x
Beautiful Dover is located in the southeast corner of Great Britain, just 80 miles from London and 28 miles from France. Its white cliffs have remained the city's proudest and most recognizable feature since it was first settled. This attractive sight has welcomed visitors traveling to England from continental Europe for centuries.
Today, Dover is the world's busiest harbor, one of England's most active cruise liner ports and a major dock for freight, as attested to by the ever-present fleet of colossal cargo ships docked there. On a clear day, you can easily see France from Dover's shores.
Local Culture and Flavor
Life in Dover is characterized as calm, pleasant and idyllic. Locals spend their leisure time walking along the shops on the promenade that borders the marina, or hiking the many cliff-top trails around Dover Castle.
Visitors find that lush hillsides, fresh air and sea breezes are the features that set Dover apart from the rest of urban England.
Past and Present
The city's original settlers identified Dover as an ideal port over 6,000 years ago, when they observed that its location in the Dour River Valley protected it from the prevailing south-westerly winds. Just as it has been sheltered from catastrophic weather, it in turn has "guarded" England for centuries, having been the focal point of invasion plans by William the Conqueror, Napoleon and Hitler. During WWI, it was the center of English Channel defense and, in WWII, it was the target of bombardment by German long-range guns. A series of subterranean caves and tunnels along its shores were used as shelters.
Today, Dover is a tranquil seaside city that nonetheless maintains a naval base in addition to its bustling commercial port.
Cruising The World
