Small Group Canterbury, Dover Castle, Cliffs & Villages Day Tour
Description
Join us on a 11 hour small group, maximum 16 people, day tour from London, to Canterbury, Dover and Kent Villages. This tour takes us through the county known as the "Garden of England". We will travel through time - literally, with a visit to Greenwich where GMT began. Then out deep into the beautiful Kent countryside and a stop in the glorious traditional Kentish village of Chilham. Following Chilham we take the scenic route onto the famous White Cliffs of Dover where we descend down to the shore for spectacular views along the coast and up at the glistening white cliffs immediately behind us. On from the cliffs we head to Dover Castle, where you can explore and see over 2000 years of history, from the Roman era church, to the Medieval embattlements and tunnels dug during WW2. Then on to the city of Canterbury, with its world famous 900 year old cathedral. Visit the cathedral and join us on a guided walking tour of Canterbury before our return to London after a full day exploring.
Tour Options
Itinerary
We make a short stop in Greenwich on our way out of London. Greenwich forms part of our natural route out of the city and is a great place for us to stop and grab a coffee and use the bathroom before we get out into the countryside. Admire the Cutty Sark - a famous restored 19th century tea clipper sailing ship. Hear stories of Kings and Queens visiting, and learn about the observatory that gave birth to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) and see the famous Royal Naval College.
Wander round this beautiful example of a traditional English village. Full of charm and centred around a village square, with a church, pub and tearooms. Chilham is perhaps Kent's most beautiful village of all. Enjoy a cup of tea and a scone from the tearooms, or perhaps a local pint of beer from the historic village pub.
We bring you down to the shoreline under the world famous White Cliffs of Dover. One of England's most iconic natural locations, and a welcome sight for soldiers and pilots returning home from warfare in history. Stroll along the pebble beach with the cliffs behind you, and weather permitting, a view 20 miles across the English Channel to France.
Explore this glorious medieval castle - describes as the "Key to England". Huge defensive significance throughout English history, and in use as a defensive position since the Iron Age 3000 years ago, also used by the Romans - evidenced by a Roman lighthouse on the site - the most complete standing Roman structure in England. You'll have a couple of hours to visit this incredible castle - perhaps have a bite to eat in one of their cafes.
We spend 2.5 hours in Canterbury. Time to explore this famous English city, perhaps do some shopping, have a bite to eat or a drink in one of it's many charismatic pubs. Perhaps take the time to visit the spectacular UNESCO world heritage site cathedral - the enormous 11th century Canterbury Cathedral. Later, join your guide for a walking tour of the history and highlights of Canterbury, hear stories of Chaucer and the founding fathers, follow in the footsteps of pilgrims visiting the shrine of Thomas Becket, before we head off back to London.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Minimum age is 3 years
- A moderate amount of walking is involved, and across some uneven surfaces
- No large items of luggage are permitted, luggage compartment is limited
- Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
- Maximum group size 16 people
- Comfortable clothes and walking shoes - warm and waterproof clothes
- Please do not travel if unwell and/or experiencing symptoms of Covid-19
Reviews(240)
What a wonderful day we had traveling to the White Cliffs of Dover, Dover Castle and Canterbury stopping in Greenwich and Chilham on the way. Jon narrated the tour with great knowledge and humor, making the trip even more enjoyable. I would highly recommend this tour if you're interested in learning more about the history of Kent and seeing some amazing sights.
Nancy, You are very kind - thank you for your review. Jon works so hard to adapt his approach to each different group and each guest so he can make the best of each and every tour, I know he was delighted to read your words of appreication, as were we. Thank you for choosing to travel with us. All the best, Chris The English Bus
Well worth it for the small tour group. Our guide Eric was fantastic. Very knowledgeable and friendly. Made it super easy for us. Also provided water during day. Bus was comfortable.
Jon was such a knowledgeable tour guide! We enjoyed his stories and enthusiasm! He was very considerate of all passengers!
Hi Diane, Thank you so much for the fantastic review! We're thrilled to hear that you had such a great time with Jon. He loves sharing his passion and stories with our guests, and he’ll be delighted to know his efforts made your tour special. We hope to welcome you back on another adventure soon! All the best, Lilly @ The English Bus
Amazing tour. Tour guide was the best. Very satisfied
No problem, here's one without: What a fantastic review — thank you so much for taking the time to write! We're so pleased you had such a brilliant day at the Cliffs of Dover and that your guide made it such an enjoyable and entertaining one — that's exactly what we aim for! Thanks again for choosing to travel with us. We hope to welcome you back for another adventure with The English Bus one day — check our website for live availability and best prices. All the best for now, Jen
Great trip! Val, our driver, had so much knowledge at the tip of her tongue, she was a great driver, and she played good music!
Easy to book. The vendor they used was The English Bus and they delivered an excellent tour. Driver/guide was exceptional!
Absolutely fantastic: our guide, Cara, was so knowledgeable, totally interesting and amazingly enthusiastic throughout the day. From the start, she gave us fun facts about London’s history and geography, and followed it with a wealth of information about the Kingdom of Kent: its rulers, raiders, citizens, heroes, villains, along with facts about buildings, foods, and drinks! Amazing! We loved it! Would 100% recommend this company❤️
Excellent,! there's quite a lot to see and do. The places we visited were interesting and fun! Our guide Jon was excellent! He has a good sense of humor and was very knowledgeable on the historical info. Thanks Jon, the mushy peas are delicious!
Worth the time! Beautiful coastline and spectacular cathedral and castles. Louis was fantastic!! Beautiful villages!
Hello, thank you so much for your review - delighted to hear you enjoyed our small group tour so much! All the best, Chris The English Bus
We had a fantastic experience on our trip to Canterbury and the Cliffs. The bus was very clean and comfortable. We had plenty of time at each stop to sample the local food and explore. Can't say enough good things about our guide Jon. He was friendly, knowledgeable, and made the whole trip very enjoyable. I would highly recommend this tour!
Hello, Thank you so much for joining us on this small group tour. Wonderful to hear that you enjoyed it so much. Jon will also love reading this so I will make sure to pass it on, he puts so much into giving each and every one of his guests the best experience. All the best, Jen The English Bus
