Visiting Upnor

Upnor shops | What’s available in the village (and nearby)

November 10, 2020 by admin Leave a Comment

Upnor is a quiet and quant village along the banks of the river Medway. While it does have a High Street, there is very little in the way of Upnor shops. So what is actually available to buy (or browse) in Upnor?

Upnor Shops

Technically, Upnor has no traditional shops. The village does not have a corner store, Off-License or Post Office, either.

Currently Upnor has four distinct pubs which all offer food as well. If you want more details, make sure to check out our post: “The Best 4 Upnor Pubs | Where to get a pint“

During Covid-19, the Kings Arms has been hosting a small shop within the pub, to help residents get the food they need. While this shop may not continue for long, it’s still extremely helpful when regular local shops are shut.

Upnor shops — The Kings Arms currently has the “Village Store” for Upnor residents

Upnor is also home to a new restaurant called “Coelho’s Picados & Skewer House” This Portuguese restaurant has taken the spot of Powder and Magazine, which closed in early 2020.

There is also a small gift shop in Upnor Castle, but that is closed during England’s second lockdown. For more details on when the castle will open (or details for planning your next visit), make sure to check out our article: “Your trip to Upnor Castle | Make it memorable“

Closest shops to Upnor

In terms of takeaways that serve Upnor, there’s actually quite a few great options. You can find details on our article: “The Best Takeaways in Upnor“

Co-Op

There are two Co-Ops quite close to Upnor village. One is part of the petrol station at the entrance to Medway City Estate. While it’s small, it still has the necessities available like milk, eggs, meat, fruit and vegetables. You can also get a small selection of alcohol, toiletries and cleaning supplies.

There is also a larger Co-Op in Wainscott, just down the road from Upnor. You’ll find more selection from this particular Co-Op without having to travel too far from the village. It’s typically open from 6am until 10pm most days, but make sure to check before visiting as there are changes due to Covid-19.

Often missed, there is a tiny Co-Op location at Chatham’s Dockside, tucked away near the Ship and trades pub. Of course, there is little selection here but it’s helpful to know that it’s there.

Medway City Estate Co-Op address: Anthonys Way, Rochester ME2 4DW

Wainscott Co-Cop address: 4 Wainscott Road, Wainscott, Rochester ME2 4LB

Dockside Co-Op address: Ships and Trades, Maritime Way, St Mary’s Island, Chatham ME4 3ER

Tesco

There are two Tesco locations fairly close to Upnor – one Tesco Express and one Tesco Superstore. Naturally, the Express location will have a small selection of items while the Superstore is much more suited for a larger shop. However, you’ll need to travel into Strood to get to the Tesco Superstore.

Tesco Express address: Frindsbury Road, Rochester ME2 4JD

Tesco Superstore address: Charles Street, Rochester ME2 2DE

ASDA

There is a nearby ASDA Superstore and petrol station across the river in Gillingham. Depending on the time of day, this shop might be quicker to get to instead of driving into Strood.

ASDA Superstore address: Pier Road, Pier Approach Road, Gillingham ME7 1RZ

Chatham Dockyard

Across the river from Upnor is Chatham Dockyard and Chatham’s Dockside. The Dockyard is a great historical experience and a fun trip out for the whole family (currently closed until 2021).

Just down the road from the Dockyard is Chatham Dockside which has a few restaurants and fast-food locations, but not much in the way of groceries.

However there are some good shops here and it’s just a short drive from Upnor.

Notable shops at Chatham Dockside:

Clarks Outlet
Choice
Peacocks
The Range
Poundstretcher
ProCook
M&S Outlet

For food at Dockside, there is:

Burger King
Villagio
Starbucks
Taco Bell
Nandos
Pizza Hut
The Broadwick
Creams Cafe
Fireaway

Upnor Shops and the surrounding area

While there isn’t too much selection within Upnor itself, there are a lot of shops, resultants, pubs and takeaways that are nearby or at least service Upnor village. As locals, we definitely recommend Upnor’s pubs but you’ll need to leave the village for your weekly food shop or if you’re interested in shopping for clothing, gifts or other items.

Upnor car park | Where the best place park in Upnor?

August 22, 2020 by admin Leave a Comment

If you are visiting Upnor, it’s likely that you’re driving. So where is the Upnor car park, or is there even available parking?

Upnor Car Park – Upper Upnor

The most popular car park in Upnor is located in Upper Upnor. This free car park is perfect for visiting the Upper Upnor pubs (The Kings Arms and the Tutor Rose) along with Upnor Castle. It’s about a 3 minute walk from the car park to the castle, and even less to the two pubs on the high street.

There are about 30-35 car park spots in this particular lot, but it can fill up quite quickly, especially on weekends. You’ll likely see cars parked along the road when this lot is full.

