- South Foreland Lighthouse is in Kent, England.
- First electric lighthouse in the world
- Check access, weather and local guidance before travelling.
About South Foreland Lighthouse
Standing in the chalk cliffs above the Strait of Dover, South Foreland is a Victorian lighthouse famous as the first in the world to be lit by electricity. Now in the care of the National Trust, it overlooks the busiest shipping lane in the world and the French coast on clear days.
The story of South Foreland Lighthouse
The present tower was built in 1840 by Trinity House to replace earlier leading lights guiding ships through the Dover Strait. In 1858 Michael Faraday carried out pioneering experiments here, powering the light with a magneto-electric machine fed by a steam engine — the first use of electricity in any lighthouse. Guglielmo Marconi later conducted the first ship-to-shore wireless transmission from the lighthouse grounds in 1898. It was decommissioned in 1988 after 148 years of service and handed to the National Trust.
Visiting with care
National Trust members and ticket holders can climb the tower on open days between spring and autumn, with volunteer-led talks covering Faraday and Marconi's experiments. The clifftop walk from St Margaret's at Cliffe is one of the finest on the White Cliffs and brings you directly to the door.
Interesting facts
- It was the first lighthouse in the world to be lit electrically, in 1858.
- Michael Faraday personally oversaw the electric light experiments.
- Marconi made his first ship-to-shore radio transmission here in 1898.
- On a clear day the French coast, 21 miles away, is visible from the gallery.
Getting there
Parking and access details — check locally for the latest information.