National Lottery Thanks to You Open Days - Wanstone Rediscovered 2026
As part of the National Lottery Open Week, take a guided tour of the newly uncovered remains of the largest guns installed on the British mainland. Your visit also includes the nearby D2 heavy anti-aircraft battery.
- Booking not needed
- Free event
In July 2022, the remains of one of the Second World War cross-channel guns, nicknamed 'Jane', were uncovered at Wanstone, near Dover, Kent. Then, in February 2024, we rediscovered the 'Clem' emplacement. Together, these made up the largest gun battery ever built in Britain, and they were the largest breech-loaded weapons ever installed on British soil. The guns could fire a 1980 lb shell over 23 miles.
As part of the National Lottery Open Week, take a guided tour of one of these spectacular gun sites, including inside a magazine and the crew shelter. See the railway lines that brought the ammunition to the site and even the fire bucket stand alongside which Winston Churchill was pictured.
Included in your visit, you'll also see the D2 Battle of Britain 3.7-inch heavy anti-aircraft battery. All of which lay hidden since the 1960s.
We'll have our team of friendly volunteers on hand to welcome you and guide you through the detailed history of the site; together with actual plans of the gun sites and images of the guns in action.
The last tour is at 15:00 each day.
We'll use our additional parking area for this event, accessed from Upper Road, opposite the turning to Sherley's Farm. www.what3words.com/fidelity.book.approve, postcode CT15 6HY . This parking is just 300 metres from the sites.
This is a dog-friendly event; please keep dogs on leads.
In the event of bad weather, please check our Facebook page or website for up-to-date information before travelling.
Times
The basics
- Suitability
Supervised children are welcome.
- Meeting point
Meet at the welcome point just inside the Wanstone Battery site double gates off the car park. www.what3words.com/insects.walks.reference
- What to bring and wear
The tour is mainly on concrete roads, hardstandings and paths. Some areas are uneven - we recommend wearing stout footwear. The location is exposed with limited shelter - please dress appropriately.
- Accessibility
The additional parking area has a compacted stone surface that is firm and can support wheelchairs and mobility scooters. The site has mostly gentle slopes. Access to the crew shelter is via a short, steep slope and one step and may not be suitable for wheelchair users. If you have any questions about mobility issues, please call the property office on 01304 202756 and select option 5.
- Other
This project has only been possible due to the support of the National Lottery Heritage Fund, and this event is primarily designed as a thank you to players. Normal parking charges apply - National Trust members can park for free. Please show a National Lottery ticket, Instant Win Game, or scratch card (physical or digital) for free admission and a guided tour. Anyone who isn't a National Lottery player and would like to visit on these dates can still attend, with a suggested donation of £5 per person. This is a work-in-progress archaeological site, not generally open to the public. Please take care as some of the roads and paths are uneven. If you feel you may have difficulties with any of the tour, please speak to our visitor welcome team, who will be pleased to help. The nearest facilities are located at South Foreland Lighthouse, approximately 15 minutes' walk. You can keep in touch with the project on the White Cliffs of Dover Facebook page and on the National Trust's White Cliffs of Dover website - details will be available at the welcome cabin.
Upcoming events
Plant Fair 2026
The White Cliffs of Dover Plant Fair is your opportunity to revitalise your garden, window box or window ledges with top-quality plants at bargain prices. Lovingly tended by our volunteers, these plants will satisfy the most discerning gardener.
White Cliffs' Pop-up Hardback Book Sale
Do you love reading but find the books expensive? We've a lovely selection of hardback books at knock-down prices just waiting for good homes. From biographies to history, cookery to mysteries and animals too, we're bound to have something for you.