Address of Upper Upnor car park for Sat Nav: Upnor Road, Rochester ME2 4UP (sometimes called Upnor Castle Car Park, even though it’s not just used for the castle).

F4B722E2 708A 495E A0FB FB4C8B34ED13 FE4BAB2E A149 4A55 B06A 629AED190A2F — The recycling bins in the Lower Upnor car park

Upnor Car Park – Lower Upnor

Most people don’t realise there is a second free car park in Upnor, this time located in Lower Upnor, at the very edge of the village. If you drive along Lower Upnor, past The Ship and The Pier, you’ll reach the Upnor Sailing Club at the very end (and the entrance to Upnor’s hidden beach). It’s here where you’ll find Upnor’s second car park.

There are about 50 car parking spots available. However, it’s important to remember that this lot is locked up in the evening. The gates open at 8 am and are closed at 9 pm (in the summer months) and 5 pm (during the winter.)

It’s about a 3 minute walk to Upnor Beach from this car park. There are also recycling bins here for paper, card and glass.

Address of Lower Upnor car park for Sat Nav: Upnor Road, Rochester ME2 4XB

Lower Upnor car park map — Lower Upnor Car Park map, located just off Albion Place

Other places to park in Upnor

Other than the two main car parks in Upnor, the remaining parking is all on-street. Typically you’ll be able to find spots during the day while residents are at work, but it can be very difficult to find spaces at night or on the weekends.

If you’re driving to Upnor, we recommend using one of the two available lots and try your best to avoid peak times during the weekend.

Upnor Taxis | Best way travel to Upnor

August 15, 2020 by admin Leave a Comment

Unfortunately Upnor isn’t known for its public transport. For those visiting Upnor (or residents going out for the night) you’ll probably need to use a taxi.

Currently, there are no Upnor taxis in the village, but there are numerous local taxis that serve the village. Here are details on Upnor taxis and how best to get to and from the village. It’s helpful to keep these numbers stored on your phone!

ABC Taxi

ABC Taxi has been around for around 20 years so it’s a well-known taxi service. This particular taxi services Chatham, Gillingham, Maidstone, Rochester (including Upnor) and Faversham and operate 24-hours.

They also have options for school run, short term and long term contracts and airport transfers.

If you’re interested in visiting places like Upnor Castle or Upnor Beach but don’t drive, using a taxi is the next best option.

ABC Taxi number: 01634 840 840

For more details, visit ABC Taxi website.

Vokes Taxis

Another common local taxi service is Vokes. They also have a new app that you can use to book a taxi from your phone. Vokes services areas like Chatham, Rochester, Upnor, Gillingham, Strood, Rainham, Cuxton, Hoo, Hempsted and Walderslade and operate on a 24-hour schedule. They also service the local airports.

Vokes Taxi number: 01634 22 22 22

Fore more information on this taxi service, visit Vokes Taxis.

Strood Cabs

Another local taxi service is Strood Cabs, but there’s actually not a lot of information about them available. We personally have never used them, but it could still be helpful to have their number in case you need it. Like the other services, you can use Strood Cabs for the local airports, school runs, and opener 24/7 in the Medway area.

Strood Cabs number: 01634 710001

For details, check out Strood Cabs’ website.

Medway Uber

As with most areas in England, Uber is a great option for affordable transport. We recommend having the Uber app downloaded onto your mobile with your details saved for the next time you need to use them.

When using the app, simply plug in your current address and where you want to go, and the app will show you drivers in the area. The app will connect you with a driver, give you an estimated time of their arrival, what car they are driving and the estimated cost for your trip.

Overall, Uber is extremely user-friendly. It also means that you don’t need to pay the driver in cash as it will be done through the app. This is incredibly helpful for those who don’t carry cash with them. Unfortunately Upnor can be difficult to get to, so using Uber is a great option.

The Best Hotels Near Upnor | Where to stay locally

August 8, 2020 by admin Leave a Comment

Upnor is a beautiful (but small) village along the Medway River. Home to 4 pubs and a castle, Upnor is a wonderful place to visit. But what about hotels near Upnor? Here’s where you can stay in Upnor and the surrounding area.

The Stables – Only hotel in Upnor

Are you planning on staying in Upnor? Currently The Stables is the only short-term rental property available in Upnor. This small cottage is for rent, just outside Upnor Castle.

The Stables amenities:

Pool
Free WiFi
2 bedrooms, sleeps 4
1 bathroom (towels not provided)
Kitchen area
Outdoor patio
Smoke-free property
No housekeeping
Children are welcome

Check-in at the property is between 3:00 pm and 11:00 pm. Check-out is before 10:00 am. Once booked, guests will receive an email with check-in detail.

What’s incredible about this property is that Upnor Castle is a mere 4 minute walk from the cottage. You’ll staying among Upnor’s history. If you need to stay within Upnor, this is the place to pick.

