Looking for the perfect day trip from London (that isn’t Stonehenge and Bath)? This guide will show you how to visit the White Cliffs of Dover and what to expect when trekking this stunning coastline!
When I was planning my 2nd trip to London (and Lisbon), looking for a day trip, I came across a photo of the cliffs, my jaw dropped over how beautiful it was. I knew immediately that I needed to go there.
I booked a guided tour of the cliffs alongside Canterbury. The tour started in Canterbury, with 2 hours to spare; I spent most of it exploring Canterbury Cathedral before heading back to the bus to stop at Deal, a small English coastal village, for lunch.
The tour saved the best for last—the cliffs! I was so worried that I wouldn’t be able to see it because it was November and English weather has a reputation for being unpredictable. But God worked on my behalf, and it was perfectly clear with the sun setting, giving me the perfect Golden Hour glow, with a rainbow!
The cliffs were even more stunning in person, and photos just don’t do it justice.
Whether this isn’t your first time in London or you’re craving a completely different atmosphere, you’ve got to visit the White Cliffs of Dover at least once. Be prepared to be blown away by its other-worldly beauty.
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- What and Where is the White Cliffs of Dover?
- Exploring the White Cliffs of Dover
- How to Visit the White Cliffs of Dover from London
- Attractions Near the White Cliffs of Dover
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Wrapping up
- Visiting London? Check out these posts to help plan your trip!
- Did you find this post helpful? Share it on Pinterest!
What and Where is the White Cliffs of Dover?
The White Cliffs of Dover is a magnificent coastline, located in Kent County in South East England. It’s situated right on the Strait of Dover, facing France.
If you visit the cliffs on a clear day, you absolutely will be able to see France on the other side of the coast.
Don’t be surprised if you get a text from your cell phone provider telling you, “Welcome to France!” (Thanks, Verizon). My tour guide, Kevin, even said that as you get closer to the cliffs, you’ll start to pick up French radio in the car.
The cliffs get their white color from chalk; no, not the chalk you draw with! The chalk is made from white mud from skeletons of algae that floated and sank in the water alongside remains of sea creatures during the Late Cretaceous period, 66–100 million years ago. These remains formed sediments consolidated into chalk over time.
Fun fact: There is also another set of white cliffs in England. The Seven Sisters Cliffs are located in the South England, in East Sussex County, and is a a part of South Downs National Park.
The White Cliffs of Dover is a part of the National Trust, the official conservation and heritage charity in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. With the help of millions of staff, members, volunteers, and donors, The National Trust are able to preserve the cliffs, forests, historical houses, castles, gardens, and pieces of art.
Exploring the White Cliffs of Dover
The parking lot and the edge of the cliffs (where the best viewpoint is) are a 2.5-mile hike, taking about 20–30 minutes to trek. There are some steep stops so just make sure to pace yourself and take breaks as needed.
There are also narrow paths where you could risk falling, so please be careful during the hike! Thankfully, they are fenced.
If you want to trek beyond the edge, it’ll take about an hour and a half, depending on your pace, as it’s a 3.6-mile loop, according to AllTrails.
Most people on the tour I went on didn’t do that. We just stuck with the edge to get the viewpoint. Also, we had limited time and didn’t want to go too far off, especially because the trail going back to the parking lot was uphill and a bit challenging to hike.
If you do have the extra time and energy, you can hike further so you can see South Foreland Lighthouse, situated on St. Margaret’s Bay. It is the first lighthouse to use electric light, and there’s a tea room inside.
Wildlife in the Cliffs
At the entrance and near the gift shop, the cliffs have signs boasting about the amount of plants and animals it houses.
The White Cliffs of Dover is a popular spot for birding, where you can find a variety of species such as kittiwakes, peregrine falcons, common ravens, and Northern gannets. Those are the more common birds you’ll see at the cliffs but there are around 30 varieties of birds!
Visiting Fan Bay Deep Shelter
Depending on how you’re heading to the cliffs, when, and how much time you have, you might be able to go on a tour inside Fan Bay Deep Shelter, a 70-foot underground tunnel that served as housing for soldiers during World War II.
I can imagine it’s a surreal experience stepping into a piece of history, walking where those who served to protect England lived.
