Upnor Castle

Upnor is a beautiful village, hidden only moments away from bustling Rochester, Kent. Looking for an exciting or memorable day out? Here’s what to do in Upnor as told by us – locals!

1. Upnor Castle

The largest attraction in Upnor is the wonderful and historical Upnor Castle. Construction of the castle originally began in 1559 to protect warships moored at Chatham dockyards, just across the River Medway. Unfortunately for Upnor Castle, it completely failed to do so when the Dutch arrived in 1667.

While it is a relatively small castle, Upnor Castle is definitely worth a visit. For everything you need to know about the castle, make sure to check out our article: Your trip to Upnor Castle | Make it memorable

Extra details about Upnor Castle:

Not dog-friendly
Free entry for English Heritage members
Great for children, families and adults alike
No restaurant on-site but just a few steps away from two Upnor pubs

2. Visit a historical Upnor pub

Even though it is a small village, Upnor is home to four historic pubs. Whether you want riverside views, a giant beer garden, local ales on tap or a great Sunday roast, Upnor’s pubs will not disappoint.

We recommend visiting a local pub after your time at Upnor Castle – it’s a wonderful way to spend the afternoon!

Extra details about Upnor pubs:

Four pubs in total in the village (two in Upper Upnor and two in Lower Upnor)
Parking is tricky but we recommend using the free car park in Upper Upnor
All Upnor pubs serve food, drinks and have outdoor seating

The Kings Arms Upnor — The Kings Arms found in Upper Upnor

3. Beautiful Upnor walks

Although Upnor is tucked away along the Medway River, there’s numerous great trails and walking paths to take advantage of, especially on a beautiful summers day.

Interesting in trying out an Upnor walking route (or running route, if you’re feeling brave)? You can follow along with our favourite walks at: 4 Upnor Walks & Scenic Routes. We’ve included easier loops for young children and more difficult hikes for those looking for a challenge.

4. Upnor Beach

Upnor Beach is quiet and greatly-unknown to those outside of the village. Forget the crowds and chaos of Margate or Broadsides, Upnor Beach is a lovely little spot to pull out a beach chair and enjoy the view.

While you won’t want to lay out on your towel (the beach is stoney) it’s a perfect spot for a comfortable beach chair and some good company. If you’re stopping by for the day, we recommend visiting an Upnor pub for lunch or dinner after your stay at the beach.

Extra details about Upnor Beach:

Dog-friendly area
Stoney beach so bring a chair instead of a towel
There are public toilets in Lower Upnor, before you reach the beach
Free parking is available at the car park in Lower Upnor, right before the beach entrance

5. Sail from Upnor

Looking for a new place to launch your boat into the Medway River? Make sure to check out Upnor’s Sailing Club! The club offers a great place to launch your boat, along with meeting locals who also share a love of boating.

6. Upnor Boot Fair

Upnor hosts one of the biggest boot fairs in Medway! When entering the village, you’ll pass the field’s entrance on your left. Gates open at 5 am BST for visitors, but those selling can set-up between 5-8 am.

Want to learn more? Check out our article for more details about Upnor’s Boot Fair here.

What to do near Upnor

Still looking for more things to do in Upnor? You’ll need to go a bit further afield. While Upnor feels secluded away from the rest of Kent, it’s actually extremely close to some great attractions in Strood, Chatham and Rochester.

Here’s what to do near Upnor that we’d recommend checking out:

Copper Rivet Distillery

Interested in trying out a new local gin? The Copper Rivet Distillery is a great place to visit. This distillery produces small batches of vodkas, whiskies and gins, all in a historical building along the Medway River. They also have a Pumproom Deli and Cafe next door where you can get drinks, snacks and great food.

As the only spirit maker in Kent, the Copper Rivet Distillery makes for a great afternoon outing. You can also book tours of their distillery in the historical Victorian Pump House No. 5 (with taste tests, of course).

In our opinion, the Copper Rivet Distillery is an often-overlooked attraction in Chatham and only a short drive from Upnor village. A great afternoon out with your partner, friends or family.

The Historic Chatham Dockyard

Explore Royal Navy warships and shipbuilding heritage in an 18th-century dockyard museum, just moments away from Upnor. The Historic Chatham Dockyard has seen an incredible transformation over the years and is a great day out in Chatham.

What’s great is that every general admission tickets is valid for a full year, allowing you access to the site as many times as you like. Tickets also include two guided tours that you will book on arrival to the museum: The Victorian Ropery and HM Submarine Ocelot.

Hysteria Escape Rooms

Escape Rooms have exploded in popularity in the last few years – and for good reason! Hysteria Escape Rooms in Chatham is a lot of fun and only a quick drive from Upnor village.

