Frequently Asked Questions
What would you advise me to bring?
What is the dress code at CLT?
What are the opening hours of the training centre?
What is the weather like in Canterbury?
How can I be sure that I've chosen the best course for my needs?
Is my language level suitable for the Micro-Group Training course? How can I check?
How do I get to the training centre every day?
Can I decide about lunches and the evening programme when I arrive?
How can I calculate the total cost of my training programme?
What are the shop opening hours in Canterbury?
What would you advise me to bring?
- An adaptor for your laptop, your mobile phone charger etc - in the UK we use a three pin plug. Adaptors are available at airports. We also keep a small stock at CLT. You can buy them in Canterbury too, but not if you are Swiss! Swiss participants should definitely bring their own as they are difficult to find in the UK.
- If you are doing a One-to-One or Combination programme, bring any company or work documentation which could be useful for your training
- Some money! Whilst all major credit cards can be used in the UK, some cash is always useful. Euros are accepted in a lot of Canterbury shops and restaurants but it is best to get some Sterling.
- The documentation we send you before you arrive with details of your accommodation and airport transfer, especially the telephone numbers!
- A USB memory stick - it could be useful to store sound files or Word files during your training
What is the dress code at CLT?
We like our participants to feel relaxed and comfortable during their training so our dress code is informal. British people do not dress formally for dinner unless it is a very special occasion at a formal restaurant.
What are the opening hours of the training centre?
The centre is open Monday to Friday from 08:00 until 18:00.
The training timetable for 6 hour daily training is usually:
08:45 - 10:15
Break
10:30 - 12:00
Lunch
13:30 - 15:00
Break
15:15 - 16:45
If you are training for only 3, 4 or 5 hours daily, the Resources Centre is available for you to use for self-study (your trainers will advise you), internet access, viewing DVDs etc.
In both our training buildings, free wireless internet access is widely available.
What is the weather like in Canterbury?
The UK has a temperate climate, with few extremes. In Canterbury we have the least rainfall and the most sunshine of any region in the UK. Whilst the temperature rarely falls below 0°C in winter it can feel very cold in an East wind. In the summer the temperature rarely goes over 30°C and, when the sun goes down, it can feel quite cold. Whilst weather forecasters can never be trusted, the BBC 5-day forecasts are usually a good indicator: Go to the BBC Weather Centre and enter Canterbury as your hometown
How can I be sure that I've chosen the best course for my needs?
If you have any questions, please call us during working hours on +44 1227 760000 or contact us by e-mail. If you are booking through an agent, check with them first.
Is my language level suitable for the Micro-Group Training course? How can I check?
Micro-Group Training is not suitable for Beginners. If you are Elementary level telephone us first for advice before registering, as Elementary Micro-Group Courses are not always available. If there has not been prior consultation we reserve the right to transfer elementary level participants to One-to-One training with consequent adjustment in hours or costs.
How do I get to the training centre every day?
If your host family is located more than a short walk from the training centre we provide a daily car service - this is included in the cost of your homestay accommodation. The service is also available to bring you in for evening social activities and take you home at the end of the evening. It gives you flexibility whilst allowing you to stay with the very best families available, many of whom live outside the city centre.
Can I decide about lunches and the evening programme when I arrive?
It helps us to plan your programme if everything is booked in advance. It is especially important to book the evening social programme in advance as bookings for individual items after arrival will incur a higher charge and must be paid in cash. We strongly recommend both options as they offer real opportunities to practise your communication skills in different contexts.
How long does it take to get to Canterbury from the airport with the CLT guaranteed airport transfer service?
| London Gatwick | approx 1 hr 15 |
| London Heathrow | approx 1 hr 50 |
| London City | approx 1 hr |
| London Stansted | approx 1 hr 45 |
| Ashford International Station (Eurostar) | approx 30 minutes |
How can I calculate the total cost of my training programme?
Let's take the example of a 2009 2-week Combination programme, with host family accommodation, 3 lunches with CLT trainers and the evening social programme. We will also include our guaranteed airport transfer service, with Gatwick arrival and departure.
All figures are in pounds sterling.
| Training fees | 2780 |
| Host family accommodation (255 X 2) | 530 |
| 3 lunches per week (45 X 2) | 90 |
| Evening Social Programme (42 X 2) | 84 |
| Arrival and departure transfers | 184 |
| Registration and Services Handling Fee | 45 |
| TOTAL | 3713 |
You should remember to bring some money with you for personal spending, Thursday and Friday lunches, weekend activities and so on.
What are the shop opening hours in Canterbury?
Most shops are open between 09:00 and 17:30 Monday to Saturday (they do not close at lunchtime). On Sundays, a lot of shops in the city are open from 10:00 until 16:00.
On Thursday evenings, many of the bigger shops stay open until 19:00 or 19:30.
There are a lot of choices locally:
- a day in the charming town of Whitstable (there is a regular bus service from Canterbury), with its working harbour, excellent fish restaurants, walks by the sea and fabulous sunsets - visit the See Whitstable website
- a visit to Dover Castle (there is a regular train service from Canterbury), one of England's finest Norman castles with 900 years of history in the defence of Britain, including the underground network of tunnels which formed a strategic command centre between 1939 and 1945 - see the English Heritage web page
- shopping in Canterbury - most shops are open on Saturday and Sunday - and visiting the Cathedral, the museums and other local attractions - see Canterbury Official Tourism - the official Canterbury website
- rent a bicycle and ride the Crab and Winkle Way to Whitstable, or explore the villages around Canterbury with their atmospheric country pubs - see the site of Downland Cycles, where CLT participants have preferential rates. One of our host families also rents out bicycles to any participant who would like one for the weekend.
- play tennis (indoor and outdoor courts are available, and we may be able to arrange for native speaker partners)
- rent a car and travel a little further afield - Leeds Castle (also easily reached by train) is one of 'the most beautiful castles' (very different from Dover) while the historic town of Rye is 'a must'. Both are 45 minutes by car from Canterbury. Our staff will be happy to help you make the booking.
Of course, many of our participants choose to spend a day in London (only 60 minutes by train).