The city remained largely unchanged for a long time, but was severely damaged during the Second World War by the German Air Force in the "Baedeker retaliatory attacks" on culturally significant cities in England in 1942. Since then, Canterbury has become a modern city and important shopping center, with great leisure facilities, good transport links and a variety of accommodation options. Because many historic buildings have been preserved, the medieval character of the city center has been preserved. Remarkable besides the cathedral are the many other old churches in the city.
Much of the city wall is intact; of the six ancient gates, only one is left, the Westgate, from the time of Richards II; it now houses a museum. The historic weaver's houses line up along the River Stour, and further down the river are the monasteries of the Blackfriars and Greyfriars from the 13th century. Canterbury offers a host of other historic sites, including the keep of the former Norman Canterbury Castles or the Norman Steps of the King's School. Some of them have inspired famous poets and writers. Christopher Marlowe was born in Canterbury and baptized in St. George. Despite his closer ties to Rochester and Broadstairs, Charles Dickens chose Canterbury as the setting for his novel David Copperfield.