South Foreland Lighthouse
St Margaret's Bay, Coast
Image: National TrustSouth Foreland Lighthouse is a Victorian lighthouse on the White Cliffs, built to guide ships past the Goodwin Sands and the first to use an electric light. Take a guided tour, enjoy the views over the Strait of Dover and stop at the 1950s-style tearoom. It suits families and walkers, and pairs naturally with a clifftop walk from Dover or St Margaret's.
Highlights
- The first lighthouse to use an electric light
- Guided tours of the Victorian tower
- Tearoom with a 1950s feel
- Views over the Strait of Dover
- Borrow a kite or play garden games
Good to know
- Dogs are welcome outdoors under close control; only assistance dogs in the tower and tearoom
- There is no car access, so plan a walk in
- A small shop sells gifts and souvenirs
Getting there
South Foreland Lighthouse, St Margaret's Bay, Dover, Kent, CT15 6HPParking: No parking on site. Park at the White Cliffs visitor centre (CT16 1HJ) and walk 2 miles along the clifftop, or park in St Margaret's village or bay and walk about a mile.
Get directionsChecked on 15 October 2026 against nationaltrust.org.uk, nationaltrust.org.uk. Details change, so please confirm with the venue before you travel. How we check
Nearby
Image: National TrustFan Bay Deep Shelter
Fan Bay Deep Shelter is a network of Second World War tunnels dug into the White Cliffs in 1940 and 1941, explored on a hard hat and head torch tour with National Trust guides. The visit also takes in two early sound mirrors and the excavated number 3 gun emplacement. It suits older children, teens and adults keen on history, and takes around 90 minutes plus the clifftop walk.
Photo: Mustang Joe, CC0South Foreland Lighthouse Walk
This 4 mile there-and-back route follows the top of the White Cliffs from the National Trust visitor centre to the Victorian South Foreland Lighthouse. Look out for wartime gun emplacements, Channel views to France and a stop at the lighthouse tearoom when it is open. It suits confident walkers and older children and takes two to three hours.
Image: National TrustThe White Cliffs of Dover
The National Trust's stretch of the famous chalk cliffs starts from the visitor centre at Langdon Cliffs, with clifftop paths and big views over the Channel and the port. Walk as far as you like along the coast path, stop at the café, or carry on to South Foreland Lighthouse. It suits walkers, families and dog owners, and a visit easily fills half a day.