- Open
- £10 adult · £5 child
- Dogs welcome, including inside
- Parking on site, free for members
- English Heritage
Quick answer
Portland Castle is an artillery fort near Fortuneswell, Dorset, managed by English Heritage. Adult tickets cost £10, and English Heritage members go free. Dogs are welcome on a lead, including inside. There is a members' car park on site.
Portland Castle opening times
- Mon 12 Not listed
- Tue 13 Not listed
- Wed 14 Not listed
- Today Thu 15 Not listed
- Fri 16 Not listed
- Sat 17 Not listed
- Sun 18 Not listed
| Season | Dates | Days | Hours | Last entry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter closure | 2 Nov to 16 Mar | Closed | Closed | n/a |
Closed on 24 Dec, 25 Dec, 26 Dec, 31 Dec, 1 Jan.
EH week-at-a-time calendar; every week read from 14 Oct 2026 to last published date 16 Mar 2027 (no unread spans). Open daily to 1 Nov, then CLOSED every day 2 Nov-16 Mar. Last entry 4.30pm stated for 5pm close only.
Portland Castle tickets and prices
| Ticket | On the day |
|---|---|
| Adult | £10 |
| Concession | £9 |
| Child | £5 |
| Family | £25 |
| English Heritage members | Free |
Getting to Portland Castle and parking
These open in your own maps app. Nothing is sent from this page until you choose one.
- Parking
- Car park on site, free for members. Non-members must pay (amount not stated); 10 disabled bays 5 m from entrance
- By train
- Weymouth is 3.3 miles away.
- Public transport
- First summer service 501 serves the castle direct; at other times South West Coaches 206 and First 1 pass close by. Weymouth station 4 1/2 miles.
Dogs, accessibility and facilities
Dogs
Yes- Welcome: in the grounds and inside.
- Leads: dogs must be kept on a lead.
- Including the castle, beach, shop and lower section of the tea room; short lead at all times.
Accessibility
Partly step-free- Step-free: in parts of the site.
- Paths and surfaces: Access to Captain's House, castle ground floor, gift shop and Governor's Garden; no access to first floor or outer gun deck; mainly gravel paths
- Accessible toilet: yes.
Food and facilities
- Toilets Yes
- Café Yes
- Shop Yes
- Picnic area Yes
- Baby changing Yes
- Audio guide Yes
What to see at Portland Castle
- 01
Keep
The main fortified tower of the castle.
- 02
Moat
A ditch, wet or dry, around the walls.
- 03
Gardens
Gardens you can walk around.
- 04
Exhibition
Displays and exhibitions to see.
- 05
Views
Notable views from the site.
History of Portland Castle
- 1539 Built 1539-40 on Henry VIII's orders to defend Portland Roads
- c.1625 Stone wall and external moat built (mid-1620s)
- 1642 Sees fighting in the First English Civil War (1642-6)
- 1816 Ends service as coastal defence; becomes a private residence for over 50 years
Photos
-
hugh llewelyn · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Source -
hugh llewelyn · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Source
Castles near Portland Castle
All 4 castles in DorsetFAQs
How much does it cost to visit Portland Castle?
Adult tickets cost £10, and English Heritage members go free.
Where do you park at Portland Castle?
There is a members' car park on site.
When is Portland Castle open?
In the autumn season it opens every day from 10:00 to 17:00. Check the opening times above for the other seasons and closed dates.
Can you take a dog to Portland Castle?
Dogs are welcome on a lead, including inside.
Is there a café at Portland Castle?
Yes, there is a café on site.
Sources
- Page on english-heritage.org.uk
- Page on english-heritage.org.uk
- Wikidata
- Page on english-heritage.org.uk
- Page on english-heritage.org.uk
- Page on english-heritage.org.uk
- Page on english-heritage.org.uk
We are independent and not affiliated with English Heritage. Prices and times can change at short notice, so check the operator's site on the day. How we check our data