Dover, the nearest town in England to France, has two traditional roles: gateway to the Continent and cornerstone of the national defences. Dover was one of the original Cinque Ports, which provided the king with ships in exchange for special privileges. High on the white chalk cliffs, Dover Castle commands the Channel and the busy harbour. Henry II built the massive keep and the curtain walls next to the Roman lighthouse in the 1180s; since then the castle has been much strengthened and extended. Unlike many historic defences, Dover Castle remained of military importance, and played an important role in World War II. In the town, the White Cliffs Experience re-creates the story of Dover from its Roman origins.

There were settlements here long before the Romans arrived to build their own defences, some still visible such as the Pharos, reputedly the oldest standing building in England. Behind the Romans came the Saxons and others each strengthening the town’s fortifications. Today the efforts of all this defence are mainly to be seen in Dover Castle, massively fortified with walls up to 22 feet thick, acting as a timeline of Dover’s, and England’s history.

Today, Dover’s generally more peaceful visitors still use Britain’s busiest ferry terminal merely as an arrival and departure point to and from the continent. This is their loss as the town and the surrounding countryside have much to offer. Dover is a bustling town with a fine shopping centre, a thriving cultural scene and a lively nightlife.