White Cliffs of Dover — Attraction in Dover

Simply one of the most underrated places in the U.K. On a nice day it is one of the most beautiful outdoor landscapes you'll see in the UK. If you love the outdoors, enjoy nature, and like walking this place is a must visit. You also have the added bonus of watching the marina with cars and trucks losing into ferries to go to France, if you like watching traffic like me. And because it's underrated it's never that crowded so you can enjoy it in peace. And if you're lucky you may see France on a clear day.

Some tips to make the best out of your visit.

Try coming when the weather is nice. If raining you won't see much or enjoy the walk. If too hot you equally may not enjoy the walk. If a hot summer day come early or late.

Outside of trying to plan around unpredictable British weather come with a minimum of 2-3 hours allocated. You'll want to come through the main gate / car park entrance. Where you have access to a number of paths that take you over and around the cliffs. The walk will take around 1 hour to get to the lighthouse at the end assuming you stop to take pictures. You get different views and angles of the cliffs. Just be careful not to get too close to the edge for that perfect selfie. There are a couple unguarded areas. And keep in mind the cliffs are made of brittle chalk.

The lighthouse at the end is a nice reward for the walk. You can take a tour which I've never done and there is a nice cafe where you can get drinks scones etc. The perfect refill to then walk back to the entrance. Try taking a different route on the way back to maximise what you've seen. Make sure you wear comfy sneakers as it is a little hilly and rocky in parts but a fairly easy walk otherwise. Don't rush just enjoy the scenery and take it in.

And take water with you. The cafe at the beginning of the car park also has free water taps to drink or fill your bottles.

The only knock is the location. It is easiest to drive to. There are also tour buses from London. You can also take a direct train to Dover Priory from London Bridge or SevenOaks. It's about 2 hours. Once you get to Dover Priory you'll need to take a taxi. There's a stand outside the station. The ride will cost around £7-£10. Coming back you can have the cafe call you a taxi or prebook one yourself. Just make sure you do it ahead of time as you can sometimes end up waiting a while.

If you have extra time also explore the castle and the actual town. A quaint old British town.

All in all and excellent place to go on a nice day and would highly recommend it to anyone in the U.K. Tourist...

The White Cliffs of Dover is one of England’s most iconic natural landmarks, offering stunning views of the chalky cliffs contrasting beautifully with the blue sea. With its historical significance and breathtaking scenery, it’s a must-visit destination.

Activities to Enjoy Walking along the cliffs is a highly recommended experience. The trails are suitable for all ages and provide panoramic views of the English Channel. On a clear day, you can even see the French coastline in the distance, making the journey truly special.

Unfortunately, when I visited, it was raining, and I couldn’t see the French coast. However, the cool sea breeze and the peaceful atmosphere still made the visit worthwhile.

Other nearby highlights include the South Foreland Lighthouse, which offers lovely views, and the Visitor Centre, where you can learn more about the history and natural significance of the cliffs. If you’re looking for a break, there’s a cozy café nearby where you can relax with tea and snacks.

Getting There from London Reaching the White Cliffs of Dover is simple by train: Take a train from London St Pancras International or London Victoria to Dover Priory Station (approximately 1-2 hours, depending on the route). From Dover Priory, you can either take a taxi or walk to the White Cliffs Visitor Centre (about 10 minutes by car or a 30-40 minute walk).

Even though the weather didn’t fully cooperate during my visit, the experience of exploring the White Cliffs of Dover was unforgettable. It’s a place where nature, history, and stunning views come together, and I hope to return on a clear day to enjoy its...

I had been planning a trip to Dover for a while now and the date finally rolled around! Luckily the weather was on our side and it turned out to be the first bright, sunny, warm weekend of the year. We took a not-too-early train and arrived at the cliffs just after tourist information opened.

We picked up a map and followed the path closest to the cliff edge. Once the unsightly ferry harbour was out of sight, the view was simply gorgeous!

As the day was clear and sunny, we could see all the way to the French coast 20 miles across the water. French phone signal is much stronger than British, which isn't surprising as signal coverage in the UK is the worst I've ever experienced, so my phone kept switching to French providers. (Which is fine as I have free roaming)

Halfway up the cliffs we found Fan Bay Deep Shelter, which was used as temporary military barracks and later, as the name suggests, a deep shelter, during WWII. We took the shelter tour, which leads down into damp, eerie tunnels.

Some effort was made to block entry to these tunnels long before they were taken on as a project worth conserving by the National Trust, but people always found a way to slip through the cracks.

While most of the tunnels are reinforced, some are bare chalk and bear carvings and markings from the 40s, some of which are quite fascinating and elaborate.

The tunnels lead to two large sound mirrors, acoustic devices to focus soundwaves to hear over long distances, basically like an old timey auditory radar.

The shelter tour was really good and well...