CCCU welcomes all people of all faiths and none. There are no pushy Christians. There is a chapel and there are Muslim prayer rooms but otherwise religion is discrete. Yes, you graduate in the cathedral, it occupies the orchard of St Augustine's Abbey, it has parts of the abbey in the grounds, St Martin's church is next door, they own a church (St Gregory's, used for music) and a cool Victorian graveyard. It also owns an art gallery, a 46 million quid library and a massive prison ... soon to be developed.
Putting that aside: France is 90 minutes away, the pubs are good, Canterbury is a foodie heaven, clubs are a bit so-so, there are beaches within 30 minutes in 3 directions and - if you are from the south west - we have cider. If you like James Bond then know that Ian Fleming lived down the road too, our National Express coach is the 007. Read the young Bond books? His Aunt Charmian's house is 2 miles out of town. It's a pub. I drink there. AND the real Chitty Bang Bang was built here.