One of the benefits of living in the UK is that I get to take day trips to fantastic destinations that are close to London. I recently took a day trip to Dover Castle, the largest castle in England. Described as the “Key to England,” due to its defensive significance throughout history, Dover Castle not only boasts a rich history, an incredibly well-preserved tower, and beautiful grounds, making it a fantastic place to spend a day. In this post, I’m sharing my experience visiting, plus tips and lessons learned. I’ve also embedded a video chronicling my day at Dover Castle at the end of this post. Let’s dig in!
The Arrival
Dover Castle is located in the city of Dover, which is located on the seaside in Kent, England. The castle was founded in the 11th century. The castle itself is perched atop a large hill, with sweeping views of Dover and the ocean.
Tip: We took the train from London to Dover and ambitiously decided that we would walk to the castle. If you decide to do this, consider yourself warned! You will need to climb a few steep hills to reach the Dover Castle complex, so I would recommend taking a taxi there instead and walking back down into the town.
Entry Fees
Entry to Dover Castle costs 20.90 GBP for adults and 12.50 GBP for children between the ages of 5-17. If you are a National Trust member, entry is free.
Tip: I would recommend looking at the National Trust membership options if you enjoy touring sights like Dover Castle, as for adults it is 93 GBP per year. Given that the entry to Dover Castle for one adult is just over 20 pounds, it could be a great deal to consider.
Visiting The Castle
Upon arrival to Dover Castle, I was struck by its beauty. From the bright green grass to the sheep perched on the hillside and the historic stone façade, Dover Castle sure knows how to make a great first impression!
After a bit of wandering, our first stop was the Great Tower.
Tip: Before you go into the Great Tower, visit the exhibition alongside it. The exhibition has a fantastic video which delves into the history of Dover Castle. I’m usually not a fan of exhibition videos, but this one is really well done and worth watching all the way through.
What really struck me about the exhibition and the video is how interesting the history of Dover Castle is. It’s filled with drama, scandal, war, and royalty and ever since my visit, I’ve been inspired to study the history more.
Climbing The Great Tower
After brushing up on Dover Castle’s history, it was time to climb the Great Tower!
Tip: Visitors be warned – the tower has a big stone spiral staircase. If you’re not able to walk upstairs easily or are with young children, please consider yourself warned. I did see plenty of families there, but it didn’t look very fun to try and carry pushcarts (strollers) up and down those stairs.
If you do climb up the tower, I encourage you to spend time on each floor. Each floor of Dover Castle has knowledgeable guides that are so friendly and excited to answer any questions you may have. You can ask the guides about specific questions about the floor you’re on, how the royal family or royal court used it, and more.
For example, my friends and I were commenting on how small the beds were, wondering if people were shorter in that time. One of the guides heard us and politely came over to tell us what a misconception that was. As it turns out, some people actually slept sitting upright because they feared the devil would take their soul. Yes, really! Another more practical reason was because of the constant fires being lit, it was actually harder to breathe while lying down.
Exploring The Grounds
We also loved exploring the grounds of Dover Castle. After climbing the Great Tower, we made a pit stop for scones and tea in the onsite café, which was simple but lovely, with a little something for everyone.
After, we walked over to the oldest surviving lighthouse in the world. Yes, I’m just casually dropped that in there. Next to the lighthouse is the Anglo-Saxon church of St. Mary-In-Castro.
The only thing we didn’t get to do?
The Medieval tunnels!
The Medieval tunnels were created during the 18th century when England faced the threat of invasion from Napoleonic France. Seven tunnels were dug into the cliffs to house a surplus of men – at its peak about 2,000 offers and soldiers – in the underground barracks. The tunnels were repaired and put to use again during World War II.
Tip: When we were entering Dover Castle, the friendly guides had told us to do this first and we totally did not understand this. The tunnels are on the opposite side of the castle grounds. When we came in, the natural walking flow takes you to the Great Tower, but I would recommend following their advice, as the lines were so long by the time we got there. So, learn from our mistake and go there first!
Final Thoughts & Tips On Dover Castle
While we didn’t get to see everything at Dover Castle, my friends and I still really enjoyed our visit. Not only are the grounds beautiful, but it’s also interesting to learn about the castle’s history and explore. Given that this is an 11th-century castle, I found it so interesting to learn how the buildings and defenses of Dover Castle have adapted, from medieval times, to World War II and up to the present.
I would definitely recommend a visit to Dover Castle if you want to immerse yourself in the history and explore the castle grounds.
For more information on Dover Castle, including entry prices, visitor information and more, check the links below!
https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/dover-castle/prices-and-opening-times/
https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/join/
https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/dover-castle/things-to-do/
https://www.visitkent.co.uk/attractions/dover-castle-2003/
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Join me at Dover Castle and watch as I explore the grounds!