Getting from the U.K. to Europe can be done a number of ways. There are many ports to take ferries from, and even the channel tunnel, offering the quickest way across the channel, but our favorite so far has been going through Dover, England. Dover is a small town in the very south of England with amazing views, gorgeous walks, and quaint shops and cafes.
When hadn’t planned on visiting Dover, but instead originally planned on taking the channel tunnel from the U.K. to Europe, however, since we didn’t arrange the trip in advance, the tickets were £211. Way, way, way too overpriced! While looking into our other options for jumping across the channel, we found Dover to be the closest hot spot for ferry crossings.
Traveler’s Tip… There are loads of ferry crossings into Europe from all over England, so be sure to check the options before driving all the way south! It may even be cheaper to head a bit north before crossing over!
After a major fiasco trying to get our tickets sorted, we finally booked tickets for the next morning into France, meaning we’d be spending the rest of the day exploring the cute town of Dover!
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Driving In Dover And Free Parking
It’s no secret that the United Kingdom as a whole needs to improve the road systems, directional signs and the like, and Dover is no exception to that rule. The ferry terminal itself can be quite complicated, and with one-way roads, roundabouts, and lack of signage, maneuvering through Dover is quite tricky too!
So when we were looking for a place to sit down and book our ferry tickets, the first thing we did was find a place to park on the outskirts of the town so we could just walk and enjoy Dover instead of being stressed with the driving — Best decision ever!
Traveler’s Tip… There is paid parking throughout the town of Dover, and while this is more convenient in some cases, we’re all about the free parking. Instead of parking in the big lots, drive in the neighborhoods a bit and park on the side streets. Just be warned those streets are itty bit, it is the UK after all!
The White Cliffs Of Dover
If you haven’t caught on by now, everything about visiting Dover was surprising and new. With us not even planning on going to Dover, or really spending any time in England during this road trip, we had no clue what Dover had to offer. But even in our four hours in Dover, we found this place to be just incredible!
The White Cliffs of Dover kinda take the cake for the beauty in the area. It’s a National Trust site that’s full of gorgeous views, great walks and loads of war history. On a clear day, you can even see across to France! Going for a walk along the coast is well worth a visit to this little gem in Dover. And, just across from the parking area at the White Cliffs of Dover, you’ll find the best seat in the town for watching the craziness of the port! It’s truly unreal how busy the Dover port is!
Where To Wild Camp In Dover, England
When we pulled up to park for just a day visit at the White Cliffs of Dover, we noticed just how stinking nice the view is and how awesome of a wild camping spot it would be! But the only problem, wild camping in England is technically illegal.
It’s pretty frowned upon in most parts of the country, however typically going completely stealth mode means nobody bothers with it! We couldn’t pass up on an opportunity to camp at such a beautiful place!
So we backed in the van, took off for hiking around the cliffs, and had a great uninterrupted evening watching the craziness of the ferry terminal, soaking in how good the things that seemed to be all wrong really were.
Traveler’s Tip… It seemed to be okay to wild camp up in the parking lot of the White Cliffs of Dover. Just be sure to park in the lot before the gate, you definitely don’t want to get locked in!
READ MORE | Our First Vanlife Car Accident
Watch the first part of our European Vanlife Road Trip here… Spoiler alert, we got in our first car accident! And check out a time lapse of the craziness of the ferry terminal too!
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