We followed the coast to travel to Dover, taking in the towns of Chichester, Worthing, Brighton, and Eastbourne.

The historic City of Chichester offers a selection of fascinating places to visit. With its magnificent 12th Century Cathedral and fine Georgian shopping centre it can truly claim to be at the centre of a unique cultural and artistic experience. Chichester lies between two areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty - the South Downs and Chichester Harbour - as well as other nature reserves, stunning beaches and dramatic coastline to the south.

Worthing is a traditional seaside town with a twist. This is a place full of surprises – a wide open prom allows space to breathe, to run, to cycle, an endless horizon frames the beach and, of course, don’t miss our famous pier. But step off the beaten track and you’ll discover another world of quirky independent art, music, performance and friendly food lovers all of whom would love to introduce you to the town you were least expecting.

Londoners have been traveing to Brighton for beach getaways ever since the railway arrived here in 1841. The pebbled beach, Brighton Pier's amusement arcade and the Royal Pavilion are the main sights, but you'll also find hundreds of pubs and clubs catering to an energetic crowd. We just had to stop at Brighton.

Eastbourne is bursting with so many things to see and do; you might want to extend your visit to fit more of the activities in. From theme parks and zoos to exploring the area's history, discover 1066 castles, museums and art galleries. Relax and enjoy the views of Beachy Head where many a famous film has been produced, or our parks and gardens, sample the local produce from our vineyards and farmers markets.

Down-in-the-dumps Dover has certainly seen better days. Its derelict postwar architecture and shabby town centre is a sad introduction to England for travellers arriving on cross-Channel ferries and cruise ships, most of whom pass through quickly. Lucky, then, that the town has a couple of stellar attractions to redeem it. The port’s vital strategic position so close to mainland Europe gave rise to a sprawling hilltop castle, which has some 2000 years of history to its credit. The spectacular white cliffs, as much a symbol of English wartime resilience as Winston Churchill or the Battle of Britain, rear in chalky magnificence to the east and west. The views were spectacular! We walked along the cliffs to the lighthouse. There can be no doubt that the White Cliffs of Dover are one of this country's most spectacular natural features. They are an official icon of Britain and have been a sign of hope and freedom for centuries.

You can appreciate their beauty and enjoy their special appeal through the seasons by taking one of the dramatic cliff-top walks offering unrivalled views of the busy English Channel and the French coast.
Things to See:

*** The biggest draw at Dover Castle is the network of secret wartime tunnels. The claustrophobic chalk-hewn passageways were first excavated during the Napoleonic Wars.
*** Dover Castle: The most iconic of all English fortresses commanding the gateway to the realm for nine centuries. Climb the Great Tower, meet the characters and immerse yourself in vivid medieval interiors. Then delve deep within Dover's White Cliffs to witness the drama in the Secret Wartime Tunnels. Roam through centuries of history at Dover Castle, from the Romans to the 20th century, in an action-packed day out.
*** Roman Lighthouse: This Roman-era lighthouse is Britain's oldest standing building and dates from around AD 50.
*** Roman Painted house - A crumbling 1960s bunker is the unlikely setting for some of the most extensive, if stunted, Roman wall paintings north of the Alps.

We stayed in Dover for the night before heading back to London for the final few days of our holiday. We stayed at the Dover Marina Hotel with beautiful sea views.