Dover, Canterbury & Kent Countryside Day Trip, London

Leave London behind with this epic 12-hour sightseeing trip into the "Garden of England." Join your guide and driver on a comfortable bus, then settle in and enjoy the views as you wind through the hop fields, orchards, and villages of the Kent Downs National Landscape to reach the White Cliffs of Dover. Here you'll have free time to explore the clifftop grounds of Dover Castle (entry not included) before heading inland to Canterbury, where a guided walk introduces you to the cathedral city's dramatic history, from Roman settlements to World War II air raids.

This far-reaching 12-hour day trip begins when you meet your driver and the rest of your small group near the London Eye and step aboard a comfortable air-conditioned bus. Make a quick stop in Greenwich, where you can stretch your legs, grab a coffee (not included), and admire the famous Cutty Sark, then continue southeast of the capital and into the Kent Downs National Landscape, a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty that stretches from the Surrey border to the coast. 

As you follow the route of an ancient Roman road for about 1.5 hours, you'll wind past golden hop fields, farmland, and orchards while your guide explains why Kent is nicknamed the "Garden of England." Spot the region's distinctive cone-shaped oasthouses, and pass perfectly-preserved villages that look straight out of a storybook. It's in one of these villages that you'll make your next stop, pulling into Chilham for a look at its 15th-century church and half-timbered houses.

The journey continues as you near the coast and get your first glimpse of the White Cliffs of Dover, an 8-mile (13 km) stretch of sheer chalk coastline rising over 350 feet (110 m) above the English Channel. If the weather's clear, you might spot France just 20 miles (32 km) away as you skirt the coast and approach Dover Castle. This imposing medieval fortress has played a pivotal role throughout Britain's history, and you'll have two hours to enter the castle (tickets not included) and dive deeper into its history, exploring its extensive grounds, fortified towers, and clifftop ramparts. 

Afterward, step back on the bus for another 30-minute drive inland to your final stop of the day in Canterbury. Start with a couple of hours of free time to grab lunch (not included) and explore the sixth-century CE Canterbury Cathedral (tickets not included), a UNESCO-listed masterpiece of Gothic and Romanesque architecture and the headquarters of the Church of England. Later, learn more about the city's rich history with a guided walk before reboarding the bus for the 1.5-hour drive back to London.