Dover is one of the most-visited towns in England but most of the 13 million people who travel to Dover each year are bound for one of the many ferries, catamarans or hydrofoils that cross the English Channel (more properly called the Dover Straits) to North-West France. A small number of travellers actually stop in the town and enjoy the 'Dover hospitality' that is on offer. There is information on these pages for people travelling into Dover by road/rail/cycle and for those wanting to take a ferry to France, including Port & Ferry News. Drivers will see very little of Dover itself as they enter on either the A20 from the South or the A2 from the North-West. In both cases, the roads arrive at the Harbour, where they join. The whole of Dover's town stretches inland from the Harbour and continues along three valleys into the Kent countryside. Dover is at one end of the North Downs and has several ranges of hills, two of which have fortresses dating from the medieval and Roman eras, as well as more modern (19th Century) times. Behind the town centre are the modern-day barracks, Dover's past and current commitments to the country have always included more than can be seen under the famous White Cliffs. Modern-day Dover has a mixed economy but is still very-heavily dependant on the ferry industry. Other major employers include: the Ministry of Defence (at Connaught Barracks), numerous freight companies, vehicle sellers & repairers! The history of Dover is best covered in the many books and videos on the subject (available, of course, at the town's Museum!).