The shelter is located further inside the cliffs close to the South Foreland Lighthouse.
You can only access the shelter by booking a walking tour. Since there is no light in the tunnel, you will be provided a hard hat with light to explore. You cannot reserve tickets in advance: you have to purchase them on-site.
You need cash too since there is very weak signal. But if you want to purchase the tickets with a card, you can do so at the South Foreland Lighthouse shop.
Tours are every 30 minutes from 11 am–3 pm and last about an hour. They are closed during the winter and open up for tours in March.
Click here to learn more about the Fan Bay Deep Shelter.
How to Visit the White Cliffs of Dover from London
By tour
The easiest and most fuss-free way to visit the White Cliffs of Dover from London is through a guided tour. Most tours to the cliffs include visiting Canterbury first.
I booked mine with Go Tours, Ltd. a small tour operator that takes travelers on day trips from London to Canterbury and Dover, Seven Sisters Cliffs and Brighton, and the Cotswolds. They even offer multi-day tours around England and Wales!
WHITE CLIFFS OF DOVER TOUR
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Canterbury & the White Cliffs of Dover Tour (Small-Group)
✅ Transportation in minibus
✅ Free time in Canterbury, Deal, and the cliffs
✅ Max. 15 people
Other tours to the White Cliffs of Dover from London
- White Cliffs of Dover & Historic Canterbury Day Tour from London: This tour starts off in Dover before Canterbury, with an option to visit Dover Castle.
- Leeds Castle, Cliffs of Dover and Canterbury Day Trip from London with Guided Cathedral Tour: This tour includes entrance to Leeds Castle, where your guide will walk you through. Entrance to Canterbury Cathedral is not included, so you will need to purchase the ticket on your own. The cliffs are at the end of the itinerary.
- Private Tour to Canterbury, Leeds Castle and The White Cliffs of Dover: While this is an extremely expensive tour, but it’s a completely private tour. The total cost is per group of 7 or less, not per person. Instead of meeting at a designated spot, your driver will pick you up anywhere in Central London. While you’ll visit Canterbury Cathedral, the cliffs, and Leeds Castle, the tour is completely customizable to your wishes and you could spend all day in the cliffs if you so please!
By public transportation
The cheapest way to visit the White Cliffs of Dover from London is by making good use of the TFL (Transport for London), which operates the Underground, Overground, buses, Uber Boat, National Rail, and IFS Cable Car.
Use Google Maps or Apple Maps to input your starting location, and end it with the cliffs.
Keep in mind that taking public transportation, depending on where you’re staying, you’ll have to switch lines or bus stations, and walk 5–10 minutes before heading to the St. Pancras International Station. From there, you’ll take the Southeastern rail and exit at Dover Priory Station.
After that, it’s a 45–minute walk just to the entrance of the cliffs. That’s before the hike. I’m already tired thinking about that!
As you can see, taking public transportation isn’t the most practical way to get to the cliffs but it is the most cost-effective. You’ll really know your way around London and Dover like a looking going this route!
I recommend getting the Oyster Card and loading up as much money as needed. You pay for all TFL fares using the Oyster Card. You could also pay with a debit or credit card, but the Oyster Card makes it way easier to tap and go.
By car
Out of all the ways to visit the cliffs, I recommend renting a car the least. Especially if you’re coming from the US or Canada and aren’t used to driving on the left side like they do in the British Isles (which comprises the UK and Ireland).
But if you want the flexibility of venturing beyond London and into the English countryside with a car, you would take the A2 road, which eventually turns into the M2 motorway. You’ll cross the English Tunnel, and it switches back to A2. From there, you:
- Take the 3rd exit on A258 at the Duke of York’s Roundabout
- Turn left onto Upper Road
The entrance to the cliffs is about a mile from Upper Road and is on the right side. The drive is approximately an hour and a half.
Attractions Near the White Cliffs of Dover
Dover Castle
The medieval Dover Castle is just a 3-minute drive to the cliffs. It’s known as the “keys to England”, because of its history as a refuge for soldiers defending the country against enemies attacking their soil.
This includes the First Barons’ War, the English Civil War, and World War II.
The tunnels under Dover Castle were constructed in the Middle Ages so that the soldiers could defend themselves in case of an invasion. During World War II, there were two new tunnels built, one of which operated as a hospital for the soldiers.
