- Open
- £16.30 adult · £8.10 child
- Assistance dogs only
- No car park on site
- English Heritage
Quick answer
Walmer Castle is an artillery fort near Kingsdown, Kent, managed by English Heritage. Adult tickets cost £16.30, and English Heritage members go free. Only assistance dogs are allowed. There is no car park on site.
Walmer Castle opening times
- Mon 12 Closed
- Tue 13 Closed
- Today Wed 14 Closed
- Thu 15 Closed
- Fri 16 Closed
- Sat 17 Closed
- Sun 18 Closed
| Season | Dates | Days | Hours | Last entry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter 2026 | 2 Nov to 27 Dec | Sat to Sun | 10:00 to 16:00 | 15:00 |
| Winter 2027 | 4 Jan to 14 Feb | Sat to Sun | 10:00 to 16:00 | 15:00 |
| Late winter 2027 | 22 Feb to 14 Mar | Wed to Sun | 10:00 to 16:00 | 15:00 |
Closed on 26 Dec.
Walmer Castle tickets and prices
| Ticket | Online | On the day |
|---|---|---|
| Adult | £13.85 | £16.30 |
| Concession | £13.09 | £15.40 |
| Child | £6.88 | £8.10 |
| Family | £34.76 | £40.90 |
| English Heritage members | Free | Free |
Getting to Walmer 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, free for members. Dover District Council car park opposite; non-members pay via RingGo or in the shop. Seasonal overflow field free for all. Five Blue Badge spaces. Seasonal on-site overflow field (weather permitting).
- By train
- Walmer is 0.9 miles away.
- Public transport
- Stagecoach East Kent service 82/82A.
Dogs, accessibility and facilities
Dogs
Assistance dogs only- Pet dogs: not allowed.
- Assistance dogs: welcome.
- No dogs in grounds or gardens except assistance dogs.
Accessibility
Partly step-free- Step-free: in parts of the site.
- Paths and surfaces: Smooth grass and gravel garden paths; castle, moat and Glen by stairs only; cobbled walkway and wooden drawbridge to the castle.
- Accessible toilet: yes.
- Changing Places toilet: no.
Food and facilities
- Toilets Yes
- Café Yes
- Shop Yes
- Picnic area Yes
- Play area Yes
- Baby changing Yes
What to see at Walmer Castle
- 01
Gardens
Gardens you can walk around.
- 02
Moat
A ditch, wet or dry, around the walls.
- 03
Views
Notable views from the site.
History of Walmer Castle
- 1539 Henry VIII began building the fort as a defence against invasion from Europe, with construction running into 1540.
- 1539 The fort formed part of a coastal defence line of about 2.7 miles together with Deal and Sandown castles.
- 1708 The castle became the official residence of the Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports.
- c.1750 By the middle of the 18th century, the fort had also become a well-equipped seaside retreat.
- 1852 The Duke of Wellington died at the castle.
- 2019 The re-created 19th-century Pleasure Grounds opened to visitors.
Photos
-
Lieven Smits · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source -
M Packwood Ace · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Castles near Walmer Castle
All 6 castles in KentFAQs
How much does it cost to visit Walmer Castle?
Adult tickets cost £16.30, and English Heritage members go free.
When is Walmer Castle open?
In the autumn 2026 season it opens every day from 10:00 to 17:00. Check the opening times above for the other seasons and closed dates.
Where do you park at Walmer Castle?
There is no car park on site. Seasonal on-site overflow field (weather permitting).
Can you take a dog to Walmer Castle?
Only assistance dogs are allowed.
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
- 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