White Cliffs of Dover
Dover, United Kingdom
Chalk cliffs above the Channel, with a clifftop path from the National Trust car park to South Foreland lighthouse. On clear days you can see France.
The White Cliffs of Dover are chalk cliffs up to 110 m high, stretching along some 13 km of coast around Dover. They are made of white Upper Cretaceous chalk with dark bands of flint. The Strait of Dover is about 32 km wide here, and on a clear day you can see the French coast. The National Trust looks after the stretch of coast at Langdon and runs a visitor centre there with a café, shop and toilets.
From the visitor centre, a circular walk of about 5.6 km follows the cliff edge past the Fan Bay Deep Shelter to the Victorian South Foreland Lighthouse, which was decommissioned in 1988. The lighthouse is open to visitors, and guided tours go up as far as the tower's gallery; check the opening times in advance. Allow about 2 hours for the walk to the lighthouse and back. If you come on foot from Dover, you first climb steeply to the cliff top. Keep well back from the edge, as the drop is sheer.
- Nearest town
- Dover, United Kingdom
- Category
- Scenic viewpoints
- GPS
- 51.1325, 1.3380
- Editor's pick
- ★
Hours, fees and access change. Confirm with the operator or park before you go.
Good to know
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually May–September. Still fine, with some compromises, in October. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
Getting there
- United Kingdom: Tolls on some roads, bridges or tunnels. Drive on the left. Some bridges and tunnels charge tolls.
Sources
Featured in these trip guides
Nearby
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Campsites nearby
- Kingsdown International Camping CentreCampsite7 km from White Cliffs of DoverTentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWaste disposalWi-Fi
- Folkestone Camping and Caravan Club SiteCampsite10 km from White Cliffs of DoverTentsMotorhomesElectricityShowersToiletsDogs allowedWi-Fi
- Chequers Caravan ParkMotorhome stopover12 km from White Cliffs of DoverMotorhomesElectricityDrinking waterToiletsWaste disposal
- Canterbury Camping and Caravanning Club SiteCampsite23 km from White Cliffs of DoverTentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWaste disposalWi-Fi
- Nethercourt Touring ParkMotorhome stopover23 km from White Cliffs of DoverTentsCaravansMotorhomesElectricityShowersToiletsWaste disposalWi-Fi
- DaleacresCampsite24 km from White Cliffs of DoverTentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWaste disposalWi-Fi
All campsites in United Kingdom · Campsite data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 · Updated October 3, 2026
FAQs
Where is White Cliffs of Dover?
White Cliffs of Dover is in Dover, United Kingdom, at GPS 51.1325, 1.3380. It is about 24 km from Canterbury.
Can you camp near White Cliffs of Dover?
Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is St Margarets Bay Holiday Park, about 3 km away; within 25 km there are 60 campsites and motorhome stopovers.
Which road trips pass White Cliffs of Dover?
White Cliffs of Dover is a stop on these CampingSpirit trip guides: Kent: castles, Canterbury and the white cliffs.
What is there to see near White Cliffs of Dover?
Places worth a stop nearby: Canterbury Cathedral (24 km), Cap Gris-Nez (34 km), Cap Blanc-Nez (35 km) and Dungeness (35 km).
When is the best time to visit White Cliffs of Dover?
The most pleasant months are usually May–September. Still fine, with some compromises, in October. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)