Battle of Britain sites tour Dover: Private Kent Coast WW2 guide

Dover's World War 2 story, told by a professional guide who knows every corner

A private guided tour of World War 2 sites along the Kent Coast, departing from Dover with pickup included at any port, station or hotel within 20 miles. The tour visits the Battle of Britain Museum on the original aerodrome, drives the Folkestone Leas and Harbour where troops embarked in World War 1, passes Dover Castle and the White Cliffs at St Margaret's Bay, and ends with cream tea at a local tearoom where you learn about 'Hellfire Corner': the name Kent earned during the bombing campaign. Groups stay under seven people. The tour runs 4 to 5 hours and operates in all weather.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit World War 2 sites along Kent Coast

• Visit Battle of Britain Museum
• Drive along Leas Promenade in Folkestone
• See Folkestone Harbour Arm
• Visit Battle of Britain Memorial
• Pass through Dover and see Norman Castle
• Stop at St Margaret's Bay and White Cliffs
• Enjoy cream tea at local tearoom with WW2 museum

The experience

Dover sits at the centre of this route, and the tour builds outward from the Battle of Britain Museum, located on the actual aerodrome where Spitfires and Hurricanes launched during the Battle of Britain. The museum holds the world's largest collection of Battle of Britain memorabilia, and a professional Driver Guide (a member of the Driver Guides Association) narrates the history as you move through the stops. The guide speaks English and Russian, and the small group size means you travel with no more than seven people in a fully licensed air-conditioned MPV.

From Dover, the route follows the Kent Coast west toward Folkestone, where you drive the elegant Leas Promenade and learn how the town's historic harbour sent thousands of troops to the Western Front in World War 1. You then reach St Margaret's Bay, nestled beneath the White Cliffs, where the views across the English Channel frame the scale of the wartime landscape. The tour also passes Dover Castle, the Norman stronghold that overlooks the town. At each stop, the guide shares the role these places played in the conflict, grounding the history in the actual locations where it unfolded.

The tour ends at a local tearoom in St Margaret's Bay, where you sit down for homemade cream tea and learn about 'Hellfire Corner': the name this corner of Kent earned during the bombing raids. The tearoom also houses a small museum on World War 2 and the notable people who sheltered in the area. Pickup and drop-off are included at any port, station or hotel within 20 miles of Dover, so if you arrive by train or ship, the guide collects you and returns you to the same point. Fuel, parking and tolls are covered. The only cost beyond the tour price is any additional food or drink you order at the tearoom.

What’s included

• Pickup and drop-off at any port, station or hotel within 20 miles of Dover.
• entry to the Battle of Britain Museum.
• transportation in a fully licensed air-conditioned MPV for up to seven people.
• a professional Driver Guide who speaks English and Russian and is a member of the Driver Guides Association.
• fuel, parking costs and tolls.
• homemade cream tea, coffee or soft drink at a local tearoom in St Margaret's Bay.

Options for this experience

2 options

Guide in English or Russian5 departure times: the first at 09:00, the last at 13:00

Guide in English or Russian09:00, 10:00 and 21:30

You pick the guide language when booking. Options with the same name differ in details you'll see when you pick a date.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesTuesday to Sunday6 departure times: the first at 09:00, the last at 21:30Last departure this season: 15 Nov

Book up to2d before

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Russian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 2 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h before the start. After that, no refund.

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48h

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical levelStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by England Plus Tours

Is this one for you?The small group size and private vehicle mean you move at a steady pace without waiting for a larger coach to fill up, and the professional guide's knowledge of the sites and the wartime history makes the stops meaningful rather than rushed. Book this tour if you want the Kent Coast's World War 2 story told by someone who knows it, not a generic overview.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Russian.

What is the Battle of Britain Museum, and what will I see there?

The Battle of Britain Museum sits on the original aerodrome where Spitfires and Hurricanes took off during the Battle of Britain, and it holds the world's largest collection of Battle of Britain memorabilia. The museum opened in 1993 and was opened by the Queen Mother. Entry is included in the tour.

Where exactly does the tour pick me up and drop me off?

Pickup and drop-off happen at any port, station or hotel within 20 miles of Dover. If you arrive by train or ship, tell the operator your station or port and arrival time when you book, and the guide will meet you there and return you to the same spot at the end of the tour.

What is 'Hellfire Corner', and why was Kent called that in World War 2?

Hellfire Corner was the name given to this corner of Kent during World War 2 because of the intense bombing raids it endured. You learn the full story over cream tea at the local tearoom in St Margaret's Bay, which also has a small museum on the period and the famous people who lived in the area.

How long does the tour take, and what's included in the price?

The tour runs 4 to 5 hours, depending on traffic and time of day. Included are pickup and drop-off within 20 miles of Dover, entry to the Battle of Britain Museum, transportation in an air-conditioned MPV, the professional guide, fuel, parking and tolls, and homemade cream tea or coffee at the tearoom. Snacks or meals beyond the tea are not included.

Can I visit Dover Castle as part of this tour?

The tour passes Dover Castle and you see it from outside, but entry to the castle itself is available as a separate add-on option at checkout. If you want to go inside, you can choose that option when you book.