Facilities at Walmer Castle and Gardens

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  Parking

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  Parking is free for members. Charges apply to non-members. There are 5 accessible parking spaces on site, and disabled passengers can be dropped off at the castle entrance. Parking is available on site depending on the weather; otherwise there is a pay and display public car park opposite the castle entrance. Please help us be good neighbours by not parking in the roads surrounding the castle.

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  Food And Drink

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  The Lord Warden’s Tea Room serves locally sourced food with refreshments including hot meals, afternoon teas, ginger beer and homemade lemonade. The Glasshouse Café offers sandwiches and snacks in the beautiful setting of the gardens themselves.

   

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  Picnic Area

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  Picnic benches located in the Oval Lawn. Benches available in other locations throughout the site, including the woodland walk. 

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  Shop

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  Shop selling a selection of English Heritage gifts and themed souvenirs.
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  Toilets

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  Male and female toilets available.
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  Dogs

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  With the exception of assistance dogs, we're not able to admit dogs into the grounds and gardens of Walmer Castle.

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  Museum

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  The Wellington Museum contains many of the Duke's personal effects including his campaign bed and a pair of original 'Wellington Boots'.
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  Exhibition

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  Successive Lord Wardens have left their mark on the castle and it is home to many valuable furnishings which are now on display.
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  Gardens

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  The gardens include areas carefully managed to encourage wild flowers and insects. Smooth grass and gravel paths within grounds. The gardens include the Broad Walk, with formal borders framed by the famous 'cloud' yew Hedge, a working kitchen garden and the contemporary Queen Mother's Garden.

  With support from the Heritage Lottery Fund, a project to revive and reunite gardens begun by William Pitt the Younger and his niece, Lady Hester Stanhope has been completed at Walmer Castle. The wild flower meadow known as the Paddock and the planted former chalk quarry called the Glen were part of the castle's 19th-century garden landscaping, and have now been re-presented for visitors to enjoy. Visit our page for more information on this exciting project.

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  Family Friendly

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  Baby Changing Facilities

  Baby changing facilities are available in our new toilet facilities, adjacent to the Kitchen Garden.

  Bottle / Food Warming

  Bottle warming facilities are available on request.

  High Chairs

  Highchairs are available in our cafes on request. 

  Play Areas / Adventure Playground

  A new natural play trail is now available along the woodland walk. Children can climb into hollow tree trunks and giant nests, cross wobbly bridges, conquer climbing nets and gaze up through the trees on leaf-shaped sky seats. They can also learn about wildlife by spotting sculptures of woodland birds dotted around the trail. 

  Please note, in instances of severe weather it is sometimes necessary to close the gardens. When the gardens are closed the play trail is not accessible.

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  Education

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  Education

  A brand new education centre has been opened at the castle, offering first class facilities for visiting schools and education groups. Please visit out schools page for more information.

  Interpretation for Children

  Children can learn about wildlife by spotting sculptures of woodland birds throughout the woodland walk. Created by master designers Studio Hardie, the beautifully crafted pieces complement the woodland landscape and let children take delight in the glorious outdoors.

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  Holiday Cottages

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  The Greenhouse Apartment (sleeps 4).  The Garden Cottage (sleeps 4).

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  Commercial Photograph And Filming

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  English Heritage welcomes amateur photographers to our sites and we hope you will share your pictures of your visit with us on social media.
  If you are looking to use one of our sites for commercial, corporate or professional photography or as a filming location, please contact our filming team as soon as possible to check availability and acquire the relevant permissions and paperwork.
  Due to the delicate nature of our sites, English Heritage does not permit drone flying from or over sites in our care, except by contractors or partners undertaking flights for a specific purpose, who satisfy stringent CAA criteria, have the correct insurances and permissions, and are operating under controlled conditions.