- Open
- £9.50 adult · £6.50 child
- No car park on site
Quick answer
Hurst Castle is an artillery fort near Milford on Sea, Hampshire. Adult tickets cost £9.50, and English Heritage members go free. There is no car park on site.
Hurst Castle opening times
- Mon 12 10:0017:30
- Tue 13 10:0017:30
- Today Wed 14 10:0017:30
- Thu 15 10:0017:30
- Fri 16 10:0017:30
- Sat 17 10:0017:30
- Sun 18 10:0017:30
| Season | Dates | Days | Hours | Last entry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Main season 2026 | 28 Mar to 23 Oct | Daily | 10:00 to 17:30 | n/a |
Closed 2 Nov 2026 to 25 Mar 2027. Reached by ferry or a 2-mile walk along the shingle spit.
Hurst Castle tickets and prices
| Ticket | On the day |
|---|---|
| Adult | £9.50 |
| Child | £6.50 |
| Family | £30 |
| English Heritage members | Free |
Getting to Hurst Castle and parking
These open in your own maps app. Nothing is sent from this page until you choose one.
- Parking
- No car park on site, paid. There is no visitor vehicle access to the castle. Ferry users can park in the pay and display car park at Keyhaven (SO41 0TP). Walkers can use the pay and display seafront car park at Milford on Sea (SO41 0TY). From Keyhaven harbour, a short walk from the car park, a ferry runs to the castle; the adult return fare is £8.50 and English Heritage members also pay. The alternative is a walk of about 2 miles along Hurst Spit from either car park.
- By train
- Lymington Pier is 3.7 miles away.
Dogs, accessibility and facilities
Accessibility
Partly step-free- Step-free: in parts of the site.
- Paths and surfaces: The castle is reached by ferry or a 2-mile walk on shingle. Ferry passengers must be able to weight-bear, there are steps into the boats, and wheelchairs and prams must fold. At the castle there are gravel paths, a slight incline and a drawbridge. The ground floor has uneven paving, loose gravel, old railway tracks and grass. There are no lifts, so there is no wheelchair access above ground level.
Food and facilities
- Café Yes
- Guided tours Yes
What to see at Hurst Castle
- 01
Keep
The main fortified tower of the castle.
- 02
Views
Notable views from the site.
History of Hurst Castle
- 1544 Henry VIII built the castle as one of his chain of artillery forts guarding the Solent.
- 1648 King Charles I was held prisoner on the first floor of the keep.
- 1793 Coastal defences were rapidly strengthened during the Napoleonic Wars, which lasted until 1815.
- 1851 A period of mid-Victorian modernisation began, lasting until 1874.
- 1956 The castle left military use after serving through both world wars.
Photos
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Castles near Hurst Castle
All 60 castles in EnglandFAQs
How much does it cost to visit Hurst Castle?
Adult tickets cost £9.50, and English Heritage members go free.
Where do you park at Hurst Castle?
There is no car park on site. From Keyhaven harbour, a short walk from the car park, a ferry runs to the castle; the adult return fare is £8.50 and English Heritage members also pay. The alternative is a walk of about 2 miles along Hurst Spit from either car park.
When is Hurst Castle open?
In the main season 2026 season it opens every day from 10:00 to 17:30. Check the opening times above for the other seasons and closed dates.
Is there a café at Hurst Castle?
Yes, there is a café on site.
Sources
- Page on hurstcastle.co.uk
- Page on hurstcastle.co.uk
- Page on hurstcastle.co.uk
- Page on english-heritage.org.uk
- Wikidata
- Page on hurstcastle.co.uk
- Page on hurstcastle.co.uk
- Page on hurstcastle.co.uk
We are independent. Prices and times can change at short notice, so check the operator's site on the day. How we check our data