London
Price £125
Min age 0
Rating 4.39 / 5 [572 ratings]
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Dover , Kent , United Kingdom (UK)
Credit Shutterstock.com/Valery Egorov
Known as the ‘Key to England’, Dover Castle is the largest castle in England, originally commissioned back in 1160 by Henry II, and subsequently enhanced by later kings including Henry VIII. It has long played a pivotal role in British conflicts, including the English Civil War, the Napoleonic Wars and the Second World War, evidenced by a rich legacy of moats, keeps, and secret underground tunnels, with drama lurking in every tower and turret.
During the English Civil War, it was held for the king but fell to a Parliamentarian trick without a shot being fired, sparing it the demolition job received by many other British castles.
Secret tunnels under the castle have played a critical role in the castle’s history since the Napoleonic Wars. A permanent exhibition uses artifacts, real-life stories, imagery, and original wartime footage to tell their fascinating story, including a vivid recreation of the 1940 Dunkirk evacuation.
The Great Tower has been restored and richly furnished, complete with costumed actors, to give an insight into life in the medieval court of Henry II.
Dover castle is about 1.5 hours’ drive from London; there’s free on-site parking. Dover Priory Station (about an hour by train from London St Pancras) is 1.5 miles away.
You don’t need to pre-book, but it’s recommended to guarantee entry and get a discount.
Wartime tunnel tours (about 50 minutes) are part-guided and depart at 10-minute intervals. Access to the Underground Hospital is by guided tour only (about 20 minutes).
The castle is open all year round, Tuesday to Sunday. Closed Monday. From November to mid-February, it is only open on weekends.
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