The White Cliffs Of Dover Were Our Gateway To Visit Canterbury Cathedral
We finished our visit to Amsterdam and headed for our first port on the next leg of our cruise along the western coast of Europe. The White Cliffs of Dover were our gateway to visit Canterbury Cathedral.
We did not spend much time in Dover but headed right for Canterbury. The Canterbury Cathedral played an interesting role in history in England. But it was the stunning interior of the church that we will always remember.
Landing Under The White Cliffs Of Dover
When we opened the curtains we knew we reached the White Cliffs of Dover. They were ghostly white in the mist of the morning. We watched as the sun came up across the bow of the Oceania Cruises ship. The sunrise caused the cliffs to shimmer pink.
High on the cliffs we got our first view of the Dover Castle. This was the first stop on our day trip from Dover.
A Quick View Of The Dover Castle
The bus picked us up and drove slowly into the small town of Dover. Our guide pointed to the white cliffs. We learned that the chalk white cliffs were lined with black flint stone. As we passed one point, she talked about the defensive tunnels created in the cliffs. We saw a few of the caves that came out of the cliff.
The bus climbed up to the top of the cliff. We got a view of the Dover Castle perched high above the cliffs. It was a massive fortress. Our guide said it would take most of a day to explore it all.
The bus parked so people could get a closer view. Many people walked down the hill and got a closer look at the sheep as they grazed on the hill below the castle. After a short stop in Dover we were on our way to visit Canterbury Cathedral
We Strolled Through Canterbury To The Cathedral
The bus parked on the outskirts of the town. We followed our guide into the older part of town along the cobblestone streets. The first part of the town was the newer part that was largely re-built after it was bombed in WWII.
The narrow streets of the older part of town led to the cathedral. We saw the cathedral as it peeked up over the buildings. And then we found the gate into the cathedral
Our guide provided us with some history of this historic cathedral. She talked about Thomas Becket (also known as Saint Thomas of Canterbury). Becket was murdered in the church by knights of King Henry II. The great shrine that was erected to Becket was confiscated by Henry VIII and only a candle remained in his memory.
This was the first Church of England. It was converted from a Catholic church when Henry VIII created his own church so he could get an annulment from Catherine of Aragon when it was denied by Pope Clement.
Canterbury Cathedral From The Outside
Our visit to Canterbury Cathedral started on the outside. The cathedral was massive. As with many monuments we visited, a large amount of the outside and some of the inside was covered with scaffolding.
We walked around and saw the building from different angles. The vast number of stained glass windows were evident as we walked around. We knew we were in for a treat when we went inside.
There were actually three different structures on the grounds of Canterbury Cathedral – Canterbury Cathedral, St Augustine’s Abbey, and St Martin’s Church. When we walked around we saw some of the ruins of St Augustine’s Abbey.
Before we entered the church we wandered along the covered portico and looked out at the tranquil and green cloister area.
The walk around the outside was just the gateway to visit Canterbury Cathedral. We were excited to discover the inside.
Amazing Inside Views When You Visit Canterbury Cathedral
We entered the cathedral at the Nave end. This was a massive open area filled with folding chairs. An altar was at one end. Behind this we saw the carved wall of the Choir Screen.
The ceilings were decorated with coat of arms. Floor tiles showed the wear of many generations of worshippers. We saw the Compass Rose on the floor that was a symbol of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The pulpit was intricate in design but we found the organ much simpler in comparison.
Entering the Quipe we found a set of pews on either side. When we reached the end we found yet another altar.
While we were in the church, the minister came on the PA system and asked people to pause in their visit. He took a moment of silence, said his blessings and then talked us through the Lord’s Prayer. Almost everyone stopped snapping pictures for our religious moment in the church.
The Tombs At Canterbury Cathedral
Around the side of the Nave we found a number of areas with dedications or small altars for worship. Many of them were tributes to the world wars.
The cathedral hosted memorials and tombs for famous and influential people dating back to 1205. These tombs generally had ornate statues of the tomb occupants. We stopped several times and checked these out as we walked around Canterbury Cathedral.
Far at the end we found the small area where the candle to St Thomas Becket sat in the middle of the floor. This represents the shrine that stood for 300 years before it was destroyed by Henry VIII. Â In this area we found tombs for a couple. And a fascinating tomb with a dog statue at the feet.
