Canterbury + White Cliffs of Dover | Budget Day Trip from London

Last Saturday, I took a relaxed day trip from London—all for under £40! Sunny England is absolutely stunning, and I fell in love all over again. 💙 🚌 Transportation (Total: £24) 1️⃣ London → Canterbury National Express bus from Lewisham at 9:50 AM (~1.5 hrs). 💷 £11.50 (plus 5% Monzo cashback—book via cashback sites!). Pro tip: Buses stop along the way—no need for trains if you live near a stop! 2️⃣ Canterbury → Dover Bus #15 at 2:50 PM from Canterbury city center (~30 mins). 💷 £2 (cheaper than trains!). 3️⃣ Dover → London Return bus at 7:55 PM to Lewisham (~2 hrs 20 mins). 💷 £10.50 (perfect for napping/photo editing!). 🍽️ Food (Total: £12) Breakfast: Ate at home. Lunch: Meal deal (£3.50). Afternoon tea: Two cups of tea (£3—felt a bit awkward just ordering tea in a café 😅). Snacks/Dinner: M&S freshly baked baguette (still warm!), Danish pastry, juice & water (£5.50). 🎯 Itinerary 1️⃣ Canterbury: Westgate Gardens + Cathedral + Library/Art Gallery. 2️⃣ Dover: Dover Castle + White Cliffs hike. 💡 Honest Takeaways 1️⃣ Manage expectations for Canterbury (The Canterbury Tales sets the bar too high!). 2️⃣ Westgate Gardens is tiny—but pretty in good weather. ☀️ 3️⃣ The Cathedral is worth entering (I skipped it—regret!). 4️⃣ White Cliffs = mini hike—bring water/snacks. 🚖 Not a walker? Taxi to the trailhead! 5️⃣ Google Maps’ "White Cliffs" pin isn’t the actual start—it’s a 35-min walk from town, then 1 hr to the best views. 6️⃣ Dover’s sea is the most beautiful in the UK—feels like the Mediterranean on sunny days! 🌊 7️⃣ Best natural scenery I’ve seen in Britain. 8️⃣ GO ON A SUNNY DAY. ☀️ (Avoid clouds! ☁️) #UKTravel #LondonLife #BudgetTravel #Canterbury #WhiteCliffs #DayTrip #ExploreUK