Dover Travel Forum

Our arrival at Gatwick has been moved up, so now we will arrive at 4:30 in the morning (ugh!)...
Our friends in England are insisting on keeping us awake all day to help with the jetlag. We were planning on going to Dover for the day anyway so I guess we'll actually be there before sunrise. Hoping for good weather of course, where are the best 'cliff' views in your opinions? Are the carparks 'open' that early? What is a good breakfast cafe that opens early? Any other 'early morning' ideas / views?
Thanks... Lisa

When are you arriving? Sun's up by 4.30 this time of year.

Sorry should have specified ;) - yes I checked the weather.co.uk for it - early September... around 6:30am I believe?

I'm taking a big risk saying this, in case fierce Dover residents are reading this, but I can think of a lot of much nicer seaside towns to spend your first day in the UK and to watch the sun rise. (Really, most places I can think of along the Kent or Sussex coast!)

I think is somewhere that has romantic associations - maybe because of the Vera Lynn song, and I think it is also probably one of those places that is nice when you get to know it. But I've been there a few times and thought it pretty drab for a visit. Is there a particular reason why you want to go there? I know this sounds negative, but I have known of overseas visitors going there and being really disappointed.

You're right.. its the song that makes me want to go there... we will be based in Selsey so anywhere between there and Dover would be okay. We do want to visit Dover Castle though, at some point that day. And please keep the suggestions coming, because this is what VT is for - alternative suggestions, away from the crowds, hidden gems, etc. etc.
Thank you...

Yes, Eastbourne is very pleasant - i also very much like the old part of Hastings, but i don't think the cliffs are white there? Oddly enough I can't remember! The problem is also the finding-somewhere-open-to-watch-sunrise aspect of this and i don't really know enough about this part of the world to advise... Dover has remarkably little late/early it has always seemed to me given that it is such a big port

I liked the telescope idea as at least there is discount shopping in Calais ;)

We completed this trip in September (05) and we did attend Dover Castle (not the city) but then we were (literally) IN the white cliffs. What I'd hoped for was a view onto the cliffs with the sun rising against them. I discovered here that the white cliffs are not limited to Dover.

We had a perfect day for the excusion and left Selsey plenty early, but needed to make a major detour due to a lorry-horse collision.

We did stop at the Battle of Britain memorial and there were some nice views of the cliffs in both directions (nevermind the posted warnings about vipers lurking in the undergrowth). Note to self: hip waders next time.

Regarding our breakfast, we stopped at a roadside mobile 'chip truck' (I don't know what you call them). It was the biggest, tastiest breakfast of the whole vacation! Even though I had to sit on chunk of concrete to eat it with a plastic fork. The proprietor was a real character and I quite enjoyed being ribbed for being a Canadian.

Thanks for the help on this forum - I will post a travelogue soon!

Also very pleased to have someone put in a word for these 'truck stops' which I've been praising in another thread very recently. Boycott the horrible chains like Little Chef and try these little places for great food.

I am glad you had a good time - it goes to show that one needs to be very specific when giving advice. Whilst I counselled against Dover as a destination it didn't occur to me to advise in greater detail about where else to see white cliffs. One assumes travellers know certain things, but of course that is not the case!

and I should have soem info for you soon re your other posting on teh route from Avebury - i travel that area a good deal and may be able to work it out!

this has all been very helful. I was, until I started to read these postings, considering overnighting in Dover on our way back stateside. After being enlightened, I have decided that perhaps another location would be better.

Thanks to all for the insights!