Dover Castle
Commanding the chalk cliffs above the English Channel in Kent, Dover Castle has been called the Key to England since the medieval period. Henry II rebuilt the great stone keep between 1179 and 1188, with Maurice the Engineer overseeing the work. The site also contains a Roman lighthouse of the early 2nd century — one of only three surviving Roman-era lighthouses in the world and the tallest standing Roman structure in England.
In 1940, Vice Admiral Ramsay coordinated Operation Dynamo — the Dunkirk evacuation of over 330,000 Allied troops — from tunnels some 50 feet into the chalk cliff. Managed by English Heritage, it received approximately 368,000 visitors in 2019 and holds Grade I listed and Scheduled Monument status.
Visitor information
- Location
- Dover, England
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Tier
- B (Great castles)
- Coordinates
- 51.1297, 1.3214
- Official site
- https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/dover-castle/
Frequently asked questions
- Where is Dover Castle?
- Dover Castle is in Dover, England, United Kingdom (approximately 51.1297, 1.3214).
- Can you visit Dover Castle?
- Yes — Dover Castle is open to visitors; see the official site at https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/dover-castle/ for hours and tickets.
- What tier is Dover Castle on the Castle Atlas?
- Dover Castle is rated B tier on the Castle Atlas — Great castles.
- What can you see at Dover Castle?
- Commanding the chalk cliffs above the English Channel in Kent, Dover Castle has been called the Key to England since the medieval period. Henry II rebuilt the great stone keep between 1179 and 1188, with Maurice the Engineer overseeing the work. The site also contains a Roman lighthouse of the early 2nd century — one of only three surviving Roman-era lighthouses in the world and the tallest standing Roman structure in England.
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