Upnor Castle
Upnor Castle things to do, attractions, restaurants, events info and trip planning
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Just a 2 minute walk from a carpark and along the way you pass two Pubs and some very pretty little cottages just like you'll find down in Cornwall. As you reach the end of the road you wonder where the castle is, look left through a gate and still it just doesn't sink in that your now in the grounds of such a great castle. The staff (English Heritage) are really freindly and helpful. Once in the castle grounds it's up to you where you start. All I can say is what a great place to come and visit, the whole place just makes you think about who, when, how many and so much more. There are only a few displays in the castle and these are really informative. The castle speaks for itself along with the preserved Cannons and there's an audio tour to help you along your way. The grounds are well kept and there's tables and benches for having a picnic. Yeah ok it's not a huge castle, but to go there means half a day of pleasure and when you leave you'll have some good memories and a better knowledge of a Dutch invasion and more and on the way back to the car theres 2 Pubs......oh sorry already mentioned those lol so yep please visit and enjoy.
peter stonepeter stone
00
Poor unfriendly welcome. Apparently as it is council run you have to do both the nhs app and also they do their own written record. Wasn't the case at another council run place earlier today. Lady doing tickets was almost rude and gave the impression that as it was council run they were better than anyone else by what she said and how it was said it. She just just kent on counter staring at my card, did she even want me to visit before she said she had ti see a name on the card to record for track and trace, since when is id required for that? I hope they are volunteers and not paid staff as i saw 5 staff.. all just wasting time talking, as you made such a big thing of the rules you have come up with why don't you do the basics and sanitise the high contact areas.. handrails counters etc... it was made clear on entry you must spend 10 minutes in each area no more. I was TOLD my visit had to last 45 minutes! There is no seating on the benches in the grounds... but on the council bench outside the gate you can all sit, does that really make sense? They have covered up closing times on the board outside.. why? It states on the council webpage and english heritage website the opening and closing times. If you stick to their covid rules don't bother trying to read the panels in the poorly lit area where they are displayed as unless your a very quick reader there will not be time. My ticket i got on arrival is apparently a timed entrance ticket, however you just go straight in... and entrance information online says no pre booking just turn up! So in fact it is not a timed ticket its just the receipt for paying to get in (btw no hand sanitiser was used before serving me but I was forced to use it even though a lot affect my skin) There is clearly something a miss at the site with regard to use of staff time, covid 19 changes and processes. The entrance fee was not worth it here, look at the picture on the board outside there is nothing else to be gained by going in. The small village surrounding it is delightful and nice to see. There is also a free car park as you approach the village, best to park here as limited parking and turning space beyond this.
Jon StylesJon Styles
00
Upnor castle is a lovey place to go and have a look around. It’s an English Heritage location and has paid entry, but there are discounts for students and other concessions. The castle was once used to store gunpowder and this is evident in the decoration that English Heritage have furnished the castle with. As you will be able to see from the photos, Upnor Castle is a licensed wedding venue, meaning it’s possible to have a civil marriage ceremony performed here. The castle itself isn’t particularly large (it is more of an outpost than a full-blown castle), so don’t expect a trip here to take a full day - maybe an hour or so at the most. There is an outside picnic area at the top of the hill behind the castle with benches. As an alternative, there are a slo a couple of pubs on the road down the the castle should you want to have a hot meal instead. Staff were very friendly, and as with most English Heritage sites, there is a small shop; however, again, don’t expect the full range you would see in large sites.
Matthew MilesMatthew Miles
10
There is a signposted parking area about 5 minutes walk from the castle. A small cut through leads into one of the old streets of Upnor (with a house built by General Monck) and then the castle is on the left as you reach the river. There are also toilets on site. The castle was nice to walk around and you can see how it could, in theory, command the river approaches. Sadly it was one of those “you had one job to do” moments when the fort spectacularly failed to impede the Dutch fleet as they proceeded to sail past and burn a bunch of our ships at Chatham. There was an excellent video, supported by information boards, detailing the Dutch attack, how it unfolded and our response and it is well worth sitting through the 10 minutes or so to watch it. Despite being a functional building Upnor Castle is still aesthetically pleasing to visit, with a delightful symmetry. It’s a shame that the government couldn’t be bothered to fund the garrison and defences until it was too late. Some things never change!
Marcus HurleyMarcus Hurley
00
An important piece of naval history, presented in a straightforward way. Whilst walking around the Castle you really get a sense of its function over form construction. You can see the struggles this building has faced over the years, and the hardship of the battles fought. With the restrictions in place, the grounds were off limits for picnics and resting, and I would say the activities and atmosphere also took a small hit too. Although the staff were very informative and friendly, and the information placed around really filled in the facts. Overall it is an enjoyable place to visit, well recommended if you like history. There is a free car park a short walk away, but there are limited spaces.
ChrisChris
00
An interesting and quiet visit to Upnor where we learned about the Dutch attack on the British Naval forces a few hundred years ago. Park up on the main road (parking is rather limited, even with only a small number of visitors) then walk down the picturesque High Street to the entrance on the left. The visit starts with a walk around the former barracks then back outside and a short walk to the fortifications. Here you will find a presentation about the Dutch attack and the history of the castle. On the river side of the castle you can see across to Chatham Historic Dockyard. The castle has a small cafe and also toilets. We found the staff to be enthusiastic and friendly and enjoyed our visit.
Jon CooperJon Cooper
00
Nearby Attractions Of Upnor Castle
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Learn more insights from Wanderboat AIBasic Info
Address
Upnor Rd, Upper Upnor, Rochester ME2 4XG, United Kingdom
Map
Phone
+44 1634 718742
Call
Website
english-heritage.org.uk
Visit
Reviews
Overview
4.3
(595 reviews)
Ratings & Description
cultural
family friendly
Description
Upnor Castle is an Elizabethan artillery fort located on the west bank of the River Medway in Kent. It is in the village of Upnor, opposite and a short distance downriver from the Chatham Dockyard, at one time a key naval facility.
attractions: Dockside, Ninja Warrior UK Chatham, Copper Rivet Distillery, restaurants: Ship & Trades, Nando's Chatham, Pier Five Bar & Kitchen, Babasheesh, The Pumproom @ Copper Rivet Distillery, Pizza Hut Restaurants Chatham, Tudor Rose, Ru Cafe, Os' Camacheiros Restaurant, Fireaway Chatham
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