Dover Pier

The pier juts out into the Channel like a weathered finger, and standing on it you're suddenly aware of how close France actually is. Dover Pier is less about attractions and more about the experience of being at the gateway to Europe - watching the ferries come and go, the Dover Strait traffic moving past, the white cliffs looming behind you. It's free to walk on and takes maybe 20 minutes to reach the end, though you could easily spend an hour just watching the water and the boats.

Historically it matters too. This is where packet ships departed for centuries, where countless travellers first set foot leaving Britain. The pier itself has been rebuilt and modified repeatedly, most notably after wartime damage, but it's still very much a working port rather than a tourist attraction pretending to be something grand.

Kids will be entertained by spotting the massive ferries and container ships, though it gets windy and there's nowhere to shelter. On a grey Dover afternoon it can feel a bit bleak - properly exposed to the elements. Go on a clear day if you can; you'll actually see across to France and the mood lifts considerably.

Parking near the pier is straightforward enough and it works well as a break during a wider coastal visit. The nearby holiday parks at St Margaret's Bay and Greenhill Glamping are only a few miles away, so it slots in perfectly with a longer Kent coast stay. Head there early morning for the best light and fewer people milling about.