Pilgrimages to Thomas Becket's shrine in Canterbury began shortly after his martyrdom on 28 December 1170.
Following his canonisation on 21 February 1173 by Pope Alexander III, Canterbury Cathedral became a major pilgrimage destination. The translation of Becket's relics to a new shrine in the Trinity Chapel on 7 July 1220 further elevated the site's prominence, making this feast day a significant occasion for pilgrims.
The 14th century marked the peak of these pilgrimages, as evidenced by Geoffrey Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales, written in the 1380s and 1390s, which depicts a diverse group journeying to Becket's shrine. The popularity of these pilgrimages continued until 1538, when King Henry VIII ordered the destruction of Becket's shrine and the cessation of pilgrimages as part of the English Reformation.
Evidence suggests that medieval pilgrims took various routes depending on their point of departure, available roads, and personal circumstances.