Name: Dover Castle
Address: Castle Hill, Dover, Kent, CT16 1HU
Telephone: 0370 333 1181

Home
Visit
Places to Visit
Dover Castle

The grounds of Dover Castle are open. Takeaway catering is available and our shops are open, but all indoor areas remain closed. Safety measures are in place to keep everyone safe. You need to book your visit in advance. Please keep in mind the government’s latest advice on travelling. Find out more below.

How to book your Visit

Read our FAQ

Keeping you Safe

What to expect

Open Daily 10am - 5pm

See full prices and opening times

Address

Castle Hill, Dover, Kent, CT16 1HU

Book your Visit

To comply with the latest government guidelines, all indoor areas of Dover Castle including the Great Tower and Secret Wartime Tunnels are currently closed. Visitors can explore the extensive grounds and defences, experience the Battlements Walk and The Keep Yard with special grounds only admission prices.

Buy tickets

What you need to know

We've made some changes to help keep you safe, and things might be a little different when you visit. Here's everything you need to know.

Do we need to Book?

Advance booking is now essential. We have introduced limits on visitor numbers to help keep everyone safe, and you won’t be able to visit without your booking confirmation. If you’re a Member, your ticket will be free, but you still need to book in advance. Make sure you've read our ticketing FAQ before you book.

Book Tickets

Booking FAQs

What parts of the site are closed?
To comply with the latest government guidance, all indoor areas of Dover Castle are currently closed. This includes:

The Great Tower

The Secret Wartime Tunnels

The Medieval Tunnels

The Port War Signalling Station

The Keep Yard, Battlements Walk, extensive grounds and viewing platform at Admiralty Lookout are open to visitors. The café will be open for takeaway service.

What changes have you made to your facilities?
Shop - The castle shops will be open.

Catering - A takeaway service will be available at the Cafe.

Toilets - The castle's toilet facilities will be open. Additional hand sanitising stations will be available in various locations.

Plan your Visit

How are you keeping us safe?

We've made a number of changes to help keep you safe. Although things might be a little different when you visit, you’ll still be able to enjoy exploring the places where history really happened. And you’ll still be given a warm and safe welcome by our friendly – if socially distant – staff and volunteers.

To maintain social distancing, we've introduced one way routes through the Great Tower and other indoor areas, and some interactive displays will be unavailable.

You can visit our reopening page for information on general safety measures we've taken to help keep you safe.

General Safety Information

Do I need to wear a face covering?

Face coverings must be worn in all indoor areas. We won't be able to provide you with a face covering, so please come prepared so you don't miss out.

I still have questions.

The answers to all frequently asked questions can be found on our FAQ page.

Read our FAQs

Weekends at Dover Castle

On weekends between 12 April and 25 September, we’ll bring the castle’s stories to life with live interpretation in the open air.

During May and June, step back in time to 1941, when Dover Castle found itself at the centre of ‘Hellfire Corner’. The town is under fire from Hitler’s big guns across the channel, and the men and women of Dover Castle have become a shining symbol of British resistance. Meet them, discover their gripping stories and take part in the secret mission they’ve prepared for you.

From July onwards, travel back to the medieval world of courtly intrigue and meet members of Henry II’s court.

Please note that live interpretation is replaced by other exciting activities on event weekends.

Book your Visit

Things to See and Do

What's On

Dover at War

Sat 29 - Mon 31 May 2021

Dover Castle Timeline

800 BC - AD 43Iron Age Hillfort

Massive earth ramparts and ditches are constructed, which will provide the foundation for the medieval castle's curtain walls. Regular cross-Channel trading takes place.

115-40A Roman Lighthouse

The Romans build a lighthouse here to guide ships into the harbour, the base of the fleet patrolling the Channel.

7th CenturyMinster Church

Eadbald, King of Kent, founds a minster church for 22 monks in the 'castrum' of Dover - either the Roman fort in the town or the hillfort on the headland.

10th-Early 11th CenturySt Mary's Church

The church of St Mary in Castro is built beside the lighthouse.

1066Norman Castle

William the Conqueror defeats King Harold, then turns to Dover. He takes the town, burns it, and builds fortifications there, before heading to London for his coronation.

Find out more about the history of Dover Castle

1180-89The Castle Rebuilt

Henry II rebuilds Dover Castle, spending vast sums on it. It is the most expensive castle project of its time.

1205-15First Royal Fleet

King John establishes the first royal fleet and completes the castle's outer defences.

1216-17Great Siege

After King John reneges on Magna Carta, Prince Louis of France invades England and besieges Dover Castle. It is successfully defended by a few hundred men.

1217-56The Castle Completed

Under Henry III, enormous sums are spent strengthening Dover, making it one of the largest and most strategically important castles in England.

1263-65De Montfort's Dover

Simon de Montfort challenges Henry III's government and captures Dover Castle. The future Edward I is briefly held prisoner here.

1265Countess Eleanor de Montfort

After de Montfort is killed in battle his wife, Eleanor, leads the defence of Dover, holding out with 29 archers. She is forced to surrender to Prince Edward when he brings troops from London.

1520Fit for an Emperor

On 25 May the Holy Roman Emperor, Charles V, arrives at Dover for a meeting with Henry VIII. The emperor probably stays in the great tower.

1625-6Castle in Decline

Henrietta Maria, the teenage French princess, occupies the castle but is said to be 'poorly accommodated'. It is later refurbished by George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham.

1642Civil War

The garrison of 20 remains loyal to Charles I. A daring merchant called Drake and 11 men scale the cliffs and take the castle for Parliament, with few shots fired.

18th CenturyExpert Defences

England faces the threat of French invasion, so the defences are upgraded.

1793-1815Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars

Huge sums are spent on the town and castle defences. Barracks are constructed in a complex of tunnels beneath the castle.

1850sAnother Napoleon

Major renovations take place again with the threat of invasion from Napoleon III.

1890sHistorical Appreciation

The top floor of the Great Tower is furnished with displays of armour and opened to the public.

1904State Care

The church of St Mary in Castro, Roman lighthouse and Colton's Gate are transferred to the Ancient Monuments Branch of the Ministry of Works.

1939-45Second World War

The Napoleonic tunnels have a new role as naval and later combined services headquarters, where the Dunkirk evacuation is masterminded. Air attacks earn the area around Dover the nickname 'Hellfire Corner'.

1956End of Military Use

The castle's last gun batteries are scrapped.

1962-1980sFinal Secret

After the Cuban Missile Crisis, the tunnels are renovated and equipped to serve as one of 12 regional seats of government in the event of nuclear war.