Summary of the Best Activities in Dover:
Near the narrowest point in the Channel, the port town of Dover rests within the iconic white cliffs on England’s southern edge.
Perched atop these cliffs is the largest castle in the United Kingdom, with the soft chalk being interlaced with military tunnels dating back to the Napoleonic Wars.
Like many port towns, Dover may appear somewhat unkempt; however, it offers numerous attractions that will engage visitors.
There are properties managed by the National Trust, such as the South Foreland Lighthouse, where Marconi conducted transformative experiments, and the Dover Museum, which houses a Bronze Age ship that remains in an extraordinary state of preservation.
Let’s explore the top attractions in Dover:
1. White Cliffs
The first sight of England upon crossing the Channel, Dover’s White Cliffs ascend to 110 meters and stretch for eight miles to the east and west of the town.
These cliffs are deeply ingrained in British culture, referenced in works from Shakespeare’s King Lear to traditional sea shanties.
On the western side resides Samphire Hoe, a country park that will be discussed further below.
The eastern cliffs are maintained by the National Trust.
Reaching the clifftop involves a challenging climb; nevertheless, the path soon levels, rewarding you with vistas extending to France on clear days, as well as views of the port and cliffs from curvilinear sections of the trail.
If you are feeling adventurous, you can traverse the entire distance to the charming seaside town of Deal before returning by train to Dover.
2. Dover Castle
England’s largest castle oversees the town and port from Dover’s eastern side and has long served as the nation’s primary line of defense.
This fortress has been fortified since at least the Iron Age, with a remnant from the 1st century in the form of the Roman Pharos lighthouse, later repurposed as the bell tower for the Church of St Mary de Castro.
The castle’s current design began to take shape in the 12th century under the reign of Henry II and was adapted for artillery use by Henry VIII. During the Napoleonic Wars, a series of tunnels, consisting of gun positions and casemates, were excavated into the cliff.
Later, this site became a military command center during the Second World War, where Admiral Bertram Ramsay coordinated the Dunkirk evacuation.
3. Fan Bay Deep Shelter
Located within the National Trust area, a few miles along the cliff walk, this complex of tunnels was excavated for an artillery battery during the Second World War and was opened to the public in 2015. The battery was designed to target Axis vessels navigating through the Channel, while the tunnel system provided storage, accommodations, a generator, hospital, washroom, and toilets.
These dim passageways are lined with corrugated steel, and protective helmets are required for the tour.
Following the war, the tunnels were sealed and forgotten until the National Trust took over in 2012 and began clearing the debris.
At Fan Bay, you will also observe two sound mirrors, one from 1917 and the other from 1921, which were utilized to detect enemy aircraft before the advent of radar.
4. St Margaret’s Bay
Situated at the midpoint of the walk from Dover to Deal, descending a winding path within the cliffs leads you to this shingle beach, offering splendid views of the cliffs.
St Margaret’s Bay is idyllic at the water’s edge as well as from the clifftop perspective, featuring a modest promenade backed by a café and a pub.
A settlement has existed at St Margaret’s Bay since the Medieval period, even being referenced in the Domesday Book following the Norman Conquest.
In the 19th century, a quaint resort developed here, attracting literary figures such as Lord Byron, Bond creator Ian Fleming, and playwright Noël Coward.
5. South Foreland Lighthouse
Just before arriving at St Margaret’s Bay, you will encounter the castle-like South Foreland Lighthouse, which was first illuminated in 1843 and is now a National Trust property.
While this whitewashed Victorian edifice is visually striking, it also has a remarkable historical narrative.
In 1859, the South Foreland Lighthouse became the first globally to utilize electric light.
Subsequently, Guglielmo Marconi operated a radio station from the tower here, receiving the first-ever ship-to-shore message in 1898 and executing the first international transmission between the lighthouse and Wimereux across the Channel in 1899.
The light was extinguished in 1988, and visitors can explore the building’s scientific legacy and learn about the Knott family, a lineage of lighthouse keepers that operated this signal and its 18th-century predecessor.
6. Samphire Hoe
West of Dover lies a country park owned by Eurotunnel, the entity responsible for the Channel Tunnel.
This site is, in fact, a reclaimed area at the base of the cliffs, developed in 1988 using 4.9 million cubic meters of chalk marl rubble from the tunnel’s excavation.
The park offers a remarkable view of the white cliffs, attracting visitors for walks, biking, and fishing from the sea wall.
Wildlife abounds if you know where to find it.
Peregrine falcons can be spotted soaring above the cliffs, which are also a habitat for rock pipits and house martins.
The term “Samphire Hoe” derives from the rock samphire, an edible plant thriving in abundance on the cliffs and recently gaining popularity in English cuisine.
7. Pines Garden
On the sharp descent to St Margaret’s Bay from St Margaret’s at Cliffe, the enchanting Pines Garden spans six acres.
This space features a cascade, a pond, a grass labyrinth, and a kitchen garden with over 40 varieties of fruits and vegetables.
A distinguishing feature of Pines Garden is its organic cultivation, using natural predators for pest control and composting for fertilization.
Look out for the Calyx, an eco-friendly domed building with a turf roof, powered by photovoltaic panels and a biomass generator, utilized for conferences and events.
The adjoining tearoom operates from Wednesday to Sunday, and there is a small museum detailing the settlement’s history.
