Fan Bay Deep Shelter


Travel deep within the White Cliffs of Dover on a guided National Trust tour to explore these World War II tunnels and see the incredible World War I sound mirrors.

Fan Bay Deep Shelter is an Experience.

Where

Langdon Cliffs
Upper Road
Dover
Kent
CT16 1HJ

What3words location

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Useful info

  • Available: Nature-positive initiatives
  • Available: On-site parking (charges may apply)
  • Available: Visitor toilet/s
  • Available: Food and drink on site
  • Not available: Dog-friendly
  • Not available: Accessible

Admission

Admission fees

Contact

These abandoned and once-forgotten tunnels, constructed deep within the White Cliffs of Dover in 1940-1941 as accommodation for the soldiers manning the gun battery above, have been renovated and preserved by the National Trust and are open to the public via guided tours.

A tour of Fan Bay Deep Shelter will give you a fascinating insight into what life must have been like for those guarding the nation in World War II. Explore the tunnels 70 feet underground, following 125 steps down into the shelter - the tunnels are unlit, so the only light will come from head torches on the hard hats you will need to wear. The tour also includes a chance to see the First World War Sound Mirrors up close and find out more about them.

The tunnels are 1.5 miles (2.5km) from the National Trust White Cliffs Visitor Centre - check availability before walking along the cliffs to the entrance where you can buy tickets at the Fan Bay tunnel entrance (available on a first-come, first-served basis). The tour is free for National Trust members.

  • Tours leave every 30 minutes from 11am to 3.30pm. The last tour leaves at 3pm.
  • Maximum of 12 people on each tour, ages 12 and over only.
  • The National Trust is unable to accept payments by card, due to the remote location.
  • Please wear sensible shoes.
  • The nearest toilet and catering facilities are located at South Foreland Lighthouse approximately half a mile (1km) away.
A corrugated metal-lined, arched tunnel with a chalk floor and chalk wall in the distance.
Explore the tunnels where soldiers lived during World War II. Photo credit: Chris Tapley