Dover

Dover: A passersby town, unless you know what’s here

In Victoria's day, Dover (76 miles southeast of London) was popular as a seaside resort; today, it's known as a port for cross-Channel car and passenger travel between Great Britain and France (notably Calais). Because it was one of England's most vulnerable and easy-to-hit targets during World War II, repeated bombings destroyed much of its harbor. The opening of the Channel Tunnel (Chunnel) in 1994, however, renewed Dover's importance.

Dover makes for a perfect base for exploring the surrounding English countryside and there are a few interesting things to see, including those white cliffs; Dover Castle, which rises nearly 400 feet above the port and was built in the 12th century at the command of Henry II; and the 1,800-year-old Roman Painted House, called Britain's "buried Pompeii," for its exceptionally well-preserved walls, under-floor heating system, and unique Bacchic murals.

© 2008, Wiley Publishing, Inc.