Travelling through historic towns, RAF locations, coastal defences and wartime landmarks, you’ll experience the story of 1940 where it actually happened, with expert insight bringing the events vividly to life.

Your journey begins with the backdrop of the “Phoney War,” those quiet months after September 1939 when Britain braced for a conflict that had not yet arrived. That calm shattered in spring 1940 when Nazi forces swept through Belgium, the Netherlands and France with terrifying speed. The British Expeditionary Force — nearly 400,000 men — found itself trapped on the beaches around Dunkirk.

What could have been a catastrophic loss was transformed into a miracle of courage and coordination, masterminded from Dover Castle by Admiral Sir Bertram Ramsay. The call went out for the “little ships,” and hundreds of small civilian vessels mustered in ports like Ramsgate to rescue stranded troops. Their bravery saved around 320,000 lives and ensured Britain could continue the fight.

With that context, the tour moves into the next chapter of 1940: the Battle of Britain. Just outside Dover, the clifftop memorial at  Battle of Britain Memorial offers sweeping views across the Channel — the very skies where “The Few” fought off Göring’s Luftwaffe. Standing here, surrounded by the wind and the white cliffs, it becomes easy to imagine the roar of engines and the desperate dogfights that once filled this airspace.

From the cliffs, the route follows the coastline past Folkestone before turning inland through the Kent Downs. These quiet villages and rolling fields belie the chaos that once unfolded overhead. Hawkinge, just minutes from France by air, was one of the most important RAF fighter stations of the war. Today, the landscape feels serene, but the stories remain powerful.

Arriving in Canterbury, you’ll explore the medieval streets and discover the scars left by the 1942 Baedeker Raids. The city’s rich history and position in the heart of Kent’s wine region make it an ideal stop for lunch — perhaps with a glass of local sparkling wine.

The journey continues through Sturry, Sarre and the Thanet countryside, where the story shifts to innovation and ingenuity. Here you’ll uncover the origins of Barnes Wallis’s bouncing bomb and the early stages of the Dambusters legend. At Manston, once a crucial forward airfield, you’ll learn how its vast runway supported damaged aircraft and later hosted Concorde test flights.

A visit to the Spitfire & Hurricane Memorial Museum brings this history into sharp focus, with real wartime aircraft and even a recovered bouncing bomb on display.

The final chapter unfolds back in Ramsgate, whose Royal Harbour played a central role in the Dunkirk evacuation. Memorials line the waterfront, and the vast Victorian tunnels beneath the town reveal how thousands sheltered, and in some cases lived, during the war.

As the tour returns towards Dover, the remaining Swingate radar masts stand as silent witnesses to the Dowding System that helped win the Battle of Britain.

The day concludes overlooking Dover Castle and the harbour below — the very place where Britain’s fate was shaped in 1940. It’s a fitting end to a journey through courage, innovation and resilience, all set within the dramatic landscapes of Kent’s wartime front line.

Experience Wartime Kent for Yourself

This tour offers far more than a history lesson — it’s a chance to stand in the places where some of Britain’s most important wartime events unfolded. From dramatic coastal viewpoints to hidden wartime stories, every stop reveals another layer of Kent’s remarkable role in 1940.

Whether you’re passionate about military history, fascinated by the Battle of Britain, or simply looking for a memorable day exploring Kent with an expert local guide, this tour offers a unique and unforgettable experience.

To book your Battle of Britain tour through Kent, or to arrange a private guided experience, contact us now.