Table Of Contents
- Distance Between France and England
- Visibility Over the English Channel
- Where Can You Go to See France From England?
- Conclusion
- Is it ever possible to see France from England?
- Are the White Cliffs of Dover visible from France?
- What is the closest point between France and England?
- Can you see France from Dover Castle?
There was a time when Britain and France were forces to be reckoned with.
They’re still major power players, but time has changed their power dynamics.
But that’s not what we’re discussing today.
Looking at a map, you can see that France and England share a water border across the English Channel.
Numerically, that distance amounts to 20 miles (33 kilometers).
It’s a short distance, which makes us wonder:
Can you see France from England?
The short answer is yes.
But it has much to do with being at the right place at the right time.
We’ll go into the details of all that and more now.
Read Also : Is France Bigger Than UK? Unfortunately Not…
Distance Between France and England
We need to understand the distance between the 2 countries to assess our chances of seeing France from England.
Your best chance of seeing anything would be to go to the place closest to France.
The English Channel separates the 2 countries.
The channel’s narrowest point lies at the Strait of Dover.
Calais, which is in France, is just about 32 miles (52 km) from Dover.
Technically, you could swim from here to France in seven to twenty-seven hours.
But we’ll leave that to the professionals ! 🙂
If you’re going to try seeing France From England, Dover is the place to do it.
But you still need to consider a few things :
Visibility Over the English Channel
If you have any chance of seeing things across the channel, you need perfect visibility.
Visibility depends on the weather, so you have to plan your visit.
Unfortunately, England gets a lot of rainfall, especially in the summer.
Dover is a part of England, so it’s not that different.
1. During DayTime
Still, if you’re lucky and get a clear day, you can see France.
Go to Dover in July or August.
Wait for the weather to clear and get to a decent vantage point.
Get there between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., and you’ll see France’s coastline.
2. Night Time
You can go to these points at night if you’re a night owl.
At that point, you might catch a glimpse of the city’s lights.
3. The Coastal Fog
Just be careful to avoid the fog.
Coastal fog is expected during the warmer months.
It usually clears up around nine in the morning.
But if the weather’s cooler, it may last a long time.
The fog reduces the visibility, so you won’t be able to see anything, much less France.
Locals usually call this fog “Fret.”
The Curvature of the Earth
Earth’s curvature is your biggest enemy when it comes to seeing France.
That means that even if the distance isn’t that great, your eyes just won’t be able to see around the curve.
Of course, you stand a better chance by heading to a cliff or another higher vantage point.
Where Can You Go to See France From England?
There are multiple points in England where you can supposedly see France.
We’ll go over these points to see if that’s actually true :
1. Dover
Dover is even closer than Ramsgate, so you have better chances of seeing France from Dover.
But you’ll still need a clear day and nice weather.
Once those conditions are fulfilled, get to a high place like the White Cliffs of Dover.
2. Ramsgate
The cliffs are the more popular place to see France, but you can also give it a try at Dover Castle.
If you’re in East Kent, you might be tempted to go to Ramsgate to see the shoreline.
This seaside town is the only Royal Harbor in the area.
Ramsgate is just about 33 miles (52 km) from France.
On a clear day, you can see France from Ramsgate.
But you’ll need a high vantage point to beat the Earth’s curvature.
I recommend East Cliff.
It’s a hundred and fifty feet above sea level, so you’ll have a better chance of seeing France.
Calais is still pretty far, so I recommend carrying a set of binoculars.
Afterward, you can go on walking trails and enjoy this picturesque town.
You can hop on a ferry in the marina when you’re done.
3. Brighton
Brighton is over a 140 kilometers away from France.
Even if you have perfect weather conditions, seeing France from this point is impossible.
There aren’t any points in Brighton high enough to beat Earth’s curvature.
4. Folkestone
Folkestone is close to Dover, and you have a good chance of seeing France from here.
You’ll still need a good vantage point.
Luckily, there are some excellent places in Folkestone.
These include the Leas Promenade, Martello Tower, and The Warren.
Conclusion
France isn’t that far from England.
You need good atmospheric conditions to get a view from England to France.
Still, if you want to try your luck, pick a clear day and head to a high vantage point.
It’ll be a pleasant experience.
— Christine
PS : Be sure to pack a pair of binoculars for a detailed view. 🙂
People also ask about visibility between France & England :
Is it ever possible to see France from England?
Yes. On a clear day, you can see the French coastline from specific points in England.
Your best chance would be to go to the White Cliffs of Dover.
That’s because this is the closest point between England & France, about 20 miles (33 km).
Other potential points include Ramsgate and Folkestone.
Are the White Cliffs of Dover visible from France?
Yes, the White Cliffs of Dover are visible from France if it’s an exceptionally clear day.
You might be able to see the cliffs from France.
However, you’d have to be in a high place in Calais.
You might have to use a telescope or binoculars to see the cliffs.
What is the closest point between France and England?
The Strait of Dover is the closest point between France and England : the actual distance measures up to 20 miles (33 km).
Swimmers have swim the distance between these 2 points, with the shortest swim taking about 7 hours.
Of course, you must be an experienced open-water swimmer for such an adventure.
Can you see France from Dover Castle?
Yes. You can see France from Dover Castle if the weather conditions are okay.
Of course, you’ll need special equipment if you want a detailed view.
You won’t see the actual shoreline at night, but you can witness the lights from France.
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