ABOUT DOVER
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About Dover . Cinque Ports . The White Cliffs
Visit Castles, take cliff-top walks, see the Bronze-Age Boat
Famous for its White Cliffs, Dover is a thriving Channel Port with a wealth of history, some beautiful walks in our areas of outstanding natural beauty, and some very good restaurants.
Many visitors rush through Dover on their way to and from the continent, but it is well worth staying over for a night or two, or perhaps coming for a short break, to explore all there is to see and do in the town. Amongst them…
Dover’s Majestic 12th. Century Norman Castle, with the Hellfire Corner Tunnels, (here you can stand on the balcony, overlooking the English Channel, imagining why it was called “Hellfire Corner”). It is here that Sir Winston Churchill and Lord Ramsey organised the evacuation of Dunkirk.
There is also the Underground Hospital, used during the War; the audio visual display telling the story of the siege of 1216 when the French tried to invade England at Dover and one of the floors in the Castle Keep has been given over to Henry VIII period.
In the grounds of the Castle is the beautiful Anglo-Saxon Church, with the Roman lighthouse next to it.
There is also a train to take you to different parts of the Castle grounds, if you have difficulties with walking.
Don’t forget there are also Castles close by at Deal and Walmer, also well worth a visit.
There’s many more things to see and do outside of the Castle grounds: along the beautiful seafront, with the Prince-of Wales Pier extending out of the Harbour, with the White Cliffs of Dover as a backdrop, it makes it a wonderful walk.
You can experience Dover’s colourful past at Dover Museum in the Market Square, where there is a comprehensive array of displays and exhibitions about the area’s history, from the Bronze-Age to the 20th. Century; it is in the Museum that the Bronze-Age Boat is housed – in a special glass, airtight viewing gallery; a truly spectacular sight.
Also in Town is the Roman Painted House
Take a day trip to France either by car or as a foot passenger for shopping and/or sightseeing.
If you like walking, try one of the Nationally recognised walks in our Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, or enjoy the beautiful cliff-top walks on Langdon Cliffs (the White Cliffs of Dover), where you can look over the Port of Dover and the ferries, as they sail between France and England. The National Trust have built a Visitor Centre here, where you can take refreshments and find information on the flora and fauna etc. there.
You can also take a cliff-top walk to St. Margarets along the coast and enjoy lunch and refreshments at the Coastguard Pub, set on the Seafront at St. Margarets Bay.
On the other side of the valley are the Western Heights, the site of the most extensive Napoleonic fortifications ever built in England.
The Citadel, the Grand Shaft (a triple spiral staircase) and the Drop Redoubt are the main buildings that survive and at certain times of the year, are open to the public.
From the top of the Western Heights, you can look out over the Cruise Terminals and the beautiful majestic floating Hotels moored there; you also look over the Hoverport, across to France.
For information on a wonderful corn mill in Dover, that has undergone restoration and is a working mill, please visit their web-site
For information on old Dover and past events, please take a look at the following web-sites: British Pathe Archives and ITN News Archives.
Personalised local tours are also available with a qualified South East England Tour Guide. For further information please contact Nigel Armitage-Smith, email [email protected]
For more information on historical sites in Dover please visit the ‘Lock and Key of the Kingdom’ website.
Deal
The coastal town of Deal is full of character and charm. In bygone times the beach was thronged with smugglers and mariners, who made their living servicing ships anchored out in the Channel. Today fishermen are there to catch some of the finest fresh fish available, which you can buy direct from them, but the warren of cottages and narrow streets remain untouched and probably look a good deal smarter than they did 200 years ago.
Sandwich
In medieval times Sandwich was a town of the greatest importance due to the harbour that once existed there. Over the centuries the port facilities declined but the little town has changed little over the years. Today the area is known for its fine coastal golf courses and for the interesting period character of the town.
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