Rating: 3.5/5 on Expedia

Hampton Leigh – A local apartment at Maritime Dockside

Looking for more than a hotel room? The Hampton Leigh at Chatham Dockside might be a great fit! This entire apartment can be rented out for a party of six.

Hampton Leigh amenities:

Internet access
On-site parking
Full kitchen
2 bedrooms (with bed sheets provided) but sleeps 6
2 bathrooms (towels provided)
Dining room
TV with cable/satellite service
Balcony
Extras: Washing machine, air conditioning and heating
No pets allowed
Smoke-free property
Important: this property is for adults only

Check-in time starts at 3:00 pm and check-out is required before 11:00 am. You will receive details and instructions from the property manager when you book this accommodation.

Directions to Upnor

While this property to rent is not within Upnor, it’s about a 6 minute drive to the village. We recommend parking either at the free car park in Upper Upnor (near the Upnor Castle) or the free car park at the very end of the village in Lower Upnor.

If you don’t drive, make sure to check out our article about taxis that service Upnor so you can easily get into the village from your hotel.

Rating: 4.5/5 on Expedia

Upnor pier — The view of St. Mary’s Island and Chatham Dockside from Upnor Beach

Chatham Maritime Travelodge – Hotel near Upnor

If you need a basic hotel need Upnor, Chatham Maritime Travelodge is a good pick. While it won’t be the most lavish or exciting hotel you’ll see, it certainly works in a pinch.

Chatham Maritime Travelodge amenities:

3-star hotel
90 rooms
Children are welcome
Near the historical Chatham Dockyard
Hotel offers different types of room depending on number of bed required or budget

The Chatham Maritime Travelodge is about a 5 minute drive to Upnor. It’s also near Chatham Dockside, which has numerous shops and restaurants.

Rating: 3.8/5 on Expedia

Ship & Trades – Restaurant and river-side inn near Upnor

Interested in a restaurant and inn? The Ship & Trades is a great option in a good location near Upnor.

The Ship & Trades amenities:

Free wifi in the rooms and in some public areas
Free self parking
1 restaurant and bar on-site
Daily housekeeping
Front desk (limited hours)
1 meeting room
Smoke-free property
Hairdryer, towels and linens provided
TV and phone in room
No pets
Children are welcome

Check-in is between 2:00 pm and 11:00 pm but late check-in is subject to availability. Check-out must be before 11:00 am.

The Ship & Trades is a great option for a hotel near Upnor as it’s a great location, plus you get the benefit of the restaurant and bar attached to the property. Depending on your needs, the Ship & Trades has various rooms available, such as a Double Room, Executive Double Room or even a Superior Double Room.

Like the other hotels near Upnor, it’s about a 5 minute drive to the village from the property.

Rating: 4.2/5 on Expedia

Premier Inn Rochester – Great local hotel

Slightly further away from Upnor or Chatham Dockside is Rochester. While there are a lot of hotels in the area, we would recommend the Premier Inn Rochester at the Medway Valley Leisure Park. It’s a good quality hotel for a decent price and it’s only about a 10 minute drive to Upnor.

Premier Inn Rochester amenties:

Free Wi-Fi
Air conditioning
Free parking
Children welcome
24 hour front desk
Restaurant and bar
No pets
Other resturaunts, bars, bowling alley, health club and cinema within walking distance

We believe that the Premier Inn Rochester is slightly better quality than the Travelodge at Chatham Dockside. However, the Premier Inn is further away from Upnor (although, not by too much). It’s also helpful that the Premier Inn is within walking distance of all the other restaurants, bars and activities within the Medway Valley Leisure Park.

Hotels near Upnor

Currently, the only “hotel” or short-term rental property in Upnor is The Stables. However, if you’re looking for an actual hotel experience, we recommend booking one of the hotels at Chatham Dockside or the Primer Inn Rochester. All of them are close to Upnor for decent prices and quality.

Where are Upnor post boxes?

August 7, 2020 by admin Leave a Comment

Need to post something but not sure where are the Upnor post boxes? You’re in the right place!

Where to find Upnor’s post box

Currently, there is one main post box that serves the village in Lower Upnor. You’ll find this post box outside The Pier pub right along the River Medway. If you are driving or walking into Lower Upnor, it will be on the righthand side across the street from the pub. You’ll also find a phone box beside it.

The collection time for this post box is 4:30 pm Monday-Friday.

The Pier in Upnor — The view of The Pier from the only Upnor post box

Upnor’s historical post box

If you’re looking for a bit of history, there is a traditional post box in Upper Upnor along the High Street. You’ll find it on the left, a few houses before you reach Upnor Castle.

This post box is no longer in service, but still a neat bit of history. It’s not a traditional pillar-style post box, but built into the brick wall. The box does have a notice on the front that it is no longer in service as to not confuse anyone.

