English Heritage

Deal Castle is the most elaborate of the revolutionary coastal artillery castles built by Henry VIII to defend against a threatened invasion by European Catholic powers, and a must see on any trip to the seaside town of Deal.

Inside, vivid displays show how the fortress worked. A huge, illustrated map of Europe lays out the tense international state of play when the castle was built, and you can eavesdrop on the thoughts of Henry and his opponents.

Try defending Deal yourself as you explore the dark and narrow ‘Rounds’ passage encircling the whole castle. Children can grab a wooden musket to play with as they explore. Look out for the audio adventure posts that you can wind up and listen to as you go: they're very atmospheric.

Then, climb the spiral stairs to the ‘Captains of Deal’ display, and leave your own mark in the graffiti room.