Question

why is dover which is closer to coastal ports than is london, not the capital of english trade??

Answer 1

is it because of its proximity to the english channel, dovers weather is motr inclement than london's making it difficult fo ships to land their??

Answer 2

Dover has no natural harbor for large ships. Have you ever seen the River Dour?

Without a natural harbor, ships are very unsafe in storms. Up the River Thames, however, sea storms are not a worry.

Dover is a pretty site, but pretty sites do not draw tradesmen.