Family Activities

What family activities are available at the site?
Which English Heritage properties are nearby?
What other family-based activities and places of interest are nearby?

What family activities are available at the site?

Explore the Keep

Suggested time needed: 1 hour

Imagine yourselves in the castle during the 1216 siege in this light, sound and film experience. Children will love trying out the hands on activities and the talking carpet in the Keep and well as climbing to the roof for the stunning views.

Explore the Medieval Underground works

Suggested time needed: 30 minutes

In these 13th Century tunnels you can wander past the trapdoors and find yourselves at dead ends! Imagine firing the cannons and be amazed by the Napoleonic automatic doors. Ideal for children over 5, but caution needed for younger explorers.

Have lunch

Enjoy a picnic at admiralty lookout, sit outside palace gate by the grass in front of the keep or even on the saluting platform. Have a coffee break in the keep coffee shop and take an afternoon break in the Tunnel Tea Room. Enjoy a family meal in the NAAFI restaurant that also has a children’s menu and high chairs too. Our ice-cream parlour has some “heritage” flavoured ice-cream to try as well as all the old favourites.

Land Train

Suggested time needed: 10 minutes

Take a break, enjoy the views or avoid the climb up to the keep as the land train takes you on a tour around the site.

Secret Wartime Tunnels

Suggested time needed: 45 minutes

Immerse yourselves in wartime Dover. Smell the food cooking in the war time kitchens and over-hear the hospital patients having a chat as you are guided through the casemate tunnels. Keep a look out for ghosts like Dave the cat and be surprised by the balcony views of the English channel. Leave time for a quick stop in the Tunnel Tea Room and visit the exhibition and shop.

Explore the grounds

Suggested time needed: 1 hour

March around the battlements and peer into the defensive ditches. Imagine being knights or princesses looking out of the arrow loops in the knights towers and be impressed by the many views points the site has to offer like the panoramic view of Dover from Peverll’s Gate.

Which English Heritage properties are nearby?

Walmer Castle Gardens

Distance: 8 miles

Originally built during the reign of Henry VIII as part of a chain of coastal artillery defences against Catholic attack from Europe,Walmer Castle has evolved over time into an elegant residence.

Deal Castle

Distance: 9 miles

Deal Castle is one of the finest Tudor artillery castles in England. It is among the earliest and most elaborate of a chain of coastal forts.

Richborough Roman Fort and Amphitheatre

Distance: 14 miles

Evocatively sited amid the East Kent marshes, Richborough is perhaps the most symbolically important of all Roman sites in Britain.

St Augustine’s Abbey

Distance: 17 miles

The impressive abbey is situated outside the city walls and is part of the Canterbury World Heritage Site, along with the cathedral and St Martin’s Church. At the abbey, you can also enjoy the museum and free audio tour.

What other family-based activities and places of interest are nearby?

Take a day trip to France

Distance: Dover port is walking distance. 1 hour ferry crossing.

Tour the Calais coast line, visit St Omer and look at the wartime relics or do a city tour or a bit of shopping in Calais or Boulogne.

Have a wild day out at the zoo

Distance: 15 miles to each zoo (approx)

There are two local zoos on Dover’s door step; Howletts & Port Lympne. These Wild Animal Parks are home to some of the world's most rare and endangered animals.

Discover Dover

Whilst in Dover visit the local museums, be impressed at the Town Hall and Town Jail buildings and spend an afternoon at the seaside or go for a cliff top walk.

Spend a day in Canterbury

Distance: 15 miles

Visit the awe inspiring Canterbury Cathedral and St Augustine’s Abbey, go shopping or even take a trip on the river boats.

English Heritage Properties nearby

Other nearby attractions