Small Group Canterbury, Dover Castle and Cliffs & Kent Villages Day Tour
4.9
117 Ratings
Greater London
Duration:
11 hours
Cancellation:
1 day
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Highlights
- We briefly pause in Greenwich during our London departure. This spot forms a natural transition point from the city and is a convenient place to break, grab a beverage and use the restroom before venturing into rural surroundings. Take in the sights of the Cutty Sark - a famed, renovated 19th-century tea clipper. Hear royal tales and find out about the observatory that inaugurated Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), and view the renowned Royal Naval College.
- Take a leisurely walk around this quintessential English village that overflows with allure. The village square is the epicentre, boasting a church, pub, and tearooms. Chilham may very well be Kent’s most picturesque village.
- We will guide you down to the coastal strip beneath the globally recognized White Cliffs of Dover. An emblematic natural site in England, it served as a welcoming landmark for soldiers and aviators returning from battle throughout history. Meander along the shingle shoreline with the cliffs at your back, and if the weather allows, enjoy a view across the English Channel to France, 20 miles away.
- Discover the majestic medieval fortress referred to as the ‘Key to England’. Known for its remarkable defensive status in English history, this site has been fortified since the Iron Age 3000 years ago, and was even utilized by the Romans - this is evident from a Roman lighthouse present on the site - the most intact standing Roman structure in England. Allocate a couple of hours to explore this splendid castle, perhaps stop by one of their cafes for a snack.
- We are in Canterbury for 2.5 hours. This gives you an opportunity to delve into this historic English city. Perhaps indulge in some retail therapy, grab a bite or enjoy a drink in one of its traditional pubs. Consider visiting the striking UNESCO world heritage site cathedral - the monumental 11th-century Canterbury Cathedral. Later, your guide will take you on a historical walking tour of Canterbury, where you’ll hear about Chaucer and the ancestors, trace the path of ancient pilgrims visiting the shrine of Thomas Becket, before setting off.
What's Included
- Optional walking tour in Canterbury (included in the price)
- Professional guide. Fully commentated small group guided tour
- Transport by luxury, air-conditioned mini coach & complimentary bottled water
What's Not Included
- Optional entry to Canterbury Cathedral. Tickets can be bought on arrival. Adults £17 Child FREE
- Tickets to Dover Castle not included. Cash/card payment taken on the day. See pricing below
- 29th March ‘24 - 24th May ‘24: Mon - Fri £12.70 child, £18.10 over 65’s/students, £20.90 adults
- 29th March - 24th May ‘24: Sat/Sun & public hols £14.50 child, £20.90 concession, £23.60 adult
- 25th May ‘24 - 1st September ‘23: Mon - Fri £14.50 child, £20.90 over 65’s/students, £23.60 adults
- 25th May - 1st Sep ‘24: Sat/Sun & public holidays £16.30 child, £23.60 concession, £26.30 adult
- 2nd Sep ‘24 - 30th March ‘25: Mon - Fri £14.50 child, £20.00 over 65’s/students, £22.70 adults
- 2nd Sep ‘24 - 30th March ‘25: Sat/Sun & public holidays £16.30 child, £22.70 conc, £25.90 adult
- Please note that works are currently underway at Dover Castle for a new visitor experience
Additional Information
Join our intimate group of no more than 16 people for an 11-hour day tour departing from London to Canterbury, Dover and various Kent villages. Journey with us through the ‘Garden of England’ county. Our trip takes us back in time, starting with a stopover at Greenwich, the birthplace of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). From there, we delve into the heart of stunning Kent landscapes and make a pause at the picturesque traditional village of Chilham. After Chilham, we take a breathtaking route to the renowned White Cliffs of Dover, where we journey down to the beach for a magnificent coastal view and a look at the dazzling white cliffs right behind us. From the cliffs, we head onwards to Dover Castle, bearing witness to over 2000 years of history spanning from the Roman period church to the Medieval defenses and war tunnels from World War II. Following that, we proceed to Canterbury city, boasting a globally renowned cathedral that dates back 900 years. Tour the cathedral with us and partake in a guided walkthrough of Canterbury before we head back to London after a memorable day of exploration.
