Richborough Roman Fort and Amphitheatre — Attraction in Dover

This is a really interesting historical site to visit. I wasn't even aware of it until a few days ago. It's easily found off the main Ash Road down a rather narrow and winding road. There's a large and gravelled car park. Toilets (composting) are next to the car park and are clean and functional. The entrance to the visitor centre is a short walk along a gravelled path. You'll need to have your QR codes scanned for entry and you'll be offered an English language audio guide to use on your visit. This is really useful to use in conjunction with the info boards to gain a better understanding of what you're looking at. Parts of the outer walls of the fort still remain and are still in pretty good condition considering they were constructed 1,700-1,800 years ago. The outer & inner fort ditch defences have all been carefully excavated. On the western side of the fort a wooden replica gateway has been constructed. The replica has been constructed in the same style as those found throughout Europe and has been constructed on the exact footprint of the original fort gateway. There are excellent views of the site and surrounding countryside from the upper levels. The remainder of the interior contains the remains of the baptismal font, the bath house, the mansio (hotel for visiting bigwigs), the church and the Monumental Arch which in its day would've been spectacular. Any visiting merchant just arriving would be in no doubt that they were entering Roman Britannia. The visitor centre also contains a small but interesting museum, a gift shop and there's also cold/hot drinks, ice creams, etc for sale. There's a small garden behind the visitor centre and a 2nd hand book hut. There's also 5 picnic tables by the visitor centre. Staff we encountered were friendly and welcoming. Virtually the entire site is flat and wheelchair/buggy friendly. The only thing that isn't disabled friendly is the replica gateway. Dogs on leads are welcome. Summary: a terrific ancient, historical site. So much history. A real hidden gem in the depths of the Kent countryside. Really well done by English Heritage. PS: the amphitheatre is about 5-10 mins walk away. Apart from an info board it looks like a cultivated field. The walkway entrance is about 10 metres north past the junction with the fort driveway and Richborough Road. PSS: book online to save 15%...

Having visited Richborough Roman Fort some years ago, I decided to visit once more after the site had undergone a revamp of facilities with the addition of a reconstructed Roman gatehouse.

Built on the site of the Roman invasion of Britain in 43AD, the original fort grew into a port that marked the entrance to Roman Britannia with a large, monumental archway - the base of which can still be seen.

The walls surrounding the site were a later addition to the site to defend against Anglo-Saxon raiders during the later half of Roman Rule in Britain.

Along with the walls and base of the archway are the ruins of Medieval church dedicated to St Augustine, the first Archbishop of Canterbury.

Having been closed for a while, a reconstructed part of a Roman gatehouse and rampart have been built inside the fort, giving views of the site from the top of the wooden tower of the gatehouse. Sadly, this is inaccessible for those with mobility problems. Meanwhile, although someone with mobility problems could go around the site in a specially adapted wheel chair for non paved areas, there is very little in the way of paved paths around the site.

The visitor entrance and museum were recently updated, with displays of artifacts from Roman times and how the site evolved across Roman rule until the withdrawal of Roman troops in the 5AD.

There is a reasonably large paved car park with overspill for when there are events such as the Roman re-enactment camp set up when I visited, and in the museum, gift shop refreshments can be brought. There is also a small toilet facility near the car park.

Access to the site is via a small country lane, so Sat Nav is essential to find the site from the main road, unless you are a local resident and know the way.

Not far from the site is the location of the Roman amphitheatre of nearby Roman settlement. Although recently excavated, it has been returned to it's natural state consisting of a depression on a ridge. Although a new pathway has been put in, it only stretches a short distance before returning to a trackway leading to the site of the amphitheatre.

There is a plaque on the site depicting what it should have looked like, but little else other than the depression of where the arena was. It should also be noted that cows are sometimes grazed...

Arrived at Richborough Castle on a lovely sunny day and very excited, having been there before when I was at junior School in the 1960's.

The Castle is now open to the public again. Very easy access and easy parking, including Disabled parking closer to the entrance.

Pre booking your visit online is an option which is very easy to do and you get a discount.

You are given the option of using an audio storyteller, which describes every detail of the site as you travel around the site tapping on the information board as you go or can just simply read the boards information to get an understanding of the Roman occupation. There is also the option of buying a guidebook.

I have to say that the toilets are in need of a little TLC and some attention is needed in the cleanliness of this neglected area.

There has been a new and exciting addition with a wooden structure you can climb up the stairs which are very steep and narrow on the final stage to the viewing point which gives 360 degrees of viewing of the site never seen before since the ancient Roman times. You get a really great view of the whole site from the gantry.

There is an Amphitheatre just over the road from the main site in field, just be mindful of any wandering cows that may be in the proximity. The site is infilled with earth and grass growing but with a dip indicating the where the actual Amphitheatre is and may at some point in the future be exposed to reveal is stone formation below. The walk to it. is on uneven ground, so you should be fit enough to attempt the journey from the main site and back. Enjoy the view.

I spent about an hour and a half looking and listening and walking around the site and another thirty minutes in the museum, which is absolutely amazing with great site finds. The gift shop has a good range of gifts reasonably priced to be able to take home a souvenir. There are a few refreshments to be bought if needed while you are there.

The staff are very informative and very welcoming and very keen you have a great experience on your visit to the site and I greatly enjoyed talking to them.

Not far from the town Sandwich if you are looking for the locality...