As we walked through Canterbury Cathedral we got a real sense of the history of this church.
Stained Glass Windows
We wandered around the inside of the Canterbury Cathedral. As promised on the outside we found such an enormous display of colourful stained glass windows. The windows told tales all around the church.
But we were not quite done. A door led us into the Chapter House. There we discovered yet more intricate stained glass and a beautiful ceiling.
As gawked our way through Canterbury Cathedral we got a real sense of the beauty of this church.
We Headed Back To Dover
The tour group was left to enjoy the cathedral or the small town of Canterbury. David and I managed to get separated in the church. So we both wandered around the cathedral and the town in search of each other. It was not the first time we wished we brought walkie talkies with us!
It was great to visit Canterbury Cathedral. As Canadians we learned lots of English history including the antics of Henry VIII. It was an amazingly beautiful cathedral inside. This church reminded us of our visit to the Salisbury Cathedral.
We were sp glad we got to visit Canterbury Cathedral on this stop. This was one more of the great day trips from London for a return trip.
From Dover we headed back across the English Channel and cruised along the northern coast in Europe. Our next port stop was the lovely seaside port town of Honfleur, France.
Have you seen the White Cliffs of Dover? Did you visit Canterbury Cathedral?
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The Canterbury Cathedral’s stained glass windows remind me so much of a church I visited while in the north of France. All your photos are so lovely! I had no idea this was the first church of England, what a lovely and historic site!
It was so great to visit Canterbury Cathedral from Dover. I would have visited for the stained glass windows alone! A fascinating site.
Dover and Canterburry make me think of Bretagne and Normandy in France: the houses look quite similar and the white cliffs are just like Etretat (maybe due to their geographical proximity, you were probably able to compare). We hope to make it there on our next campervan trip to the British Isles.
I hope you do get to visit this area of England on a camper van visit. We saw such a small slice but definitely want to visit again one day.
I remember visiting the White Cliffs of Dover via boat as a child and all I can remember is how cold I was! I wish I could go back now and fully appreciate it, and visit the Canterbury Cathedral as well. Love the beauty of the stained glass windows.
The White Cliffs of Dover had been on my wish for so long. It was great to get a view from sunrise through to sunset. I hope you do go back and get to see the Canterbury Cathedral as well. So much in this are to explore.
Gone are the days when Calais was connected with Dover by ferry and continental teenagers come on that route to exciting England. I was one of them, but at that time, I didn’t care for either cliffs or cathedral. Today, it’s a whole different story and one of my future trips will go criss cross the UK – I think there are so many underrated places to explore.
How interesting to go back with a different set of eyes! I am sure you would find some amazing spots to discover in this part of England.
I have toured through Dover Castle and wandered the cobblestone streets of Cantebury. Cantebury is one of my all-time favourite quaint towns! The Cathedral is absolutely stunning. I have very fond memories of both these areas.
I would love to go back and spend more time in both Dover and Canterbury to explore the towns.
Wow I never knew just how stunning canterbury cathedral is. I have seen the exterior before when working in the work and many pictures of it but the interior is stunning.
We were amazed at the stained glass windows. And then all the other displays inside too. So much to see inside Canterbury Cathedral.
I have been hearing a lot about Dover recently! I am reading a book about an Englishman who swam around the entire UK, and we came across the part about Dover and he totally mentioned the White Cliffs. I am unsure how this place flew under my radar for so long, but now hearing about it so much makes me really want to visit. The city itself looks really charming too
I am glad that Dover is now on your radar. A good spot to visit with lots to do in the area.
Oooohhh.. you’re coming closer to London now in your travel blog posts, Linda. Nice!!
I must have crossed the English Channel well over a hundred times over the years (I regularly commuted between London and Frankfurt for years), but I only crossed it twice on a boat: when I was visiting England from Germany with my sister and my parents at the age of 12.
Your report brought up some fond memories of that trip. I’m not even going to start going on about Canterbury, where I proposed to Ellie 12 years ago haha…
You clearly like the cathedral as much as Ellie & I do. Some great pictures of the details of this marvellous gem of architecture here.
I’m hoping to visit Dover again soon for some open water swimming. Thank you for sharing this lovely post.