Post boxes near Upnor

If you’ve missed the collection time for the Lower Upnor post box, there are a few others in the surrounding area, although some of them are easily missed.

Medway City Estate post box

If you need a different location, we recommend a post box on Medway City Estate. The collection time for this post box is 6:30pm Monday-Friday which can be extremely helpful if you’ve already missed the collection time for Upnor’s post box.

It’s no secret that Medway City Estate can be very busy during rush hour, so we recommend using this post box after 6:00pm to avoid the traffic.

A hidden Strood post box

Further afield, there is a post box on Roman Way (ME2 2NY). You’ll pass this post box on your way to Cineworld, Creams, Diggerland or Hollywood Bowl, all along the River Medway.

This post box is often missed but it’s extremely helpful if you need one. Once you turn onto Roman Way, you’ll see the post box on your right. There is a small alcove that you can pull your car into when posting your mail.

This post box is helpful when you’re already going to the cinema, McDonalds or any of the restaurants in the area.

Post office near Upnor

The closet post office to Upnor is in Stroud, which can handle all your typical post needs.

The Strood Post Office address is 13-17 North St, Rochester ME2 4SL.

Monday	8:30 am – 5:30 pm
Tuesday	8:30 am – 5:30 pm
Wednesday	8:30 am – 5:30 pm
Thursday	8:30 am – 5:30 pm
Friday	8:30 am – 5:30 pm
Saturday	8:30 am – 1:00 pm
Sunday	Closed

Strood Post Office Opening Times

If you’re able to pay for parking, the closest car park is the Commercial Road Car Park, just a short walk to the post office. If you need help finding it, you can add the postcode to your Sat Nav: ME2 4TG. The car park is right before the Strood McDonalds.

If you don’t want to pay for parking, the closest free car park is at the Strood Retail Park. This is just across the street from the paid lot, so not much further to walk. However, this car park can be extremely busy and oftentimes difficult to find a spot.

There is also a bus spot in front of the Strood Post Office if you need to take public transport.

Make sure to check with the post office before visiting as they could change their hours due to Covid-19 restrictions.

Should I be worried about Jellyfish in Upnor?

August 2, 2020 by admin Leave a Comment

If you’ve visited Upnor’s beach along the River Medway, you might have spotted some jellyfish along the stony beach. Should these be avoided? Is Upnor Beach safe? Find out everything you need to know about the jellyfish in Upnor.

Why are there jellyfish in Upnor?

Whenever we have a hot summer, the increased water temperatures means more marine life, including jellyfish. This also means you’ll have a much greater chance of seeing a jellyfish in the area, especially when the tides come in.

These jellyfish will simply wash-up on Upnor’s beach during the summer months. It’s easy to miss them because they are translucent and often blend in with the rocks and stones on the beach.

If you find any jellyfish, it’s recommend not to touch them, even if they wash up on shore. Some dead jellyfish can still cause a nasty sting.

Where can we find jellyfish in Upnor?

Upnor’s stoney beach is a common spot for jellyfish to wash up on when it’s been a hot summer. As the River Medway gets hotter, more jellyfish can breed and grow. However, this shouldn’t discourage you from visiting Upnor’s quiet beach. It’s best to keep an eye on the stones before you set up your beach chair so you can avoid any washed-up jellies. You may also spot other sea-life, like crabs along the beach.

What kind of jellyfish are in Upnor?

We believe that the jellyfish washing up on Upnor shores are moon jellyfish. Thankfully, this type of jellyfish does not sting or cause any harm.

The moon jellyfish (or moon jelly) is the most common species in the UK and commonly wash up on the shore. This type of jelly is about the size of a dinner plate and is recognisable by four circular rings inside it’s translucent bell-shaped body.

You’ll typically see these jellies floating just below the surface of the water. Jellyfish are 95% water and have no brain, blood or heart.

What to do if you’re stung by a jellyfish

If you ever stung by a jellyfish, you can typically do some basic first-aid care to minimise the sting:

Using tweezers, carefully pluck visible tentacles out of the skin
Soak the skin in hot water (it should feel hot but not scalding). Keep the affected skin immersed or in a hot shower for 20- 45 minutes.

When dealing with a jellyfish sting, here are some unhelpful or unproven actions to avoid:

Scraping out stingers
Rinsing with seawater
Rinsing with human urine
Applying meat tenderizer
Applying alcohol, ethanol or ammonia
Rubbing with a towel

Typically jellyfish stings do not require medical care, but if you find that your sting is severe or you may be having an allergic reaction to it, speaking with your healthcare professional is a good option.

Thankfully, the type of jellyfish that wash up on Upnor’s beach are not dangerous, but it’s still important to avoid touching them if you can.