Wartime Dover

Dover’s location on the southern tip of Britain means that it has always played a part in the defence of the nation. Along its iconic white cliffs are many reminders of its role and a tour of some of its most important sites will reveal how this coastal district came in to its own during the Second World War. The Battle of Britain Memorial commemorates the airmen who risked it all to protect their nation and gives visitors a chance to discover what life was like for them in its visitor centre. After taking in the views from the top of the cliffs, visitors can explore within them on a tour of secret wartime tunnels at Dover Castle from where one of the most daring military rescue was planned and coordinated.

BATTLE OF BRITAIN MEMORIAL

Travel from Dover Terminal: Approximately 15 mins, 7 miles

Coach Parking: Free parking (if booked in advance)

Allow: 1hr 30mins

The statue of a pilot looking out across the Channel towards France is the centrepiece of the Battle of Britain Memorial at Capel-le-Ferne. This peaceful memorial on top of Dover’s white cliffs commemorates the 1940 airborne battle, in which Royal Air Force fighter pilots successfully fought off German attempts to gain air supremacy in the Second World War. The names of the 3,000 allied airmen who played a part in the battle are inscribed on a wall at the site. Visitors can also see replicas of the Spitfire and Hurricane planes and experience The Scramble, an interactive exhibition on the battle, opened in 2015.

DOVER CASTLE’S SECRET WARTIME TUNNELS

Coach Parking: 7 bays at Castle Hill coach park. £1.80 per hour

Allow: 2hrs

Tours of the Secret Wartime Tunnels and the Underground Hospital at Dover Castle bring more Second World War history to life. Dug in to the chalk cliffs below the 12^th century castle, the tunnels were extended into a vast network during the Second World War to house an underground hospital and secret military command centre. Today, visitors can experience the sights and smells of the underground hospital and join a brilliant immersive tour revealing the story of Operation Dynamo, masterminded in the tunnels to rescue stranded troops from Dunkirk.