South Foreland Lighthouse stands on the White Cliffs above St Margaret's Bay, built in 1843 to warn shipping off the Goodwin Sands and guide it through the Strait of Dover. It was the first lighthouse anywhere to show an electric light, in 1858, and Marconi made the first international radio transmission from here in 1899. The tower is seen by guided tour only, past the Victorian clockwork that made the light flash, up to a balcony with views to France on a clear day. Mrs Knott's tea-room in the old keeper's cottage is done out in 1950s style, and kites and lawn games can be borrowed. Reviewers single out the guides, who bring the history alive for all ages, and the cakes. Tips from visitors: there is no parking at the lighthouse, so park at the White Cliffs visitor centre for the two-mile clifftop walk or at St Margaret's for a mile; wear proper shoes, as the paths are uneven and exposed.
