Dane John Gardens – SCOPIX
The wait is over! Canterbury’s iconic Dane John Gardens fully reopened on Friday 1 May, just in time to soak up the spring sunshine and a promising weekend of weather.
The park is looking sensational, and the majority of the site is now accessible for your strolls. The entire park, including the play area, is open to the public once more. The main avenue path resurfacing is complete, and essential facilities like the public toilets are fully operational. Please note that the previous arrangement of locking the gates overnight between 10 pm and 4 am on Friday and Saturday nights has been reinstated.
You’ll still see some activity and limited fencing as we sprint toward the finish line. Our teams are currently finalizing the installation of newly-cast lighting columns and completing path resurfacing near the houses. The power supply for the fountain and permanent lights will be activated later this month; in the meantime, temporary floodlighting remains in place. Additionally, construction on the new cafe is nearing completion, with discussions underway to bring back the familiar flavors of the Don Juan.
Everything is building toward Sunday 24 May for the Canterbury Unlocked festival – a massive, free celebration of our city’s transformed public spaces.
The Dane John Gardens will host Folk Lore Kent’s Mayhem Fair, featuring a big-top marquee, folk entertainment, and dance workshops. Visitors can also enjoy live music from Hullabaloo, The Native Oysters Band, and Goblin Band, alongside food markets and pop-up bars. Elsewhere, look out for The Great Escape aerial theatre performances at Westgate Square.
Plan your full festival experience at canterburyunlocked.co.uk.