Discover Dover

Dover Museum collections include:Archaeology gallery — Dover and the Dover District Council area (including Deal and Walmer, which do not yet have their own town museum, only the Deal Maritime Museum) from prehistoric times to 1066, including Roman and Saxon Dover (including the Saxon cemetery from Buckland). History of Dover town, Cinque Ports and Dover Castle from 1066 to the modern era. This includes the Victoriana Museum collection, bequeathed in 1990 by William Williamson of Deal and including works by artists such as Dame Laura Knight, Lady Alma Tadema, Fantin Latour, J.F. Herring, Henry Bernard Chalon, David Cox, E.W. Cooke and Benjamin Robert Haydon. The 2003 Dover Bronze Age Boat gallery, where the Langdon Bay hoard is also displayed. Temporary exhibition gallery.

Dover Harbour beach is shingle and set within the harbour walls. Facilities include parking, promenade, toilets, cafe/restaurant and shops.

St Margarets Bay beach is a mix of sand, pebbles and shingles under white chalk cliffs. The beach at St Margaret’s is famous for being the closest point to France, and is often where Channel swimmers begin their 21 mile swim. Facilities include parking, toilets, cafe and slipway. We have no dog information for St Margarets Bay beach.

Shakespeare Cliff marks the closest point of Great Britain to continental Europe. On a clear day, the cliffs are easily visible from the French coast.

Known as ‘The key to England’, the great fortress of Dover Castle has played a crucial role in the defence of the island for over nine centuries. Commanding the shortest sea crossing between England and the continent. Venture below ground with a tour of the eerie medieval underground works and see how the tunnels were adapted by engineers during the Napoleonic war in preparation for French invasion. These tunnels also had a secret use during the second world war as an operations’ nerve centre and include a hospital.

Shakespeare Beach is the stretch of shingle beach to the west of Dover Harbour Admiralty Pier to the white chalk of Shakespeare Cliff. We have no dog information for Shakespeare beach.

Pencester Gardens is within the centre of Dover and provides open lawns by the River Dour provide a pleasant area for those working or visiting the town to relax.

The White Cliffs of Dover, one of England’s most famous natural landmarks a magnificent coastal site of Special Scientific Interest overlooking the English Channel. Spectacular coastal walks and cross Channel views, visitor Centre, including café and shop.

Crabble Corn Mill is a working watermill that sits on the River Dour in the village of River . The mill was built in 1812, although it is thought earlier mills existed on the same site. You can go on a tour and see the original millstones that still grind wholemeal flour today. After a tour of the mill go for a walk in the river gardens and stop off for a cup of tea in the tea rooms.

At the Knights Templar Church in Dover you can see the foundations of a small medieval church, the site of King John’s submission to the Papal Legate in 1213.

The Drop Redoubt is one of the two linked forts on Dovers Western Heights. Linked to Citadel, by a series of dry moats. The artillery at the Redoubt faced mostly inland as it was constructed to defend against an invading force attempting to capture Dover from the rear. The construction of the Redoubt was in two periods: the first being from 1804-1808 during the Napoleonic Wars, and the second from 1859-1864 following the recommendations of the 1859 Royal Commission.

South Foreland Lighthouse is a distinctive Victorian lighthouse on the White Cliffs of Dover. Site of Marconi’s wireless experiments and Faraday’s first electrically-powered light. Climb the 73 steps for spectacular cross Channel views.