Dunkirk – a Great Place to Visit

For a great day out, why not have a day in a foreign country?  Many people, when they think of taking their car across the Channel think of Calais as the French destination.  Dunkirk, served by the DFDS ferries from Dover (www.dfdsseaways.co.uk), is the lesser known alternative but its well worth visiting.   Where Calais is an industrial city and mostly just a gateway to the rest of France, Dunkirk is a market town and holiday resort in its own right.  Set amid fifteen miles of lovely sandy beaches, Dunkirk can be the perfect destination for a day trip, a stop off on the way to somewhere else, a weekend away or a short holiday.  

DFDS’s Dover-Dunkirk route with their new ships and best value prices is a great alternative.  The crossing only takes two hours and they make sure that there’s plenty for families and children to do on board. Never occupied by the English in the same way that Calais was, Dunkirk has nevertheless played an important part in our history.   The Spanish Armada was defeated at the Battle of Gravelines. Picardy was fought over during the First World War and in the Second, the Operation Dynamo evacuation of Dunkirk was a key turning point.

Dunkirk is a great place for families.   The beaches are wide (fifteen miles long if you count the whole length going up into Belgium) which means that even at peak times they never feel too busy. The beach is long and slopes very gently down to the sea which is ideal for toddlers to play and paddle.  Along the promenade above the beach there are shops and open air restaurants - lovely places for a very French lunch though the food has influences from Flanders and Belgium as well as typical French dishes.  After lunch, you can drink your coffee or wine in the sunshine while Dad (or older children maybe) enjoys playing with the kids on the beach or on the trampolines and similar attractions which are so much part of the French seaside.

Away from the beach, there’s a lot to do with the port, the old town and ancient fortifications to wander round as well as a zoo, a lighthouse and several museums to visit. The River Aa which separates Dunkirk and Gravelines also offers lots for families to do along its banks. Dunkirk has a "Famille Plus Mer" scheme and wherever you see the logo displayed on restaurants, shops or hotels, you know that they are geared up to entertain families. aYou can find more information on www.dunkirk-tourism.com, an English language website, which also acts as a useful guide to events and attractions in Dunkirk and the local area. 

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