Dover to London
Private Shore Excursions, London Tours & Custom Touring

Cruise ships dock at the Port of Dover - the world's busiest passenger ferry port, on the southeastern tip of England in Kent. There are two cruise terminals: the Eastern Docks and the Western Docks. Your private guide and vehicle will meet you at the correct terminal with a name sign as you disembark. London is approximately 75 miles northwest of Dover - about 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours by private vehicle depending on traffic. Heathrow Airport is approximately 85 miles - about 2 hours. Canterbury is approximately 16 miles northwest - about 25 minutes.

Every Dover England tour is available in two versions - one ending at a central London hotel, and one ending at Heathrow Airport (Terminal 2, 3, 4, or 5). The touring content is identical - the same Canterbury Cathedral visit, Dover Castle tour, or London driving tour. The only difference is the final drop-off point. If you are flying home immediately after the cruise, choose the Heathrow transfer version. If you are spending additional nights in London, choose the London hotel version and provide your hotel address when booking.

Canterbury Cathedral is the mother church of the worldwide Anglican Communion and the seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury - the most senior bishop in the Church of England. Founded in 597 AD by Saint Augustine on the orders of Pope Gregory the Great, it is the oldest cathedral in England. The cathedral was the site of the murder of Archbishop Thomas Becket in 1170, which made Canterbury one of the most important pilgrimage destinations in medieval Europe - the subject of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales. The entire Canterbury World Heritage Site, which includes the Cathedral, St Augustine's Abbey, and St Martin's Church, was designated in 1988. Canterbury is approximately 16 miles and 25 minutes from Dover cruise port.

Dover Castle is one of the largest and most complete medieval castles in England, built on the White Cliffs above the harbour. The site has been fortified for over 2,000 years - from Iron Age earthworks through a Roman lighthouse that still stands, a Saxon church, and the Norman great tower built by Henry II in the 1180s. During World War II, the castle's tunnels served as the secret underground command centre for the Dunkirk evacuation in 1940 - the operation that rescued 338,000 Allied soldiers from the beaches of northern France. The tunnels are now preserved as a museum. Dover Castle is approximately 1 mile from the cruise terminal.

The drive from Dover cruise port to central London takes approximately 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours by private vehicle via the M2 and M25 motorways, depending on traffic. Traffic into London can be heavier on weekday mornings. Your guide monitors conditions and plans the day to ensure you reach your London hotel or Heathrow Airport in good time. All Dover England tours are 7 hours in total, which comfortably accommodates the touring content and the drive to London.