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Badly bombed during the war, DOVER's town centre and seafront just don't have what it takes to induce many travellers to linger before speeding onwards to Europe, or inland to London or Canterbury. This could be a mistake for the traveller with time to linger. The town authorities have put a lot of effort and money into sprucing the place up. Dover Castle is by far the most interesting of the numerous attractions which plug the port's defensive history. Entertainment of a saltier nature is offered by Dover's legendary White Cliffs , which dominate the town and have long been a source of inspiration for lovers, travellers and soldiers sailing off to war. Dover is situated in a river valley, surrounded by chalk hills which are rich in wildlife, with splendid views of the castle and the harbour. The fantastic fortifications of Dover's Western Heights were built to defend England against invasion by Napoleon, and are now surrounded by a local nature reserve with magnificent views over the town of Dover. Nestling just below the Western Heights, Cowgate Cemetery provides a quiet spot close to the town centre.
Dry Facts About Dover (Wiki) 
Dover is a town and major ferry port in the county of Kent, England. It faces France across the narrowest part of the English Channel. The town is the administrative centre of the Dover District.
Its strategic position has always been evident throughout its history: archaeological finds have revealed that the area has always been a focus for peoples entering and leaving Britain, and this continues to this day.
The port provides a great deal of the town’s employment, although many of the erstwhile ferry services have declined, so that unemployment tends to be higher than other parts of Kent. Dover is also home to the military, and has a strong tourist base.
Dover’s history, because of its proximity to France, has always been of great strategic importance to Britain. Archaeological finds have shown that there were Stone Age people in the area; and that by the Bronze Age the maritime influence was already strong. Some Iron Age finds exist also, but the coming of the Romans made Dover part of their communications network. Like Lemanis (Lympne) and Rutupiae (Richborough) Dover was connected by road to Canterbury and Watling Street; and it became Portus Dubris, a fortified port. Forts were built above the port; lighthouses were constructed to guide ships; and one of the best-preserved Roman villas in Britain is located here.
Dover figured largely in the Domesday Book as an important borough. It also served as a bastion against various attackers: notably the French during the Napoleonic Wars; and against Germany during World War II.Dover Castle The town's chief attraction is Dover Castle (daily: April-Sept 10am-6pm; Oct 10am-5pm; Nov-March 10am-4pm; £7; EH), a superbly positioned defensive complex, begun in 1168 and in continuous military use until the 1980s. The Romans put Dover on the map when they chose its harbour as the base for their northern fleet and erected a lighthouse here to guide the ships into the river mouth. Beside the lighthouse stands a Saxon-built church, St Mary in Castro , dating from the seventh century, with motifs graphitised by irreverent Crusaders still visible near the pulpit. Further up the hill is the impressive, well-preserved Norman keep , built by Henry II as a palace. Inside, there's an interactive exhibition on spying; you can also climb its spiral stairs to the lofty battlements for views over the sea to France. The castle's other main attraction is its network of secret wartime tunnels dug during the Napoleonic war. Extended during World War II and used as a headquarters to plan the Dunkirk evacuation, " Hellfire Corner " - the tunnels' wartime nickname - can be seen on a fifty-minute guided tour (every 20min). The tour is spiced up with a little gore, and reveals the quaintly low-tech communications systems and war rooms of the Navy's command post.
 White Cliffs of Dover
If you are staying in Dover for a few days, why not visit the White Cliffs themselves. Gigantic and iconic, yet jagged and unspoilt, they embody the history, beauty this coast.
Take a walk along one of the many cliff top paths; enjoy the bracing sea air and breathtaking Channel views.
On the beaches below, go rock-pooling, hunt for fossils; take a paddle or even swim in our famous English channel (lookout for turds). Venture deep inside the cliffs themselves, perhaps visiting the Secret Wartime Tunnels where the evacuation of Dunkirk was mastermind in World War II.
However, you will probably not be able to see any "Blue Birds" flying over the White Cliffs of Dover. Nat Burton, the lyricist of this most celebrated song, who improbably put 'blue birds over the white cliffs of Dover', was an American who had not been within 3,000 miles of the place. But reality never bothered a good myth.
White Cliffs near Dover
If you would like to see the white cliffs when visiting Dover, then you should visit Samphire Hoe and Shakespeare Cliff, near Dover, or the South Foreland Valley, at St Margaret's-at-Cliffe.
Samphire Hoe is a country park created at the base of Shakespeare Cliff, from the spoil from the construction of the Channel Tunnel. There are dramatic views of the white cliffs, as well as a nature trail which is accessible to all. The site is developing into an important nature reserve, with one of the largest populations of early spider orchid in Britain.
Dover Harbour and Shakespeare Beach
Enjoy the fantastic views across the worlds busiest straits, in the lee of Dover's most impressive cliff - Shakespeare, depicted in King Lear, and the inspiration for many famous literary figures.
Toilets and refreshments are available along the promenade. Roman Painted House Discovered in 1970 and excavated during the next 22 years, the Roman Painted House in Dover was built around 200AD and is believed to be a Mansio - a Roman hotel located on a main road for travellers to get refreshment and a room for the night.
