Need more help. Canterbury Cathedral?

[tigercat]

We are leaving on a cruise ship from Dover on Sept. 1st 2013. Our friends are now coming with us. Thanks to the help I got here we are going to Dover Castle.
My question though is: How far away from Dover is Canterbury and the Cathedral? Our friends want to visit the Castle in the morning and then leave and go see the Cathedral. We only really have the one day in Dover to spend seeing things. We all wish we could have come for a longer visit but work is making us cut things short.
Also, how would one get from Dover to Canterbury? I figured taxi but wasn't sure how much that would cost. As well does it cost money to go into the Cathedral? Any information would be welcomed.
And again thanks for the information on Dover Castle.
tigercat

 

[Laurafoster]

I would say its about a 30minute drive? It might be quicker to get the train but Im Afraid I've no idea of costs though.

 

[aliwalli]

Hi there- Canterbury is probably a 30 min bus ride from Dover- cost around £6 pp! Canterbury is so beautiful so go there if you can. There isn't really anything in Dover to see apart from the castle!

The cathedral is an extra charge but even if you can just wander round, it's such a lovely city and lots of lovely shops!!

Hope this helps xx

 

[tigercat]

I knew that I could count of the UK Dis board to help me. Since the 5 of us only have 1 day before the cruise, 3 of us had already decided we really wanted to do the castle. The 2 added people really wanted to see the Cathedral. I know that we won't have time to do both so I am going to encourage them to go to Canterbury and the Cathedral. I will pass along the idea about the bus and the amount. I know the Cathedral costs as I looked it up, but what is the Concession price? Is it a seniors price? And at what age do you count as a senior? 2 of them are in their late 60's, 2 are 63 and then I am 57. I would have loved to go to Canterbury as well but I think we will still be getting used to the time difference, I am disabled and have trouble walking and I don't know how long it will take to do the Castle.
I am going to try and find out if there are any tea shops in Dover as well. Oh and a Marks and Spenser store. We only have so many days till we leave and I am still trying to get all the information I need. Well all the information all 5 of us need for both the cruise and our short stay in England.
tigercat

 

[lolainkent]

What time does the cruise leave? You could, in theory, do both but it would be a close call and while I find British trains and buses fairly reliable...you just never know and you wouldn't want to be stuck somewhere!

I was at C'bury Cathedral 2 weeks ago with a child, a baby, 3 adults (myself included) and a senior. My dad, 57, was not a senior. I can't remember the cost though, sorry!

A 30min taxi ride would be pretty costly. Probably around £50-60. I just looked up the train schedule on my app and it looks like there's a train between Dover Priory and Canterbury East every 30min that takes 30min. I imagine the fare would be about £8.

Dover Castle has a small train to help visitors with mobility issues get around. Make you ask when you arrive at the ticket counter. There's a lift out of the Hospital Tunnel (30min tour) and they always ask if anyone needs it (I took it once while pregnant, the next two times with a pram). The Dunkirk Evac tunnel (60min, I think) has 3 different points where you can sit down and a little cafe at the end near the gift shop. It's a lot of steps to the top of the actual castle, but the train will get you from the tunnels to the castle site, there's a cafe up there too. The Medieval tunnels are probably the least accessible thing on the whole site. The one time we went down there we had DD in a baby carrier. Anyway, my point for writing all this is that if you have mobility issues, plan for the castle to take a good 3-4 hours.

I live 10min up the road from Dover and am there all the time (DS goes to gymnastics there!) but I don't know about tea shops. I'd be happy to ask around at my DS's schools tomorrow for you, if you'd like?

Also, you would have time to go from Dover Castle to the White Cliffs. You can certainly see the Cliffs from the castle, but the actual National Trust site has it's own cafe, book exchange, view of the channel ferries, etc. It's honestly my favourite tourist attraction in Kent (and I've probably done almost all of them!).

 

[tigercat]

Thanks lolainkent that would be nice if you could find out. Also, do you know of a good place to eat for dinner in Dover? I have looked up restaurants but it is difficult to know if they are any good. One of our party only eats fish, 2 eat fish and meat and 2 that don't eat fish at all. We weren't sure how we would feel on the Friday that we arrive as we will have been awake for 24 hrs before we even get there. Last time we had a short nap and then did some things but were really tired. So I figure Friday we will just visit some shops and have dinner. Saturday we will have the whole day and that is the day we are going to the Castle. We will be arriving to board the ship at about 11 a.m. so we won't be doing anything on the Sunday.
tigercat

 

[sjt22]

I wouldn't do both in the same day the castle is very interesting and there is also the war time tunnels there so you don't want to feel rushed.

I used to live near dover and worked in canterbury and I never did it in under 30 mins unless I was traveling late at night plus once you get into canterbury the traffic can get very busy.

As for restaurants in dover I couldn't really say as I have never spent much time in dover. It might be worth eating out at a local village pub.

I have eaten here before but it was along time ago http://www.swingate.co.uk/gallery.html.

Sarah x