What to do in Dover

The dramatic and distinctive White Cliffs of Dover are a symbol of national pride for the English. Wander atop the immense white chalk cliffs to experience this historic and beautiful area at your own pace.

Dover Castle sits grandly on top of the White Cliffs of Dover and has been Great Britain’s front line against invasion for more than 20 centuries. Medieval chambers, complex military defenses and secret wartime tunnels await explorers of the largest castle in England. Founded in the 12th century, the “Key to England” has had a long and dramatic history. Its informative tours bring the past into the present day.

Dover Beach is a picturesque stretch of pebbly beach sheltered by the walls of a harbor and tucked in between the White Cliffs of Dover. The beach and its surrounding harbors are a hive of activity year-round with tourists and locals enjoying the fresh sea air. Stroll along the esplanade and take in the view of Dover Castle up on the cliffs, ferries coming and going on the channel and, on a clear day, the distant shoreline of France.

Dover is home to one of the most significant ports in British history and the town’s rich seafaring heritage is captivatingly documented at the Dover Museum. The museum’s informative displays cover the history of the local area from the Stone Age to the Saxons and Romans. Immerse yourself in Dover’s heritage from medieval to modern times with six scale models of the town’s development through the ages, from its humble beginnings as a Stone Age farming community to its current form as one of the busiest ports in the world.

The Victorian South Foreland Lighthouse is set on the White Cliffs of Dover. It’s known as the site of the first international radio transmissions, as well as the first lighthouse powered by electricity. Learn about the life of a typical lighthouse keeper, enjoy a snack in the tearoom in the keeper’s cottage or simply admire the surrounding scenery.