It’s said that the Dover Castle is one of the largest castles in England. It sits 375 feet above sea level, with panoramic views of the English Channel and the Strait of Dover.
South Foreland Lighthouse
If you hike further down the cliffs, you’ll stumble on South Foreland Lighthouse. It was built to guide mariners sailing through the Strait of Dover. It is also the first lighthouse to use electric light.
The South Foreland Lighthouse isn’t accessible by car, so you have to hike through the cliffs to visit it.
Entrance to the lighthouse is free, but you can take a guided tour inside the lighthouse for a small fee. Admission for adults is £6, £3 for children, and £15 for families.
If you decide to go inside the lighthouse, don’t leave without having some tea and pastries at Mrs. Knott’s Tearoom, located in the lighthouse cottage!
The Town of Deal
Deal is a small, super-cute, award-winning coastal town located 10 miles north of Dover. The cerulean ocean washing over tiny pebbles and a 1,026-long wooden pier looks like you may have seen as a postcard in a gift shop or a large photo in a fine art gallery.
Beyond the pebbles, the town of Deal has streets filled with galleries, cafes, chippies, restaurants, and museums. It’s hard not to fall in love with this charming town!
The coast in Deal is where the Strait of Dover and the North Sea meet.
Deal is also known for fresh seafood, and you know what that means—hot, crispy, mouthwatering fish and chips!
For a sit-down restaurant overlooking the beach, head to Sea View Restaurant. This is where I had fish and chips for lunch with a few other people on my tour, whom I made friends with. We shared a bottle of rosé to sip alongside our lunch before returning to the bus on the way to Dover!
Frequently Asked Questions
How can you visit the White Cliffs of Dover from London?
There are three ways to get to the White Cliffs of Dover: through a guided tour (which I recommend), public transportation, or by driving.
Booking a tour is the most expensive, but it’s the most convenient since you can just relax in a tour bus and let your guide drive as you enjoy the scenery.
Taking public transportation is the cheapest way to get to the cliffs, but it also requires a lot of transfers and walking (outside the 20-minute hike from the entrance to the cliffs).
Is it free to visit the White Cliffs of Dover?
Entrance to the cliffs is free, but if you’re driving to get there, it costs £6 to park. National Trust members can park for free.
What is special about the White Cliffs of Dover?
The White Cliffs of Dover is one of England’s most beautiful nature spots. It gets its white color from chalks, from the skeletons of algae forming into white mud millions of years ago.
The cliffs are also referenced in many songs and pieces of literature, including the most iconic song “There’ll be Bluebirds Over the White Cliffs of Dover” by Vera Lynn. There are also indie rock bands referencing the cliffs in their lyrics, like “We Both Go Down Together” by The Decemberists and “Calais to Dover” by Bright Eyes.
Wrapping up
Visiting the White Cliffs of Dover from London is the perfect day trip for stunning views and hikes.
It’s a nice getaway from the hustle and bustle of London and its crowds and noises. Personally, the cliffs were the highlight of my UK trip, and visiting gave me the peace and calm I needed after getting pickpocketed in Lisbon 2 days prior and the trauma that came with it.
The best way to visit the cliffs is with a guided tour including a stop in Canterbury and Deal for bomb fish and chips. That way, you can relax in an air-conditioned van while enjoying views of the English countryside.
Don’t forget to bring a camera and multiple power banks so you can take as many photos and videos as possible without risking running out of battery.
Happy viewing!
Visiting London? Check out these posts to help plan your trip!
- A first-timer’s Guide to London
- How to visit Stonehenge and Bath from London
- 5 Mistakes we made planning our trip to London and Paris
- Your Jolly Guide to London’s Covent Garden Christmas Market
- 9 Best London Christmas Lights Tours
- Notting Hill Guide
Did you find this post helpful? Share it on Pinterest!
Hannah is a travel writer, graphic designer, and the founder/editor of Hannah on Horizon. She is based in Sacramento, California, living with her husband and two adorable dogs. She shares tips on how to experience luxury travel on any budget, and how to maximize time at each trip or destination, no matter what your budget or amount of vacation time at work. She enjoys making you feel like you have visited each destination with her through her storytelling and informative writing style.