Day 121 - May 4, 2025 - Sunday - Dover, UK

We sailed overnight from Honfleur, France to Dover, UK.  

Sunset Saturday evening around 9:30 PM

Our first view of the Cliffs of Dover

 Dover does not have a natural port, but it does have an extensive man-made one. 

In places, the White Cliffs of Dover reach 350 feet high.

Dover castle, photo is taken from our ship at port.

We traveled to Canterbury, for a walking tour.  Canterbury is a city full of history. 

I wished we had time for a pint here...

An unusual power distribution system.

Now, just a few photos of Canterbury.

This is our second visit to Canterbury, and we have been unable to enter the Cathedral either time.  In 2014 there was a graduation ceremony taking place and today it was Sunday and only Mass goers were allowed until later in the day.  Then we didn't have time.

Charles Dickens stayed at the Sun Hotel when in Canterbury and he got many of the ideas for his books while here.

The building which is now the Cafe Chambers was the site where the Mayflower was chartered in 1620.

Conquest House

Conquest House has a bonus attraction in its supposed links with the four knights who came to Canterbury in 1170 to kill Thomas Becket – one is depicted on the hanging house sign.  The interior, not accessible to the public, confirms that this is indeed the site of a much earlier house, with a Norman undercroft, flint walls, and first floor hall.  The current exterior is certainly not over 900 years old.

WWII Radar Towers

This station was one of the first 5 Chain Home Radar stations completed in 1936.  Here at Swingate where four steel 364¼-foot transmitting towers were erected and to the east, four 240-foot wooden receiving lattice towers supporting a pair of dipoles at right angles to each other were also constructed.  These are the only two remaining towers.

The Dover Clifts with afternoon sun.

With ferry crossings available 24 hours a day, 364 days a year, with a departure on average every 30 minutes it is no wonder that the Port of Dover is one of the busiest ferry terminals in the world with over 10 million passengers, 1.3 million tourist vehicles and 2 million freight vehicles ferried annually. 

We arrive in Greenwich early tomorrow morning for the final day of our cruise.