Dover Castle

Dover Castle is a major medieval fortress located on the cliffs above the English Channel in Kent, England. Its origins as a royal fortress date to the Norman and Plantagenet periods, and it is one of Britain’s largest castles.

Major construction of the present stone castle occurred in the 12th century under Henry II, who built the Great Tower and reinforced the fortress; Dover’s position made it a key defensive and administrative site over centuries. The castle’s underground passages were repurposed in the 19th and 20th centuries and were used as command centres and shelters during World War II, including involvement in the Dunkirk evacuation period.

Sited on the White Cliffs above the Channel near the town of Dover in southeastern England, the castle overlooks the shortest sea crossing to continental Europe and is about 20 kilometres southeast of Canterbury.

• Major structures: The site includes a medieval keep built in the 12th century and an intact Roman lighthouse that predates the castle, both open to visitors in the scheduled tours.
• Wartime role: Underground passages were adapted and used in the 20th century for military headquarters and as part of the site's WWII defences.

What to See #

• Great Tower: The Great Tower or keep built by Henry II forms the central stronghold and offers views across the surrounding landscape from its battlements.
• Roman lighthouse and tunnels: A Roman-era lighthouse (the Pharos) and extensive underground wartime tunnels used in the 20th century as command centres and shelters.
• Outer defences: Defensive walls, gatehouses and barbicans that demonstrate successive medieval fortification phases and adaptations.