach for this route with tickets for a coach from Maidstone to Canterbury costing on average £25.
Other travel options to Canterbury take longer:
Train takes on average 1h 4m.
You'll arrive about 2m sooner (40m by bus vs 42m by car). Tickets start at around £25 compared to roughly £8 in fuel and tolls — a bit more, but you're getting time back, skipping traffic and parking, and you can work or rest on board.
Direct coaches are operated by Stagecoach South East.
Driving makes more sense if you're travelling as a group (where fuel splits across several people), want flexibility on timing, or plan to stop en route.
The table below shows live departures for Maidstone to Canterbury coaches for today, Thursday 17 September. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated coach journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Changes | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | 8:30 Maidstone | 1h46 | 10:16 Canterbury | 0 changesdirect | |
![]() | 9:29 Maidstone | 1h37 | 11:06 Canterbury | 0 changesdirect | |
![]() | 10:29 Maidstone | 1h35 | 12:04 Canterbury | 0 changesdirect | |
![]() | 11:29 Maidstone | 1h35 | 13:04 Canterbury | 0 changesdirect | |
![]() | 12:29 Maidstone | 1h35 | 14:04 Canterbury | 0 changesdirect | |
![]() | 13:29 Maidstone | 1h35 | 15:04 Canterbury | 0 changesdirect | |
![]() | 14:30 Maidstone | 1h47 | 16:17 Canterbury | 0 changesdirect | |
![]() | 15:36 Maidstone | 1h50 | 17:26 Canterbury | 0 changesdirect | |
![]() | 16:36 Maidstone | 1h40 | 18:16 Canterbury | 0 changesdirect | |
![]() | 17:49 Maidstone | 1h29 | 19:18 Canterbury | 0 changesdirect | |
![]() | 18:53 Maidstone | 1h21 | 20:14 Canterbury | 0 changesdirect | |
This is the last bus of the day. | |||||
Find all the dates and times for this journey
Compare train and coach prices over the next three weeks. See the best deals at a glance, find the lowest fares, and choose the option that fits your budget.
Buses from Maidstone to Canterbury run on average 3 times per day, taking around 40m. Cheap bus tickets for this journey start at £25 but you can travel from only £9 by train.
The earliest coach runs at 00:30, the last at 23:36. The fastest coach covers the 39 km distance in 1h 56m.
Distance 39 km |
Average bus duration 40m |
Cheapest ticket price £25 |
Buses per day 3 |
Fastest bus 1h 56m |
First bus 0:30 |
Last bus 23:36 |
Cheapest Month Mar |
Cheapest Day Thu |
High Season Jul - Sept |
Low Season Apr - Jun |
Busiest Day Sun |
Least Busy Day Tue |
Best time to book 5 days |
Discover the best of Canterbury — top attractions, local food, transport tips, budget advice, and currency essentials. Plan your perfect Canterbury trip today.
Engaging Roman museum built around the remains of a town house. See mosaics, artefacts and displays that bring Roman Canterbury to life.
Interactive museum on the site of Roman Canterbury, with preserved pavement mosaics, finds and family-friendly interpretation underground.
Local museum and gallery with art, ceramics, natural history and changing displays. Good for a broad introduction to the city and region.
Historic pedestrian street lined with timber-framed buildings, shops and cafés. A classic place to experience Canterbury’s medieval townscape.
A landscaped public garden beside the old city walls. Popular for riverside walks, flower displays and a relaxing break near the centre.
A peaceful green beside the River Stour and cathedral precinct. Ideal for a short scenic walk, picnic or photographs of the city’s historic core.
Kentish Huffkin is a traditional Kent bread roll, often served filled with ham, cheese or fruit. It is a long-standing local bakery staple across East Kent.
Canterbury Tart is a local jam tart linked with the city, typically made with shortcrust pastry and apple or berry jam. It is a classic Kent teatime bake.
Kentish Cobnuts are cultivated hazelnuts from Kent, prized for their sweet flavour and strong county identity. They are eaten fresh, roasted or in desserts.
Popular city-centre bistro serving modern British dishes in a relaxed, stylish setting. Well regarded for brunch, lunch and seasonal dinners.
Elegant restaurant focused on seafood and modern British cooking. A refined but welcoming choice for a special meal near the city centre.
Historic pub with traditional interiors, local ales and hearty British food. A good place to try Kentish beer in a characterful setting.
Moderate for England: hotels and dining are pricier than smaller UK towns, but local buses and casual meals stay manageable for most visitors.
Restaurants: 10-12.5% if service is not included. Cafes: rounding up is enough. Taxis: round up or add about 10% for good service.
Official public transport app
Canterbury Bus Station -> Whitefriars, Canterbury
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Maidstone to Canterbury by coach. From journey times and ticket prices to direct connections, first and last departures, and even whether the route is scenic, our FAQs cover everything you need to plan your trip. Whether you’re looking for the fastest coach, the cheapest option, or tips for making the most of your visit at Canterbury, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

Here are some other resources that might have the information you need