Currently they have two different rooms (one is zombie-themed and one is a murder-mystery) and are a great activity for the family, Date Night or even team-building for businesses.

Playopolis Board Game Cafe

Why not check out Rochester’s local board game cafe for something different? For an entrance fee, you can play numerous board games up to three hours, alongside some drinks and snacks!

For £4.50 per person, you’ll have up to three hours of gaming (and is payable on exit). If you choose not to eat or drink during your visit, the cover charge is £7.50. There are no other costs beyond any food and drink you choose to purchase which will be placed on your tab.

Playopolis also offers membership options if you’d like to visit them more frequently.

Odeon Cinema at Chatham Dockside

Want to catch a film? Odeon Cinema is conveniently located at Chatham Dockside, just a short drive from Upnor village. There’s also a few shops and restaurants at Dockside to make the most of your trip!

Rochester Castle & Cathedral

A wonderful trip out would be to visit Rochester Castle and Cathedral! Pick any of Rochesters public car parks and enjoy some incredible local history. You can also gain free entry into the castle with a English Heritage membership, just like Upnor Castle.

We recommend climbing to the top of Rochester Castle, visiting the cathedral across the street, then hit up Rochester High Street for some food and drinks. There’s numerous restaurants and pubs to try.

Diggerland

A great activity for the kids near Upnor is Diggerland! This construction-themed attraction allows kids (and adults) can drive and operate heavy machinery. The admission cost includes all of the available activities, as long as your child is tall enough.

Just a short drive from Upnor, Diggerland in Strood is a great option and something completely different for your kids. There’s also a lot of restaurants in the area in case you want to add to your day out.

Upnor Castle is a secret treasure that should be discovered! While many people know about Rochester Castle, few know to visit Upnor Castle.

Here’s everything you need to know to have a great visit to Upnor Castle.

How to get to here

The castle is tucked away along the banks of the River Medway, so it can be difficult to see from the road. Many people drive by the area without realising the castle is nearby.

You’ll need to enter the village of Upnor, specifically Upper Upnor, to gain access to the castle.

The closet train station to the castle is Strood (with Rochester being the next closest), although they are not within walking distance to the castle.

Parking near Upnor Castle

Do not put ‘Upnor Castle’ into your phone or GPS and drive directly to it! There are several roads that are almost impossible to turn on or reverse out of.

The castle itself does not have a car park or a coach parking area.

Instead, the best place to park is a free car park in Upper Upnor at the start of the High Sreet. This is really the only place to park when visiting the castle and the local pubs. It can get quite busy on the weekend and during the summer months, so make sure to plan ahead.

The other option is to park in Lower Upnor and walk over to the castle. Typically the walk wouldn’t be more than 15 minutes so it’s a good back-up plan for parking.

Upnor Castle opening times

Run by English Heritage, Upnor Castle is open every April to October before closing for the winter. To get the most up-to-date opening times, make sure to check their website before your visit.

We would recommend visiting the castle in the morning, then getting some lunch at a local pub. This makes for a great day out!

Entry prices

Below are the available ticket types and their corresponding price without a donation.

Ticket Type	Without Donation
Adult	£7
Child (5-17 years)	£3.50
Concession	£5
Family (2 adults, up to 3 children)	£17.50
English Heritage Member	Free

If you’re interested in visiting various English Heritage sites, the membership is well-worth the price. You’ll receive free entry to the castle as a Member, as well as local attractions like Rochester Castle, Dover Castle, Eynsford Castle and Temple Manor.

There are hundreds of English Heritage sites all over the country, as well. There’s no shortage of castles, stately homes and attractions to make the most of your membership.

If you do visit various English Heritage sites without a membership, the admission prices can really start to add up.

Pubs near Upnor Castle

There is no restaurant or cafe located at the castle, but you can buy small snacks, sandwiches and ice cream on the grounds. If you’re looking for something more to eat, either before your time at the castle or afterwards, there are four pubs near Upnor Castle, all of which serve food.

Make sure to check out our in-depth guide on all the pubs in Upnor for more details. They’re great to visit even if you’re not visiting the castle as well.

The closet pub to the castle is the extremely popular Tudor Rose, only steps from the castle’s entrance. The Tudor Rose is family-friendly and offers a variety of snacks, meals and drinks for reasonable prices.

All four pubs in Upnor also have garden seating which is a wonderful option in the summer months.

There are no restaurants near Upnor Castle, or even restaurants in the village itself. If you don’t want to eat at a local pub, you’ll need to leave the village to find a restaurant.