8. Dover Museum
This town’s center for archaeology and art is an arcade-style building erected in the mid-19th century to accommodate both the museum and Dover’s market.
The museum suffered significant losses to its collection due to shelling during the Second World War, resulting in its artifacts being exposed to the elements in Dover’s caves.
Despite this unfortunate history, the museum should be on your itinerary, as the second floor houses a Bronze Age boat discovered in remarkable condition under a road in 1992. Constructed from oak with yew stitching, this vessel is approximately 3,500 years old, and the museum received archaeology awards upon the exhibition’s opening in 2000. Other notable exhibitions cover the German cross-channel shelling campaign during the Second World War, cross-channel swims, and Louis Blériot’s first flight across the Channel in 1909.
9. Roman Painted House
This 1,800-year-old time capsule was discovered by workers building a road in the 1970s.
The Roman Painted House features five rooms from a “Mansio,” a lodging for traveling officials that dates back to the early 3rd century.
Its significance lies in its frescoes, which are believed to be the most extensive Roman paintings uncovered north of the Alps.
Elements of 28 distinct panels may be observed, each imbued with motifs dedicated to Bacchus, the Roman deity of wine.
You can also explore the Mansio’s hypocaust and examine exhibitions pertaining to Roman life in Dover.
10. Dover Transport Museum
The sole transport museum in Kent, this attraction is housed in a spacious shed located in Dover’s Whitfield suburb.
Entering the premises is akin to stepping into a different era, greeted by a 1924 Aveling & Porter steam roller, a 1929 Dennis GL charabanc (a motorized predecessor of the bus), and a stylish AEC Reliance coach from the late 1950s.
Visitors can also see a genuine Romany wagon from around 1930, alongside various vintage automobiles, including a Series 1 Land Rover from 1949 and an Austin 7 dating back to 1937. This is complemented by an exhibition highlighting the World Wars, which includes a prefab Anderson Shelter, in addition to a model railway that is expanded each year.
The museum is open on Wednesdays, weekends, and bank holidays in summer, with reduced hours in winter, only on Sundays.
11. Kearsney Abbey and Russell Gardens
Just one train stop away on the northern outskirts of Dover are two of the city’s most beloved green spaces.
Kearsney Abbey is situated at a fork in the River Dour, which feeds the park’s two ornamental lakes, enveloped by informal landscaped grounds showcasing tall, ancient trees.
This park was formerly part of an 18th-century manor’s estate, with the last remnants visible in the former billiard room, now serving as a tearoom.
Across the road lies Russell Gardens, which is more structured and was designed by the Edwardian landscape architect Thomas Mawson.
The most picturesque feature here is the 170-meter canal pond, adorned with a charming boathouse pavilion and crossed by Palladian-style bridges.
Both parks have recently received Heritage Lottery funding for restoration efforts.
12. Blériot Memorial
Aviation pioneer Louis Blériot achieved a remarkable feat in 1909 when he completed the first flight across the Channel.
Blériot faced three direct challengers that year, one of whom, Hubert Latham, nearly crossed months earlier but was forced to make an emergency landing in the sea, marking yet another world first. Remarkably, Blériot had not previously visited Dover to determine his landing site, relying instead on a signal from journalist Charles Fontaine, who waved a large Tricolour flag at Northfall Meadow.
The exact location where Blériot’s aircraft touched down on July 25, 1909, is commemorated with a plaque and the stone outline of an aircraft.
13. North Downs Way
Dover marks the endpoint of the North Downs Way, a 153-mile National Trail commencing in Farnham, Surrey.
You do not need to be an experienced hiker to appreciate this trail; a segment leading to Shepherdswell, located 8.5 miles away, makes for an ideal leisurely walk.
The route navigates through lush, rolling hills, skirting the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
This fascinating walk includes a crossing over a disused railway line and a pass by Waldershare House, which dates back to the early 18th century.
The house is private; however, Waldershare Church, originating from the 1100s, is accessible, featuring intriguing mortuary chapels from the early 18th century.
At Shepherdwell, you can return to Dover on foot with the sea visible in the distance or take a train to Dover Priory for a brief nine-minute journey.
14. Western Heights
This remarkable ensemble of forts, ramparts, and ditches commenced construction at the end of the 18th century in anticipation of the Napoleonic Wars.
Western Heights was decommissioned shortly after the Second World War, and the site is now partially managed by English Heritage.
The central feature is the Citadel situated at the western end, designed with a well to provide water during sieges.
The Drop Redoubt is a stronghold that was enhanced with caponiers in the 1860s to address the perceived invasion threats posed by Napoleon III. It includes soldiers’ quarters within bombproof casemates from the early period, along with officers’ quarters, cells, and a guardroom from the 1860s.
Western Heights can be appreciated from the exterior at any time, but access to the fortress is available only during designated open days.
15. Grand Shaft
During the construction of Western Heights, a solution was needed to connect the fortress with the harbor at the cliff’s base, facilitating rapid troop movement.
The ingeniously designed triple helix staircase spirals 50 meters through the cliffs, centered around an eight-meter-wide light well.
The project concluded around 1807, with rumors suggesting a structured hierarchy within the staircases: one for officers, another for warrant officers, and a third for enlisted soldiers.
Similar to Western Heights, access times may be limited; therefore, ensure to seize the opportunity to view the Grand Shaft during open days.
