Lighthouses · South East England
South Foreland Upper Lighthouse
In or near Martin Mill.
South Foreland Upper Lighthouse — grade II listed lighthouse at St. Margaret's Bay, Dover, Kent, England, UK.
Wikimedia Commons contributors — see linked file page for photographer and licence licence
Plan your visit
- Typical visit
- 30 min–1 h
- Nearest railway station
- Martin Mill · 3.7 km
- Free entry
- Family-friendly
- Dog-friendly
Getting there & planning your visit
To visit South Foreland Upper Lighthouse, the nearest railway station is Martin Mill, located 3.7 km away. The postcode for sat-nav is CT15 6HP. Entry to the lighthouse is free.
About
South Foreland Upper Lighthouse is a working or historic lighthouse on the United Kingdom coast. Designed by James Walker. Constructed primarily of stone. Heritage designation: Grade II listed building. Owned by National Trust. Managed by Trinity House. Part of South Foreland Lighthouses. Wikidata describes it as: "grade II listed lighthouse at St. Margaret's Bay, Dover, Kent, England, UK". Coordinates: 51.1404°, 1.3711°.
Photo gallery
360° viewimagery from 2025
Imagery © Mapillary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0
Heritage listing
Details TR 34 SE ST MARGARET'S AT CLIFFE THE FRONT (south Foreland) 6/58 South Foreland Lighthouse II Lighthouse and outbuildings. Built 1793, rebuilt 1843. Rendered, with slate roofs. Irregular octagon with flanking wings. The tower is of 3 storeys on a plinth, with machicolations and battlemented parapet. Lantern with ball finial and weather vane. Single storey outbuildings with plinth and parapet and low hipped roof with 2 cast iron chimney pots. Projecting canted bay window on main facade, and projecting return wing both with pediment-shaped parapets and Trinity House emblems. Linked to tower by short wing with four centred arched doorway. Main entry to tower with pointed arch on attached shafts. With the first permanent electric lamp in the country (installed 1872, only the Lizard Light is more powerful on the south coast). Listing NGR: TR3591143305 Legacy The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system. Legacy System number: 178497 Legacy System: LBS
From the Historic England List Entry under OGL v3.
Summary from the official site
South Foreland Upper Lighthouse is a historic lighthouse located on the White Cliffs of Dover. Visitors can take guided tours to learn about its fascinating history and enjoy scenic views of the coastline.
Read more on the official property page.
Protected designations
- Site of Special Scientific Interest: Dover to Kingsdown Cliffs SSSI
- Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty: Kent Downs
Designations sourced from Natural England open data under OGL v3.
Place summary
South Foreland Upper Lighthouse is located in St. Margaret's at Cliffe, Kent, in South-East England. Designed by architect James Walker, it is a Grade II listed building and is operated by Trinity House. The lighthouse is situated within the Dover to Kingsdown Cliffs Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).
AI-generated from the structured facts on this page (operator, designation, listing, era). Not a substitute for visiting.
- Coordinates
- 51.1404, 1.3711
- County
- Kent
- District
- Dover
- Parish
- St. Margaret's at Cliffe
- Postcode
- CT15 6HP
- Parliamentary constituency
- Dover and Deal
- Nearest railway station
- Martin Mill — 3.7 km
- Opening
- Lighthouse open Friday to Monday and local school holidays; tearoom and toilets open daily.
- Official site
- www.nationaltrust.org.uk
Sources
- wikidata: Q386221 (CC0)
- commons: South Foreland Lighthouse front.jpg (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Other places nearby
South Foreland Lighthouse
Lighthouses · 0.0 km
South Foreland Lower Lighthouse
Lighthouses · 0.4 km
St Margaret's Bay Windmill
Windmills · 0.4 km
White Cliffs of Dover
Natural landmarks · 0.8 km
Fan Bay Sound Mirrors
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Fan Bay Deep Shelter
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Fan Bay
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St Margarets Bay Holiday Park
Caravan parks · 1.2 km
St Margaret's Museum
Museums · 1.2 km
Crab Bay
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Hope Inn
Historic pubs · 1.4 km
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Church of St Margaret
Historic churches · 1.5 km
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Frequently asked questions
- Where is South Foreland Upper Lighthouse?
- South Foreland Upper Lighthouse is in Kent, South-East England, United Kingdom (postcode CT15 6HP), in the parish of St. Margaret's at Cliffe.
- What is South Foreland Upper Lighthouse?
- South Foreland Upper Lighthouse — grade II listed lighthouse at St. Margaret's Bay, Dover, Kent, England, UK.
- How do I get to South Foreland Upper Lighthouse?
- The nearest railway station is Martin Mill, about 3.7 km away. Drivers can use postcode CT15 6HP.
- Who owns South Foreland Upper Lighthouse?
- South Foreland Upper Lighthouse is owned by National Trust and operated by Trinity House.
- Is South Foreland Upper Lighthouse a listed building?
- South Foreland Upper Lighthouse is officially recognised as Grade II listed building listed.
- Is South Foreland Upper Lighthouse a protected site?
- Yes — South Foreland Upper Lighthouse is part of the Dover to Kingsdown Cliffs SSSI Site of Special Scientific Interest and the Kent Downs National Landscape (AONB).
- Is South Foreland Upper Lighthouse free to visit?
- Yes, South Foreland Upper Lighthouse is free to enter.
- How do I get to South Foreland Upper Lighthouse?
- The nearest railway station is Martin Mill, about 3.7 km away. Drivers can navigate to postcode CT15 6HP.