A special thank you to PagodaSwan for the following wonderful information about things to do and see in and around Dover!
Dover
Dover, with its history going back more than 4,000 years, is the busiest passenger ferryport in the world. Set in and around the valley of the river Dour, and its famous white cliffs, Dover has always been in the frontline of history.
The first known settlement dates from about 2000BC and in 1993 a 3,000 year old Bronze Age Boat - possibly the earliest channel ferry - was discovered buried in the town. For centuries its position, just 21 miles from the continent, has proved a haven for monarchs and princes, clerics and warriors and other travellers crossing the English Channel.
Today Dover is enjoying the benefits of careful upgrading with millions of pounds being spent on new facilities at the port and in the town. European Union money is helping to pay for this
transformation. The port is a hive of colourful activity as cross Channel ferries, and other craft criss-cross back and forth to Calais while international cruise liners regulaly visit.
Behind the newly reconstructed promenade lies the town so rich in history. Town trails lead visitors on tours around places of interest including the ancient Maison Dieu, originally a hospice for pilgrims, the parish church of St Mary-the-Virgin with its many links with seafarers, and the tiny St Edmunds Chapel first consecrated in 1253.
A Roman Villa, with painted external walls, (Roman Painted House) in New Street, built around the remains of Roman forts and town is well worth a visit.
Other interesting tourist attractions include Dover Transport Museum, now accommodated in former barracks at Old Park, and Crabble Mill, a completely restored working water mill with the added interest of an art gallery. There are many peaceful gardens including Connaught Park, Granville Gardens
on the sea front, Kearsney Abbey, Bushy Ruff and Russell Gardens.
Dover Cruise & Ferry Port and general information.
Cross-Channel Travel
Dover is the worlds busiest roll on roll off ferry port. P&O, SeaFrance,
Hoverspeed, Norfolk Line and Speed Ferries depart Dover every 20 minutes to Calais, Boulogne and Dunkerque. The Port of Dover also serves as a major International Cruise ship terminal, with up to 120 cruise ships visiting the Port each year.
Dover Call
Phone our DOVERCALL Information Line for the latest French daytrip bargains, as well as details of hypermarket opening hours and customs regulations. Calls cost 60p per minute at all times
09061 401575 - Daytrips & special offers
09061 401577 - Shopping in France
09061 401570 - Car parking in Dover
09061 401572 - Places to visit
09061 401573 - Whats On
09061 444069 - Weather forecast Dover and South East
09061 444070 - Weather forecast N. France
09061 444071 - Weather forecast Marine weather (Channel)
Information by Fax
09061 401202 - Car park map (Dover)
09061 401203 - Dover accommodation
Channel Tunnel
Dover is also only 15 minutes away from the Channel Tunnel with the Shuttle making twice hourly crossings to Calais and is 25 minutes from the
International Passenger Station at Ashford. Ashford IPS provides fast access to Lille (50 minutes), Brussels (1 hour 25 minutes) and Paris (2 hours) and from 2009 fast domestic services to London St Pancreas (37 minutes).
Road
Road links via the A/M2 and A/M20 bring the M25 to around 1 hour 10 minutes, and easy access to the rest of the UK motorway and trunk road network.
Air For International services Heathrow is only 1 hour 50 minutes and Gatwick 1 and a half hours journey time by road.
Gatwick Airport
Heathrow Airport
Rail The District's rail service is served by South Eastern Trains, Dover's main
stations provide passenger services to Charing Cross and Victoria in around 1 hour 30 minutes. With news of the expected extension of Channel Tunnel Rail Line fast domestic services in Kent, this journey time would be cut to 1 hour from 2009.
Telephone 08706 03 04 05
South Eastern Trains - Home Page
South Eastern Trains - Timetables
South Eastern Trains - Latest Travel Information
Buses
The District's bus service is provided by Stagecoach.
Telephone 0870 2433711
Stagecoach - Home Page
Stagecoach - South East
Stagecoach - East Kent
Stagecoach - Timetables
National Express provide coaches to destinations throughout the UK. Tickets can be purchased at the Dover Visitor Information Centre -
Telephone 01304 205108.
National Express - Home Page
National Express - Timetables and Fares
Deal
Deal was once a major port where sailing ships sheltered in the Downs near the notorious Goodwin Sands. It was a centre for resupplying ships and for smuggling. Today Deal is a quiet peaceful town that willingly reveals a treasure trove of architecturally interesting buildings, museums, monuments marine history and heritage. Deal remains a mecca for anglers, many of whom fish from the town's 1,000 foot long pier. Professional fishermen sell their catch from the beach.
The Deal area, with its gentle sea breezes, also attracts hundreds of
golfers each year. They play at the Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club, founded in 1892, with the course measuring 6,409 yards. Walmer and Kingsdown Golf Club, on the cliffs to the west of Deal, was founded in 1909 and has a course of 6,451 yards.
Interesting attractions at Deal include the Maritime and Local History Museum, St George's Church built in 1716 to minister to the needs of
the seafaring Community, and St Mary's (Old Church) where the Duke of
Wellington used to worship.
Sandwich Sandwich is a lovely town in an attractive setting. Its ancient streets,
confined in the walls that once defended the town from marauding French and other invaders, carries the visitor back to the days when it was a busy port. At one stage all travellers leaving our shores had to sail from
Sandwich. Little appears to have changed within Sandwich's wall since Queen Elizabeth I visited the town in 1573. Many of its medieval streets and buildings remain with much of the town protected as a Conservation Area.
Despite its links with the past Sandwich remains a lively town with a strong community spirit. It also boasts two excellent golf courses. The best and most challenging in White Cliffs Country must be the famous Royal St George's, where the Open is regularly played. The links have been lengthened to 6,841 yards and several holes have been redesigned. Prince's golf club lies inside the sweep of Sandwich Bay with a lay-out of three nine-hole interconnecting loops.
Folkestone
The history of Folkestone begins well before written records. Ruins which
were excavated in 1924 revealed buildings which date back prior to the Roman conquest of 43 AD. Also excavated were the ruins of a Roman villa dating from c100AD. Folkestone, unlike her neighbours Dover and Lympne, was not blessed with a river or deep harbour waters suitable for anchorage of large ships and was therefore not suitable as a major port. Instead the Romans viewed Folkestone as a strategic lookout point and signalling post. Consequently they built a minor base in the area known as East Wear Bay. It is believed that Romans remained in the area, living alongside native Britons until the Roman withdrawal c368 AD. At this time invasions by the Picts, Scots, and Saxons began. It is thought that with the departure of the Roman's many coastal dwellers withdrew inland, to relative safety from coastal invaders, and that the Folkestone area was in the main uninhabited for many years. Following the Roman departure Britain was the site of many battles and struggles for supremacy between the Celts, Britons, Picts, Scots, and Saxons. By 500 AD Kent was an established Saxon Kingdom in which Christianity was spreading rapidly as a way of life.
Canterbury
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Dover - Things to Do & See
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