- 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 note that parts of Canterbury Cathedral are closed on May 6, 17, 20. June 12, 15. September 6. Due to graduations. The remainder of the cathedral is still open to the public
- Please do not travel if unwell and/or experiencing symptoms of Covid-19
Location
London Eye
LONDON EYE departure point: Belvedere Road, next to the London Eye and near the corner of Belvedere Road and Chicheley Street, Waterloo – SE1 7BP.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.9
(117 Ratings)
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Elena_g
May 11, 2024
Awesome experience - Worst Australian accent ever :)
Tour was brilliant- great, knowledge guides and excellent atmosphere.
Thank you .
Review provided by Viator
Excursion00784356201
May 10, 2024
A must-do tour! - Loved this small group tour! Highly recommend. Comfortable bus, interesting stops, plenty of time at the stops and lots of fun. Cliffs of Dover were beautiful and loved Canterbury. Andy was very knowledgeable, funny and an excellent driver. His two assistants made the tour even better than it already was! We were serenaded and the little Scottish boy gave even gave us all a chocolate marshmallow cookie at the end ! 🤣
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Expectations11
May 9, 2024
Exceptional - A definite favorite! Dover Castle and Canterbury Cathedral are must sees. Our guide, Cara, was knowledgeable and enthusiastic!. I highly recommend this company;.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sharon_v
May 7, 2024
Great day out - Our wonderful and very knowledgeable guide cara was awesome. Plenty of time to explore each place. Canterbury castle and Dover castle were amazing.
Review provided by Viator
Naquinmr6
May 4, 2024
Dover Castle white cliffs - Cara was amazing. Her knowledge of history is incredible. The trip was the perfect amount of time and number of people. We had plenty of time in all the town, cliffs and castle.
Review provided by Viator
Lorie_g
Apr 27, 2024
Great Experience! - Tony was an amiable, knowledgeable host, and the trip was memorable. We were able to tuck into a sweet small town as well as visiting the impressive white cliffs, Dover Castle, and Canterbury. Amazed by how much we were able to see and do in one day. Highly recommend.
Review provided by Viator
Matthew
Apr 6, 2024
Highly Recommended - My family took two different English Bus tours during our time in London and they were the highlight of our trip. Both Tony and Chris were very knowledgeable, friendly, and helpful. We learned many things we wouldn’t have if we would have opted to tour on our own. The small, comfortable busses allowed us to travel down beautiful, narrow roads that a larger bus wouldn’t have been able to navigate. The smaller group size prevented us from feeling like we were swarming some of the more isolated destinations.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Shellym791
Jan 29, 2024
As Expected, Another Exceptional Day Tour! - LOVE everything about The English Bus. This was my third booking. I love their small group tours. Plenty of potty and snack breaks are always provided throughout the day. It’s always a perfect mix of guided tour and free time. Tony was our driver/guide this time and was exceptional. His knowledge of the area coupled with his enthusiasm shined through the pouring rain! The cliffs were beautiful. We loved Dover Castle. I would spend more time touring the castle and grounds than the tunnels. The cathedral in Canterbury is breathtaking and huge. We had to move quick because my husband had a conference call. He headed to the pub to work and I shopped before joining him. Great shopping in Canterbury! I then joined him at a pub located across the street from where a local deacon negotiated the hire of the Mayflower for the pilgrims. The rest of our group met up with Tony for a walking tour of the city. When we arrived back to the bus, all raved of Tony’s tour. You can never go wrong booking with The English Bus!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
989kamic
Oct 26, 2023
Hidden gems away from bustling London, worth the entire day trip! - This tour is a gem outside of busy London for a day! We briefly stopped in Greenwich and Kent villages that have beautiful, charming vibes that I’ll definitely want to spend more time in! Lucy was a fantastic guide and she truly went above and beyond in sharing history, culture, and treats with us, I would highly recommend this tour! We made a short stop to the Cliffs of Dover and the castle that was the highlight for me, and we ended the evening in Canterbury which is quite touristy but fun to see the boat rides on the river. All in all, on of my favorite day tours away from London!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Alisonrobbins6
Oct 18, 2023
Thank you! - Johny was a fantastic guide! We were the only family (with 2 kids 11-15) on the trip amongst several other parties, but he made sure to include them in the full adventure. He was very thoughtful in including commentary during the tour that was important to the boys - i.e. the first golf course in England, etc. it was a very long day, but SO worth it and we would do it again in a heartbeat! Thank you Johny and The English Bus for a fantastic day in south England!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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