3 Best Sights in Dover, The Southeast

Towering high above the ramparts of the city's famous white cliffs, spectacular Dover Castle is a mighty medieval castle that has served as an important strategic center over the centuries. Although it incorporates some older features, including a Roman lighthouse (one of the oldest in the world) and an Anglo-Saxon church, most of the castle dates to Norman times. It was begun by Henry II in 1181 but incorporates additions from almost every succeeding century. The Great Tower re-creates how the opulent castle would have looked in Henry's time, complete with sound effects, interactive displays, and courtly characters in medieval costume.

History jumps forward the better part of a millennium (and becomes rather more sober in the telling) as you venture down into the labyrinthine Secret Wartime Tunnels. The castle played a surprisingly dramatic role in World War II, the full extent to which remained unknown for years afterward. These well-thought-out interactive galleries tell the complete story. The tunnels themselves, originally built during the Napoleonic Wars, were used as a top-secret intelligence-gathering base in the fight against Hitler.

Plunging hundreds of feet into the sea, Dover's startingly white cliffs are a spectacular sight, and one of the most iconic symbols of England. The cliffs, which are composed mainly of chalk with slivers of flint, are eroding at a rather alarming rate: more than a foot (30 cm) a year on average. Because of this, you must be cautious when walking along the cliffs—experts recommend staying at least 20 feet from the edge. The cliffs stretch for around eight miles altogether, but the most popular section to visit is the one managed by the National Trust, about two miles east of town. The visitor center has five miles of walking trails heading farther east to the 19th-century South Foreland Lighthouse and St. Margaret's Bay, with spectacular views along the way. There are also some lovely coastal walks to the west of Dover with good views of the cliffs, inclduing Samphire Hoe, Folkestone East Cliff, and Warren Country Park. Signs will direct you from the roads to scenic spots.

Believed to have been a hotel for Roman travelers crossing the English Channel, the remains of this nearly 2,000-year-old structure were excavated in the 1970s. It includes some Roman wall paintings (mostly dedicated to Bacchus, the god of revelry), along with the remnants of an ingenious heating system.