Tilbury Fort — Attraction in England

Fantastic location on the estuary with views all around. It's an impressive intact Napoleonic fort with elaborate moats and grand buildings. The whole place is full of interesting military history and very intriguing. It brings to life the conflicts that often seem lifeless during history lessons at school. They have generously maintained a few of the big artillery guns for children and big kids to play with. The site is open to explore rather than being fenced off and guided. We spent a couple of hours there and had the weather been better it would have been more. Would really love a bit more interaction with the stunning moat and wall layout, it is stunning in aerial photos, but practically invisible from on the ground. They need a raised viewing platform or drone photo exhibition to show it off.

So the reason it gets 4 stars and not five is because there is an overall sense of gradual decay and a lack of information. The staff are very friendly and the important moats look well kept, but there are lits of peeling signs that cannot be read, a complete lack of information in some locations. Lots of the doors are locked and areas closed up. The officers accommodation is not open, it is let out or used for housing staff with cars parked around it.

Perhaps the guide book was packed with facts, but they are really just a waste of three quid that never gets looked at. I would prefer some big colourful posters in the rooms that brings the space to life with a bit of info, large photos and some history.

Well worth a visit though, I'll certainly go back in the spring or summer for a longer visit and explore the moated...

Situated on the Essex side of the River Thames, Tilbury Fort is a property run by English Heritage, open all year around, apart from Christmas.

Parking outside is limited, with additional parking near The World's End pub. For those visiting from Kent and South East. it's better to park in Gravesend and take to Gravesend/Tilbury Passenger Ferry which runs from Monday to Saturday (no service on Sunday) This avoids crossing over the Thames at the Dartford Crossing.

The history of Tilbury Fort dates back to Henry VIII, though much of the fort is of later design as it was extended and re-modelled through the centuries to protect the River Thames. Today, only the walls, moat, gatehouse, officers quarter and ammunition stores survive, along with some of the tunnels.

There is an audio tour is available, though access to some areas is limited for those with mobility issues. Onsite, there is also a small gift shop and café offering hot and cold drinks, along with snacks.

Dotted around the site are also various guns and artillery pieces. It would have been nice if these had information boards as to what each gun was. Many though were rusted and need restoration. In addition, some of the ammunition stores are open to the public, along with rooms in the guardhouse, chapel and one of the officers houses.

For children, the fort offers little to interest them and keep them occupied, and in reality, visitors may only find themselves there for a...

A fantastic little visit but not as much to see as I'd hoped. That said, for the money, it's worth popping in. The guy that welcomed us (I think his name was Paul) was very helpful and was able to provide more information about certain aspects of the fort - very knowledgeable guy and very welcoming.

Apparently there are about 20 star forts in England, but this is probably the best. The aerial photographs explain exactly what it is, with the water still in the defensive moats and the bridges over them. Star forts are more common on the continent than in England, so if you want to see a local one, come to Tilbury! Most of the buildings are well preserved and there is information on hand to explain the features. It has survived for various reasons, one of which is that it was still used up to the 20th Century, in interesting ways. If you have been to the Gunpowder Mills in Waltham Abbey, then you may be sensitised to the importance of keeping sparks away from gunpowder, and here you can see how they did that in one of the places supplied by Waltham Abbey. This is where good Health and Safety really is the difference between life and death! Get the guide book - but check the website for opening times. No point going if it is not open. One reason for its survival is that it is off the beaten track (though Tilbury Port...