Britain's Best - Dover Castle

I should note that I haven't actually visited Dover Castle, but can I just say in reply to DoverBoy that whether one considers it rubbish or not obviously depends upon what one expects from a historical site.

I note that Alton Towers is also in the Britains Best listings, with burger vans and rollercoasters everywhere you look so it is obviously great fun - but is it that sort of thrill factor that makes a historical site "Great" or is it the inspiration that comes from understanding what has happened on that site in the past and its significance/relevance to our current lifestyle ?

Looking at castle can be a bit like looking at a work of art. Some will see a few blobs of paint or a scruffy pile of stones. Others will see the bigger picture............

I agree with DoverBoy, it may be a nice castle, but how can it compare to the Royal Pavilion??

What an amazing Castle. My aunts went to school in it (in the walls there was a primary school). My farther was a choirboy in it and used to pump the organ for the services. I explored the dungeons as a child when in quiet times in the winter, the custodian would give you a lamp and let you explore on your own, and drop burning rags down the well to illuminate it. It is all a bit sanitised now, but does have the impressive wartime tunnels open. Just before Suez in 1956 the whole castle hummed with trucks being painted sand yellow! It was a living garrison castle!

I am completely in agreement with The Great Raymondo, especially in light of Juciloo's comments. Brighton Pavillion may be interesting (I lived in Brighton for years) but it's "greatness" depends on one's perspective. Personally I think the Pavillion is merely a very impressive holiday home, commissioned by someone who didn't understand the word "understatement" although that is in no way a criticism; just an observation. However, Dover Castle has provided a first line of defense for this nation going back into centuries of our history and has adapted with the various developments in warfare technology. When it comes to "greatness" I know which one of the two I'd view as "greater".

I have to agree that Dover is one of the overlooked gems. Its size & grandeur easily matches that of the Tower Of London (but for a fraction of the entry price! ).

Dover castles secret war time tunnels are an important part of english history. From the nepoleonic to the 1960's. Operation Dynamo was planned here which was co-ordinated by Admiral Ramsey small boats rushed to Dunkirk and carried out the evacuation rescuing over 300.000 stranded allied trops. In 1941 more levels where put into operationb Annex a field hospital and Dorms and DUMPY and comine forces operation center. In the 1960's after the cuba missle crisis, the lower level DUMPY was converted to an underground nuclear bunker and regional seat of goverment for the protection of nuclear war. Having had the privilage of working here in my teens this place will always have a special

Dover Castle is a fantastic place because it is a microcosm of english history, with the fabulous Pharos (the roman lighthouse) the Saxon church, the Norman castle that was in use throughout the centuries, the tunnels that were built during the Napoleonic wars and re-used during WW2, all of Englad's history is here.

The really great thing about visiting the castle if you have children is that they can run free, explore, and touch almost everything, no boring 'Please do not touch' notices here. My children adore the Tudor court exhibition in the keep, where there are lots of things to do, and they love playing with the cannons and mortars outside, and playing soliders on the battlements. They can spend hours there without getting bored.

It's a fantastic place for children and adults alike.