Battle of Britain Experience, White Cliffs of Dover & Canterbury

Would you like a small high quality, private tour of Britain's three most iconic and inspirational sites in the South East with an expert local guide? Dr Anthony Medhurst will escort up to 7 people in a comfortable air conditioned vehicle to the evocative White Cliffs of Dover; the historic city of Canterbury and its UNESCO World Heritage-listed Cathedral; and WW2 Battle of Britain sites which tell the compelling story of how the country was saved from Nazi invasion by the Spitfire and Hurricane pilots of the RAF. Here you will obtain unsurpassed views of locations over which the Battle was fought; re-live the sights and sounds of an original fighter station and an original, unchanged, pub once frequented by aircrew in 1940. Here you can enjoy a drink and re-live the precious few hours of respite for those who survived the day's fighting. Finally you will gain an expert insight into the perilous position faced by Britain and its pilots as the country stood alone in the summer of 1940.

1. 1

   The White Cliffs of Dover

   30 min

   Your guide will meet you at the entrance to Canterbury West station. You will be driven from Canterbury through scenic Kent countryside to the White Cliffs at Dover's Western Heights. This journey should take no longer than 30 minutes. This superb vantage point provides outstanding views of Dover Castle and harbour, the English Channel and on a clear day the nearby coastline of France. This is the ideal location in which to take photographs and experience this iconic landmark, as well as appreciate the proximity and immediacy of the threat of invasion from Nazi forces in 1940. This discreet location which is inaccessible to large tour groups, also enables guests to view three original gun emplacements and machine gun post built in 1940 as part of Britain's coastal defences.

2. 2

   Battle of Britain Memorial

   45 min

   You will be driven for 15 minutes to Capel-le-Ferne to view the iconic, cliff top Battle of Britain Memorial with its uninterrupted views over English Channel. Here you will be able to view the Memorial Wall which records the names of all those aircrew known to have flown at least one sortie with an accredited squadron or unit of the Royal Air Force during the Battle of Britain, including those who survived the war. Names are listed in alphabetical order, without rank or decoration, highlighting the fact that every one of the Few contributed to the RAF’s victory. You will also view the focal point of the site - the evocative statue of a fighter pilot overlooking the English Channel - who wears an Irvin jacket to disguise his rank, nationality and whether he was an ace or a pilot lost on his first sortie. Replicas of a Spitfire, Hurricane and Stuka are on show. An impressive shop is also available for books and souvenirs. A cafe offers refreshments and commanding views over the sea.

3. 3

   Kent Battle of Britain Museum

   2 hours

   You will be driven for 15 minutes from Capel-le-Ferne to the Battle of Britain museum at Hawkinge (or Manston if visiting between November to February) which occupies the site of the former Fighter Command aerodrome. Several of the original buildings remain and are accessible to the public including the original Watch Office, The museum contains the largest private collection of Battle of Britain artefacts in the world, much of which were uncovered by aviation archaeologists in the 1970s and 80s. Visitors can view the remains of countless Spitfires and Hurricanes, as well as personal artefacts from the pilots themselves, which flew in the Battle of Britain and were shot down or crashed in Kent. Your expert guide will explain outline the experience of fighter pilots in action - waiting to be scrambled, being in combat, the skills needed to survive, how they tried to cope and carry on - and tell the stories of a number of pilots whose effects can be viewed within the museum.

4. 4

   The Jackdaw

   15 min

   After leaving the museum at Hawkinge, you will be driven through some areas of outstanding countryside to the picturesque village of Denton. You will have the opportunity to see The Jackdaw pub which featured in the classic 1968 film, 'The Battle of Britain'. This pub provided the location for the actor, Christopher Plummer who played Squadron Leader Harvey, to drive to The Jackdaw in order to meet his wife played by Susannah York. Guests will be able to stop for 15 minutes for photographs.

5. 5

   Canterbury Cathedral

   3 hours

   After leaving Denton, guests will be driven through the scenic country lanes and villages of Barham and Bridge (journey time is no more than 30 minutes) before arriving the beautiful and historic city of Canterbury. You will have the opportunity to visit the UNESCO World Heritage site such of Canterbury Cathedral (admission £17 not included) which records over 1400 years of British history including how Christianity was brought to the country by St Augustine in AD597. You can also view nearby St Martin's church which is the oldest in England (AD 587); enjoy a walk or take a punt along the River Stour; as well as visit charming and characterful places in which to eat and drink including a medieval timbered pub recorded in Chaucer's 'Canterbury Tales'. Here you can also sample a range of beer and other drinks from Britain's oldest brewery founded in 1698.

• Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels
• The site at Dover Western Heights has uneven ground, is overgrown in places, and has concrete war time structures. Care needs to be taken when walking around the site.

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.