Dover Castle

She’s massive, imposing, deeply haunted, and absolutely gorgeous. With the exception of Rochester Castle, Dover is by far my favourite in all the world.

If you’re planning on visiting the town of Dover for just one day I recommend you either get a boat tour so you can see the white cliffs, or view them from inside Dover Castle. The castle cannot be viewed in it’s entirety in one day unless you get there right when it opens and stay right until it closes, so you may have to choose what you do or see for your day.

If modern history is your thing head towards the tunnels. Dover was used as a military base right up until the sixties, and the tunnels were dug between the 1800s and the 1940s. There curators of Dover Castle suspect there are still some which remain undiscovered, but a few of those that have been stabilized are now open for tours. You can a recreation of the military hospital which departs every 20 minutes as I recall, as well as a more museum like tour which departs every 40 minutes, though this may have changed with Covid. There’s also the concrete bunker on the top of the cliffs which gives you a fabulous view of the harbour, and an insight into what the radar workers and Home Guard would have been on the lookout for during WW2.

If Ancient or Medieval history is your thing there’s a Roman lighthouse which was built in the first century AD, an old Saxon church right beside it, quite literally there’s only perhaps four feet between the two, and of course the inner fortress which was built in the Medieval Era. Personally, I love the lighthouse and the keep. There should be people around the keep, sometimes in full costume, who can answer any questions you have, and every so often they hold a mock banquet in the upper hall to teach the guests some medieval table manners!

In the walls of the inner bailey you’ll find various little museums and shops, these are more to do with the wars that Britain has participated in and less to do with the castle itself, though, but if you’re interested in those things they’re definitely worth a peek.

If you’re spending all day at the castle you’ll want something to eat, and if you head over to the barracks, just to the left of the entrance in a large grey building, you’ll find a cafe that has some tasty treats and a nice place to sit. It’s a bit hidden, but if you go to your right instead of the left after you’ve cashed out there’s a wide open area which usually isn’t full, and it offers a view of the ocean!

Depending on the day you go various events might be held in the castle like ghost tours near Halloween, and if you’re very lucky you might catch a jousting tournament!

Bring sunscreen and a windbreaker, it can get quite chilly up on the cliffs, and a good set of walking shoes. Dover isn’t just the most haunted castle in all of Britain, it’s also one of the biggest. You’ll be walking a lot! Get a map when you buy your ticket, prioritize what you want to see, and you’ll be sure to have an excellent day.