With summer beginning to fade and turn to a new season, and as you start looking for great days out this Autumn, you can experience vintage charm in White Cliffs Country – Deal, Dover and Sandwich – this September, with a series of events inviting you to enjoy the nostalgia of yesteryear.
Whether it’s a fun family day out you’re planning for the weekend, a way to enjoy quality time with someone special during a great day out with a partner, or a catch up with family and friends in a new location, choose White Cliffs Country – where coast meets countryside and relaxation meets adventure - to experience something a bit different, as you step back in time to the “good old days”!
On 4th September, Dover Transport Museum invites you to experience East Kent 105 Vintage Bus Run Day. A fleet of vintage buses will be operating routes around Deal, Dover and Sandwich, with rides running from 10am to 4pm. The ‘Friends of the East Kent’ (Road Car Company Limited) are celebrating the 105th anniversary of the East Kent Road Car Company commencing operations in Deal on 1st September 1916 and you can enjoy vintage bus displays at Dover Transport Museum and Eythorne Railway Station along with memorabilia stalls.
Dover Transport Museum: visit for Vintage Bus Run Day
The following weekend is a tribute to the 1940s at Betteshanger Park near Deal, as “We Will Meet Again” takes place on 11th and 12th September. This exciting new event promises something for the whole family to enjoy, with re-enactors and military vehicles, trade stalls, arts and crafts and 1940s fashion, music and song. A static Spitfire and UH-1 Huey helicopter are among the attractions, while a licensed bar and food stalls will provide a range of refreshments.
A musical tribute to the national treasure Dame Vera Lynn, after whom a footpath on the White Cliffs of Dover was named this summer, takes place on 18th September with a concert at Charlton Parish Church in Dover. The concert is in collaboration with Dover Senior Schools and will feature the Band of the Brigade of Gurkhas, Grace Constable Soprano, Charlie Brooks on Violin, and Oliver Poole on Pianoforte. Tickets are available from the White Cliffs Country Visitor Information Centre at Dover Museum, with proceeds from the concert going to Dame Vera Lynn's charities.
You can delve even further into the bygone days this September as the past comes to life across the country for Heritage Open Days, England's national festival of history and culture. Many venues in White Cliffs Country are taking part in this celebration so that you can learn more about the history, heritage sites and hidden gems of Deal, Dover and Sandwich that are opening their doors especially for this event, which runs from 10th to 19th of September. There are also special events to take part in, some of which are bookable in advance - so make sure to follow the links through to the Heritage Open Days website and search by area, so as not to miss out!
When it’s time to eat, follow the nostalgic theme at a variety of fantastic eating establishments around White Cliffs Country in Deal, Dover and Sandwich. Mrs Knott’s Tea Room at South Foreland Lighthouse offers a vintage tearoom experience that’s reminiscent of the 1950’s, with beautiful vintage wallpaper, a mismatched assortment of floral, chintz, and gold trimmed china cups – even a record player with songs by George Formby, Ray Noble and of course, Dame Vera Lynn.
A Spitfire (static display) will be among the attractions at "We Will Meet Again"
For more nostalgia, and by the seaside, head to Deal’s Beach Street performance area, overlooking the seafront, and find a table outside the selection of traditional pubs, guest houses and hotels clustered around the King’s Head. You’ll love the retro seaside vibe with bunting and hanging baskets, the sound of seagulls and the scenic sea views. Or head to Sandwich and step back further in time with a visit to The Kings Arms Hotel on Strand Street - a traditional Kentish country inn, c. 1580. With many original features, the character and charm of the building have been retained over the years, leaving the inn unspoiled and an ideal place to relax, unwind and enjoy a delicious home-cooked meal. Our eat and drink webpages have a selection of brilliant ideas for you to browse, to find where to eat and drink during a day out in Deal, Dover and Sandwich.
Dame Vera Lynn Way has been opened at the White Cliffs of Dover
If you love the vintage vibe so much that you’d like to make a weekend of it, it’s the perfect opportunity. White Cliffs Country has amazing accommodation with availability this Autumn.
Vintage accommodation doesn’t come much more quirky (or romantic) than staying in a traditional Gypsy wagon, for example. Consider Romany Dreams in the beautiful Alkham Valley for a stay in a luxurious refurbished 2 berth cosy genuine Gypsy wagon.
You’ll find a great selection of accommodation and further ideas on our website for places to stay across Deal, Dover and Sandwich.
Enjoy early Autumn, one of the most charming times of the year, with nostalgic charm in White Cliffs Country - Deal, Dover and Sandwich.