Central London or Heathrow to Dover via Dover Castle

Central London or Heathrow to Dover via Dover Castle Departing from London, head east through the county of Kent, known as the 'Garden of England.' The landscape is dotted with orchards, vineyards, hop fields, and the Oast Houses where the hops are dried. Continue south east to the coast and Dover. The 76 mile drive from London to Dover is approximately two hours. Upon arrival in Dover, the first stop will be a photo stop at the Battle of Britain Memorial. Sitting on top of the famous White Cliffs of Dover, the memorial offers stunning views across the English channel to France. It is a peaceful place, dedicated to the heroes who fought in the skies above Kent in the Battle of Britain in World War Two. Upon the cliff tops stand replicas of the famous Spitfire and Hurricane fighter planes and the names of those small band of pilots who succeeded in the Allied victory of The Battle of Britain in 1940. From here, you will be driven to the imposing Dover Castle. You will have two hours to visit the castle and grounds on your own, after which the coach will be waiting for you at the entrance to take you to the cruise terminal. Outside guides are not permitted inside the castle, so portions are self-guided and others are narrated by castle staff. Dover Castle is a medieval castle, founded in the 12th century and widely known as the 'lock and key to England' due to it's defensive significance and key roles and many wars and battles. From the 12th century until 1958, the castle was continuously garrisoned, covering 9 centuries, something only equalled by the Tower of London and Windsor Castle. Over the centuries the castle defences were continuously improved and enlarged as the castle maintained a military role, a role perhaps made most famous in World War 2 when the castle housed an underground hospital and a command center for the Dunkirk evacuation. Dover Castle is the largest and one of the oldest in England. For those guests not wanting to enter the castle, there will be a 10 minute stop for photos or just to stretch, followed by a direct transfer to the nearby cruise terminal. Here, you and your luggage will be turned over to the cruise line staff. Make sure you use the luggage label in your cruise pack to facilitate this process! Please Note: Entrance to Dover Castle (approximately 21 GBP) is not included and is optional at the guest's discretion. Each guest is entitled to a maximum of 2 items of hold luggage (50 pounds or 23 kilograms each) and 2 items of carry on luggage (22 pounds or 10 kilograms each). This tour can accommodate a collapsible wheelchair with advanced notice at the time of booking. The wheelchair will be counted as 1 piece of hold luggage. Oversized items like bicycles, surfboards, etc. cannot be accommodated. Click below to see a full list of hotels in central London and in the Heathrow area where pick ups take place. Please do not enter a hotel name that is not listed. London Hotels Heathrow Hotels