I am glad to bring back great memories of both Dover and Canterbury. What a great spot to propose to Ellie! A perfect reason to return again and again. Good luck swimming at Dover!
Cheers. 🙂
There are many old churches in Goa, India. But this one is magnificent. I studied Canterbury Tales during my graduation days and now after reading your post, I wish I had been more attentive to the book. This must have been quite an experience to be in the oldest house of prayers.
It was amazing to finally see the Canterbury Cathedral in person. Such a beautiful spot with such interesting history.
It’s so amazing and stunning to see the white cliffs of Dover. I love Canterbury as well. I’ve been there a couple of times around the Christmas period. It’s really nice for Christmas shopping and to get that fairytale atmosphere.
I am sure this would be a great area to visit in the winter and around Christmas time. Will need to plan a return trip.
Waking up to the White Cliffs of Dover sounds dreamy! I have only seen them from a bit of a distance and wasn’t aware of the caves. I have been to Canterbury
On a day trip and loved the old town. The cathedral is incredible. It was under construction when I was there also, I imagine the upkeep is ongoing.
We were so glad we got to visit both. But there was so much in this Kent area of England to see. Definitely worth a return visit.
Two trips to England for me but I still have not been to the White Clilffs or Canterbury! I can’t wait to get back to the UK…such beautiful place. Especially after I read Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett I have been dying to get back and tour more cathedrals!
We have spent most of our time in London. So it was good to get a taste test of places outside the big city. Lots to send us back to the Dover area on another trip.
What a stunning view you had when you get to Dover! The stained glasses in Canterbury Cathedral are just amazing. When seeing places like this I always wonder how they maintain the place, such as how do they clean the windows, those intricate sculptures, etc. Definitely a great place to learn about Henry VIII.
I sure do love to look at stained glass windows but like you wonder how they keep them all clean. A fascinating spot to learn more about English history.
Wow, what a view. It seems more impressive from the deck of a cruise ship. The cathedral is much bigger than I imagined and the stained glass is impressive. Curious what the tomb with the dog statue was about.
There were so many interesting tombs and there was not a lot of info about the various tombs and history. But fascinating to see the wide variety and what history was showcased at Canterbury Cathedral. A great day after our beautiful start with the White Cliffs of Dover.
I have always wanted to visit cliffs of dover just for the dramatic cliffs I had seen in so many movies and show, but had no idea about this Cathedral! What a marvel, and it is so well kept. The detail of the Cathedral’s stained glass windows is absolutely stunning. Also, it was interesting to know the place makes a point to remember the old structure that was destroyed. Loved the post! 😀
We were happy we got to see such different facets of this part of England. The White Cliffs of Dover were great to see as we arrived and left. Cool to get a close up view too.
I have fond memories of both these places. I visited both Dover and Canterbury in 2 different day trips from London. Indeed white cliffs of Dover looks so fascinating from the sea. Whenever we were on the ferry on English channel, I always go to the deck to see those white cliffs. Its just wow. It is really nice to walk along the cliffs. Too bad you didn’t have much time to do that. Next time! Canterbury is a charming town indeed.
I think that two different day trips from London is a good idea. I would love to spend more time in the town of Canterbury and explore the Dover castle. But a great teaser for us!
What a beautiful day full of gorgeous colors. I would love to see the sunrise over the cliffs and from the water would be ideal.
It was indeed a beautiful day to visit the Kent region in England. Definitely a colourful day.
A very stunning cathedral indeed. Those stained glass windows are real work of art. Pity you could not get more of the Dover castle but then I understand time was a constraint. I loved the view you woke up to. That truly was a good start to your day.
We loved our taste test of this part of England. Definitely want to return and see more of the Dover area and the castle.
The Canterbury Cathedral is rather impressive and beautiful. As for the stained glass windows! They are magnificent. I was fortunate to see the White Cliffs of Dover many years ago but never got to see the cathedral, so thanks for sharing!
We were glad we chose to head inland and see the Canterbury Cathedral on our visit to Dover. But it was a just a teaser for a return visit.
Wow! I love history and read so much about the England and Scotland. And Henri VIII is of course one characters it’s hard to miss. And the Canterbury Cathedral is part of that history but besides its historical value, I am stunned how beautiful the church is. These stained glass panels are simply mind-blowing! If we ever make it to Dover, we will for sure stop to visit and soak into the grandiose architecture.