With 400 square feet of original painted walls and a well preserved Hypocaust (a Roman central heating system), the site is the most extensive example of this type of building ever found north of the Alps, and a must-see attraction for anyone with an interest in Roman Britain. Hythe & Romney Marsh The unique Royal Military Canal starts in at Seabrook in the historic Cinque Port of Hythe, passing 28 miles through the flat landscape of Romney Marsh to Cliffend, near Hastings, in East Sussex. The canal was built originally as a defence against the threat of invasion, but is now a peaceful home for wildlife. A new long distance walking trail has been created along the length of the canal. Pubs and Night Out in Dover
Given the town's uninspiring appearance, Dover's pubs are surprisingly full of character and characters, although the town gets a rather rough reputation from its shift workers servicing the docks and ferries. Close to Western Docks, the Cinque Ports Arms on Clarence Place has guest beers as well as its standard Fremlins ales, while the Park Inn on Park Street near the town hall is a big old place with plenty of real ales to choose from. You could do worse than eat pub food at the Eight Bells , a big Wetherspoon's pub on Cannon Street, as Dover has few other decent places to eat. Chaplins, 2 Church St, serves excellent value lunches and probably the town's best coffee  Ramada Dover * SPECIAL VALUE  Average Nightly Rate £53.00.  The Ramada Dover is a modern hotel in quiet setting located two miles from Dover Castle and under five miles from Dover Ferry Ports and Cruise Terminals. more... The Ramada Dover is a modern hotel in quiet setting located two miles from Dover Castle and under five miles from Dover Ferry Ports and Cruise Terminals. The property features 68 guestrooms decorated in a smart, contemporary style and all of which include cable television and wired and wireless Internet connections; ensuite bathrooms come equipped with hair dryers and telephones. The hotel's Bieriot's Restaurant serves an international menu for lunch and dinner in relaxed, modern surroundings, while drinks and snacks are also available in the bar and coffee lounge. Business visitors will find a wide range of facilities catering to their needs, from a business centre to fully-equipped, air-conditioned conference and meeting rooms, and wireless Internet access throughout. For those arriving by car the hotel offers ample parking and those keen to stay in shape have access to a small onsite gym. Golfers will find several championship courses nearby, while visitors interested in exploring the locality can find local landmarks such as Dover Castle and the famous White Cliffs a few miles away. The nearest major airport is London Gatwick, at a distance of around 80 miles. - Dry Cleaning Service
- Restaurant(s)
- Business Center
- Express Check-out
- Fitness Equipment
- Safe-Deposit Box
- Comp Newspapers in Lobby
- Air-Conditioned public areas
- Breakfast Services
- Conference Room(s)
| - Cafe
- Laundry Facilities
- Fireplace in Lobby
- Meeting Room (small groups)
- Bar/Lounge
- Internet public area - high-speed
- Spa tub
- Parking (secure)
- Audiovisual equipment
- Room service (24 hours)
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Area Attractions - Dover Castle - 2 miles (3 kilometres)
- Dover White Cliffs - 2.5 miles (4 kilometres)
- Dover Ferry Port / Cruise Terminal - 3 miles (5 kilometres)
- Canterbury Cathedral - 15 miles (24 kilometres)
- Leeds Castle - 30 miles (48 kilometres) Driving Directions National Express coaches run to destinations nationwide; all depart from the ground floor of the South Terminal. Train connections are also available from Gatwick; the nearest station to the hotel is Kearsney, at just under a mile away.
Driving directions from the North: Coming from the M20: Follow the M20 all the way into Dover. Then follow the signs towards A2 Canterbury, using the fly over Jubilee Way and carry on via the next two roundabouts. One the last roundabout, Whitfield - McDonald's restaurant, follow the A2 to Canterbury but turn immediately right into Singledge Lane, following the Ramada signs. Driving directions from the South: Coming down the M2 from London follow signs for Dover via the A2. After 2 sets of traffic lights on the A2 close to Dover the Whitfield roundabout is a further 3 miles. Look out for the Ramada signs on you right hand side and turn right immediately before reaching Whitfield roundabout into Singledge Lane.  The Southcliff Hotel * SPECIAL VALUE  Average Nightly Rate £47.00 Location. The Southcliff Hotel is located in Folkestone, Kent, England, within seven miles of Samphire Hoe and 15 miles from Dover Castle. Hotel Features. more...  Abode Canterbury * SPECIAL VALUE Stay 2 nights and save 20% off the last night! (limited time offer)
Average Nightly Rate £77.4 LWG / CANTERBURY: The County Hotel is housed in a 16th century listed Tudor building on Canterbury's High Street with its shops, cafes and restaurants, 350 metres from the Cathedral. more... Ready to Move On?
Ferry Services
Dover Eastern Docks to Calais: P&O Stena Line (30 daily; journey time 1hr 15min); Seafrance (15 daily; journey time 1hr 30min).
Dover Eastern Docks to Zeebrugge: P&O Stena Line (3-4 daily; journey time 4hr).
Dover Western Docks to Calais: Hoverspeed (10 daily; journey time 40min).
Dover Western Docks to Ostend: Hoverspeed (July-Sept 3 daily; journey time 2hr).
Reservations : Eurotunnel tel 08705/353535, ; Hoverspeed tel 08705/240241, ; P&O Stena Line tel 08706/000600, ; SeaFrance tel 08705/711711,
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