<P> The Canterbury Tales ( Middle English : Tales of Caunterbury ) is a collection of 24 stories that runs to over 17,000 lines written in Middle English by Geoffrey Chaucer between 1387 and 1400 . In 1386 , Chaucer became Controller of Customs and Justice of Peace and , in 1389 , Clerk of the King 's work . It was during these years that Chaucer began working on his most famous text , The Canterbury Tales . The tales ( mostly written in verse , although some are in prose ) are presented as part of a story - telling contest by a group of pilgrims as they travel together on a journey from London to Canterbury to visit the shrine of Saint Thomas Becket at Canterbury Cathedral . The prize for this contest is a free meal at the Tabard Inn at Southwark on their return . </P>
where does the journey start in the canterbury tales
London