We too loved the history surrounding the Canterbury Cathedral. But the inside architecture and design beauty kept us entranced on our visit. All great reasons to visit if you make it to the Dover area.
This sounds like a really special day – first the cliffs, and then the castle, and then the cathedral, then the town. Such a rich experience. And those windows are so beautiful.
Alison
We were glad we had the chance to see both a bit of Dover and the Canterbury Cathedral on that trip. But we it would be nice to go back and see more.
We love those stunning White Cliffs of England! It must have been such a lovely sight to see them when you opened the curtains from your boat. We spent two days in Dover and explored the Dover castle as well. However we did not spend much time in Canterbury. The cathedral was under renovation. You have captured some lovely images of the inside of the Cathedral! We must spend more time at the cathedral and the city of Canterbury next time. Bookmarking your blog! 🙂
It was an amazing sight to see the White Cliffs when we woke up. It was great to head to Canberbury. But next time we want to spend more time in Dover too.
What a view over to the Dover cliffs first thing in the morning! I can imagine that feeling of anticipation as you walked through the town and saw the castle towering behind the buildings in the street. I just love the stained glass windows – beautiful!
It was indeed exciting to see the Cathedral getting closer over the town. And the gates were a fun portal to the site. We were glad we got to see this beauty.
Canterbury Cathedral is one of my all-time favorite cathedrals I’ve been to. It’s SO beautiful, and the history is fascinating! And the town itself is adorable. I tried to squeeze in a trip to the cliffs, but ran out of time. But those are definitely on my list for when I get to go back to England!
There was a lot to see in this area. We know we only scratched the surface and have much left for a return visit. Lots of reasons to plan a longer stay.
We have visited the UK a few times now, but haven’t made it to either of these places. I didn’t know there was a castle on top of the White Cliffs of Dover – it looks fascinating. I think Canterbury and the cathedral are beautiful! I’m always so impressed by the architecture. Thanks for letting us know about the great things to see in this area!
I was happy to share some new spots for you to check out on your next visit to England. They were great discoveries for us too!
I love the white cliffs, but had no idea there were defensive tunnels built into the side. That is so cool! The Cathedral is also stunning, those stained glass windows are unreal!
We were glad we got a closer glimpse at the White Cliffs of Dover before heading to Canterbury. Definitely a good day trip.
I have visited Dover a number of times, either for coastal hikes or a visit to Dover Castle. The White Cliffs of Dover are truly mesmerising. Unfortunately, I am yet to visit Canterbury Cathedral. I am always fascinated with the stained glass windows depicting biblical stories – the craftmanship is truly amazing and you have captured each one beautifully. The tall columns reminds me of Milan Cathedral! Your article has inspired me to revisit my places to visit list so to add Canterbury Cathedral! Thank you for sharing your experiences at this remarkable Cathedral.
I am delighted to have inspired you to visit the Canterbury Cathedral. We love places like this with such intricate and colourful stained glass. I am sure each one tells many stories. Hope you get to visit.
I can’t believe that this is yet another place in my home country that I have never visited! It must have been really special to wake up to sunrise over the white cliffs of Dover. The cathedral looks spectacular too – those windows are extraordinary & as usual your photos are fantastic. I took advantage of the breaks between lockdowns to visit a number of the palaces around London & learned a lot about the outrageous ‘antics’ pf our former kings & queens, especially Henry. Thanks for sharing, another to add to the list!
I am happy to add another spot to your list of local spots to visit. We were delighted with our view of the White Cliffs of Dover. And so glad we chose to visit the Canterbury Cathedral. I am sure there are many tales of the antics of the royal families.
Oh my goodness the stained glass work inside the Canterbury cathedral is so exquisite and the architecture of the local spots is awesome ?
We were not prepared to find so many beautiful pieces of stained glass in the Canterbury Cathedral. One of my favourite things to look for when we visit churches.
I have visited Canterbury cathedral more than 30 years ago. It was one of my first trips without parents to a foreign country. I was very, very impressed by the stained glas windows and you pictures brought back these memories. We have been toying with the idea of walking the Via Francigena from Canterbury to Rome. That would bring another visit to lovely Canterbury.
We were glad we visited the Canterbury Cathedral when we were in Dover. I am sure we would go back for a second visit.