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Things to do in Dover

Dover is in the county of Kent in England, and the Port owes its importance to its closeness to the French coastline. The White Cliffs form part of the British coastline facing the Strait of Dover and France. It is only 21 miles from Calais and 25 miles from Boulogne. Lying in one of the worlds largest artificial harbours; about 850 acres in area and protected by massive breakwaters, it consists of two complexes: the old docks to the west of town, which deal with train ferries, and the modern car-ferry terminal and hoverport to the east.
The 500ft high chalk cliffs are cross-Channel passengers first or last site of England's shores, and have always had a symbolic significance for the English. They are the portals of the traditional gateway to England from the Continent; a port that has been in Britain’s line of defence ever since the Roman's came.
The Port and Cross Channel Ferries to France and the Continent, makes the Port practically the closest place to europe in England and thus allows for a very quick and convenient trips to France.
Kent county's proximity to the French coast led to the building of cavernous brick shelters on the western heights during the Napoleonic Wars, to house British troops in case Napoleon invaded. The Admiralty Pier, more than 4,000ft long, claims to offer the longest marine-pier walk in the world.
The surrounding countryside is a walker’s paradise, a good example would be the village of Rye close by in East Sussex, a must see. Also, Kingsdown, over the clifftops to the east, offers superb views of the Channel; and for long distance walkers there are the 20 mile Pilgrim's Way to Canterbury and the North Downs Way to Surrey.
How to get to Dover from London: There are several transportation options for getting to Dover from London. If you prefer the train, I must say, this is by far the best way to travel to Dover. If you prefer bus or coach, you may like this option. Before you actually start to book your tickets, I recommend you check the UK Train Map Guides to help you plan your journey. EuroStar is the high-speed passenger train from London to Paris via the Channel Tunnel.
London to Paris by Eurostar speeds to europe at 495 km, about 307 miles. If you click here the next page will show some detail about travelling to the continent via EuroStar. If you know where to look and book there are some amazingly train fares out there for train travel within England. Consider this, there are no airport taxes to add, no baggage fees or weight limits, the trains run centre-to- centre with no extra costs getting to and from remote airports, and infants go free.
Sleeper trains can save a hotel bill, too! Click this link which will recommend the best books on the subject of the cheapest way to buy train tickets both for journeys starting in the UK and for train travel around Europe, online and by phone. The best website or agency to use depends on which journey you want to book.
Click here to leave Dover and explore London Short Trips
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