The White Cliffs of Dover

When my parents decided to visit us in London (they had never been before), one of the things my mom really wanted to see was the White Cliffs of Dover. It is about a two-hour drive from London. So, on Sunday, we loaded up into the rental car and headed out east.

We started the morning at Dover Castle, one of the largest castles in England, built by King Henry II in 1180! The castle and grounds were enormous and once inside, you can pretty much walk around all over and explore. The castle was used primarily as weapon and military defense throughout its history.

After the castle, we drove to the South Foreland Lighthouse where we got a snack from Mrs. Knott's tea room which is now housed in the lighthouse.

There is a two-mile cliff walk from the lighthouse along the coastline with views that do not disappoint! The cliffs form part of the English coastline facing the Strait of Dover and France. It's only 21 miles between Dover and France and on a clear day, you can actually see the coastline of France! Unfortunately, it was pretty hazy when we visited and we were unable to see that far. The cliffs are made from chalk, a soft white, very finely grained pure limestone. Because they are allowed to naturally erode away, the cliffs stay white in color.

After our hike, we drove to Walmer Beach to sit and relax by the ocean. The beach itself was made entirely of small, smooth stones! Sitting near the water, you could hear the clacking of the waves as they rolled over the rocks.

We ate dinner in Deal at the Seaview Restaurant where we shared fish and chips and the local beer brewed in Kent. We walked along the pier to enjoy the sunset before heading back to London. I'm so glad my mom suggested to visit as it was a beautiful sunny day and the cliffs were pretty darn spectacular!