Dover Beach in Summer

Dover is not really known as a beach town. There is a small stony beach with a few facilities, but it’s not really going to keep a group of teens interested for an afternoon and an evening.

I don’t want to be unfair to Dover but other than the cliffs and the castle (which is magnificent btw) it’s not a particularly pleasant or attractive town to spend time.

Thank you!

Probably just looking for somewhere to chill grab some food before we head back to London. Anytime there is water and teens they get excited. But, maybe just plan on a few short hours then.

The other issue you have is that it could be awful weather so have a backup plan for rain. You can’t depend on dry weather at any time of year in this country.

If you look on Satellite View you will see a small (probably stony) beach along Wellington Dock, the bay/harbor between the ferry pier and the cruise ship docking area. The map shows a few shops and cafes lining the esplanade, mainly fish ‘n chips type places, as well as souvenir shops. They could grab a quick bite there and have a look at the cruise ships and maybe see the ferry from Calais come and go. But from what I have read of Dover, you won’t want to spend hours there.

not a particularly pleasant or attractive town to spend time.

Is Golden Girl's nice way of saying it's what's known colloquially as a sh*thole. I wouldn't really want to spend time there unless I was catching a ferry. In my admittedly fairly limited impressions of Dover, it's dominated by the ferry port, the road to the ferry port and the trucks heading for the ferry. Maybe others more familiar with the delights of the town centre will be able to fill us in on its good points.

Young people will thank you much more for a visit to Margate instead. It's a little ways along the coast but there's much more to do on a Saturday afternoon and evening. Ramsgate and Broadstairs are also more pleasant Kent coastal towns than Dover to spend some time and get some fish and chips.

Or Folkestone has had a lot of regeneration and seems to be a nice town to spend a few hours in these days. Disclaimer: I’ve never been there.

Or Deal, even, which has become very popular and seems to have a fair bit of life.

I have been there. If I want a boat to Calais or Dunkirk that's where I have to go if I can't get on the Eurotunnel ( Le Shuttle) for a price I am willing to pay.

Trucks, trucks, and more trucks. Not a beach I would want to be at. Cold in the water in June, probably cold on shore, no sand, with all those ships in and out constantly I would expect a stay on the beach to have both air and water pollution.

But it does have a nice castle.

Much better at Seven Sisters a few miles west for a real beach (stay away from the cliffs which collapse) and much easier bright white cliffs to see and great views.

My impressions are limited to sitting in traffic with said trucks and being parked up at the port for an hour or two. On the way home it was dark and I was driving like a bat out of hell to get back to London. I have never paddled.

Thank you for all of the thoughts and suggestions. Should have put the disclaimer out there that we will only be out in Kent for the day as we only have about 7 days total for our trip. We are not covered for insurance with me driving a van. We will also be dependent upon where we can get to by train and maybe short taxi rides (planning on taking a couple taxis from Dover train station to the Cliffs).

I'll look into the other spots mentioned and see if we can get there easily.

where will you be before and after Dover?

Staying in London. Taking the trip to Dover, another day to Bath and Stonehenge and possibly one other day trip. The trip is supposed to have a Roman history theme (calling it the Roman history of Britain, so we could get school approva!)) so the third day might take a quick trip to St. Albans.

Dover Castle has very fine WWII exhibits that teens might quite enjoy. Also, Medieval castle areas although I don’t think those exhibits are as good. You get the best views of the cliffs from the water although it is possible to hike along the cliffs. Walk them up hill from the train arrival to wear out the energy level!

Have you looked at Brighton for a beach- rocky but with pier and arcades. Hiking in the area. Brighton Pavilion. Old town center. All walkable from station.

Adding, you are probably aware of the museum Roman items. https://www.dovermuseum.co.uk/Dover-History/Roman-Dover.aspx#:~:text=The%20Romans%20called%20the%20town,found%20in%20the%20Dover%20area.

Museum is good if it matches interests, but I’m not sure how teens might react. Maybe you could arrange a guide? If they have studied the era and artifacts it might be fine, but I suspect some would find it dull without guidance.

There is also the Roman Painted House, currently closed for repair. Opens 2024. It was in bad need of updating when I visited a few years ago.

St Alban's would be a good day trip for going with the Roman theme.

Getting some ideas!!!

Have enough in budget for one day trip with a private coach. Was planning on using that for Bath and Stonehenge. Buuuutttt….

Also wanted to get to Bignor villa (would rather that than St. Albans) Could combine that with Stonehenge. Long day of driving, but doable.

Then on the day we go to Bath, explore that in the late AM and continue on to Brighton and hang on the beach/pier there for the early evening for a few hours and back to London.

Still leaves a day to go Cliffs at Dover and Dover Castle. Was there last year with a group and they really liked the castle as well, but spent the rest of the day in Canterbury (that trip had a literature theme).

I’ll check to see if the Roman museum in Dover is of interest. Don’t want to overdo the museums. Planning on British Museum, because of course you have to, and then one other Roman themed museum and would like something that the kids can get hands on with (I know they can at at Albans and Bignor)

If there’s a Roman theme, you should totally be going to Fishbourne Roman Palace near Chichester. Can be combined with Bignor. It’s outstanding. Thought to be the home of a British client king. Really interesting and impressive.

I don’t understand the reasoning behind a day trip to Dover to see the cliffs. They’re not that impressive from land and there are so many nicer and more interesting (and more Roman) places in the south of England.

Don't bother going to Dover for a beach. Also note that if you were under those white cliffs that they can have rock falls at any time - not just during storms.

Going from Bath to Brighton on the same day is really not viable as the roads between these places are poor, slow and congested.

If hiring a coach for Bath and Stonehenge, you might also want to consider the short journey from the stones down to Salisbury which has a wonderful medieval cathedral.

The train is the fastest way to get from London to Bath & back and if they have not been on 125mph trains, the teens might enjoy the experience. Of course, trains can be expensive but you should enquire about a group discount with the GWR train company if considering this.https://www.seat61.com/london-to-bath-by-train.htm

140mph trains go from London St. Pancras to Kent. See > https://www.southeasternrailway.co.uk/tickets/more-ways-to-travel/high-speed

Thank you for all the great tips and ideas, lots to think about.

I have definitely looked into the Fishbourne palace. Definitely an option along with St. Albans and Bignor Villa. Want to go to one of those three . However, too much history and they will be bored. St Albans is easier to get to and have some great programs for the kids to work with as well. Bignor would be my favorite stop, but hardest to get to (although looking at the flex bus in the area might be a way to go if we get to the train station near it). Could also do Fishbourne and then Continue on to Portsmouth for the afternoon and evening.

As someone mentioned the White Cliffs are not part of the theme, however my last group I brought that was the one place they actually wanted to stay longer at (they were a whiny group and complained at everything!) and the one place they kept asking to go was the beach! Even if not pretty it might suffice for a few hours, but will look into the other options mentioned

I think as James mentioned, would love to stop in Salisbury and see the cathedral. If we have a coach and enough time that will be exactly what we do.

Will be most likely taking train to Dover and then taxi up the few miles to the cliffs. Probably need another quick taxi ride if we go to the castle as there seems to be no quick walk to the castle despite it not being that far away.

Thank you for all the ideas. I am sure I will be back with more questions on another topic soon!

Helen was talking about Folkestone. By weird coincidence this new video about Folkestone by an American couple might interest you in that possibility- it is only just down the coast from Dover (by train) and IMO far better- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sITVdfy7_1E