How long should you visit

Currently, Upnor Castle Medway has a TripAdvisor score of 4 out of 5. Most visitors recommend spending about 1-2 hours at the castle. If you bring a packed lunch, you could easily spend more time among the castle grounds and wandering around the local footpaths among the scenic fields and river shores.

While it may not be as exciting as other Kent castles such as Rochester Castle or Dover Castle, Upnor Castle is still well worth a visit for its integral part of Medway history and incredible views.

It’s also worth spending some time discovering Upnor Village and the historical cobblestone streets near the castle.

Is Upnor Castle dog friendly?

Unfortunately, Upnor Castle is not dog friendly. While assistance dogs are allowed within the castle walls, all other dogs are not.

If you’re looking for a dog-friendly day out in the area, there are some lovely walking trails around Upnor village. Dogs are also allowed on Upnor Beach, in Lower Upnor, that would better suit your needs.

Who owns Upnor Castle?

During its history, Upnor Castle was very much an active military site.

However, at the end of the war in 1945, the Admiralty gave approval for Upnor Castle to be used as a Departmental Museum. It was at this point, finally opened to the public.

Upnor Castle underwent a various levels of restoration and the castle was scheduled as an Ancient Monument in January 1960. Currently, Upnor Castle is managed by English Heritage and remains part of the Crown Estate.

The history at Upnor Castle

This beautifully preserved castle is set along the Medway River and the village of Upnor. The castle boasts a rare example of an Elizabethan artillery fort. The castle construction begun in 1559 and redeveloped in 1599-1601, to protect warships moored at Chatham dockyards.

However, the castle failed its duty in 1667 when the Dutch sailed past it to burn or capture the English fleet at anchor.

The historic importance of Upnor Castle

Upnor Castle Weddings

The castle can be hired for wedding ceremonies lasting about 30 minutes in the Upper Magazine. However, the castle is still open to the public during this time (3.5 hours for the hire). English Heritage will also hand out free audios to visitors an hour before the ceremony starts.

Important details about weddings at Upnor Castle:

Accommodates: 80 people seated and 20 standing. Upnor Castle is a ceremony only venue.

Features: The venue has a river view and beautiful gardens.

Parking: Local pay and display car parks a short walk away.

Gardens: Yes

Accessibility: The castle has lots of steps throughout and is not wheelchair friendly.

Upnor Castle Halloween

Each year, various local groups hold events during Halloween at the castle. These may include a heritage trail for young children, or making your own Halloween crafts at the castle.

Explore Kent is a great resource to check each Halloween for local activities, both at the castle and in the community.

Upnor Castle House, Kent

Behind the historical castle seats and beautiful Georgian fronted country house, commonly called Upnor Castle House.

Not only is it within the castle grounds and overlooking the Medway River, but it also comes with a swimming pool, grass tennis court and 5-acre walled garden.

Originally built in mid-17th century, Upnor Castle House was accommodation for the Storekeeper, the officer in charge of the magazine. Expanded in the 18th century, it is now a private residence.

Looking for a place to stay in Upnor? While the Upnor Castle House is a private home, they do offer a rental property in the castle grounds.

Currently called “The Stables,” this small holiday home is available for rentals within the Upnor Castle House grounds. This historical building has two bedrooms and can house up to 4 people looking for a beautiful getaway.

Upnor Castle Open Air Theatre

For those looking for something exciting to do in the area, Upnor Castle hosts a unique open air theatre produced by Changeling Theatre.

Founded in 1997, Changeling Theatre works to to produce high quality, entertaining theatre in non-traditional locations across South East England. Upnor Castle is one of their many locations.

They also create site-specific performances in locations such as Chatham Dockyard, Dover Castle and Maidstone Football Ground.

Walks near Upnor Castle

There are numerous hikes and walks near Upnor Castle that make for a wonderful afternoon out. After visiting the castle, you can easily walk up the High Street in Upper Upnor, down into Lower Upper and along the stoney beach.

One circular route is nearly 5 miles but includes wonderful views along the shoreline and nearby woodland.

Upnor Walk — 5 mile route from Upper Upnor, along Upnor Beach, through Hoo and back to Upnor.

While there are some inclines around Upnor, most of the paths and walkways are fairly flat, making it perfect for easy walks, runs or cycling.

Should I visit Upnor Castle?

If you have any interest in castles, history or architecture, Upnor Castle is a must-see. It’s a hidden gem tucked away in Upnor that many people don’t even realise it’s there. While it’s not as big as other castles around Kent, it certainly has it’s own charm and history.

Visiting the castle, surrounding village and a local pub is a great day out in Kent.

Covid-19 update

Currently, Upnor Castle is closed to visitors during Covid-19. Once English Heritage has deemed it safe to the public to re-open, they will issue a notice across their social media and website.