Name: Walmer Castle and Gardens
Address: Kingsdown Road, Deal, Kent, CT14 7LJ
Telephone: 01304 364288

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Walmer Castle and Gardens

The gardens and grounds at Walmer are now open for you to visit. You now need to book your timed tickets in advance. 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. There are other new steps in place to ensure everyone’s safety, so your visit will be a little different..

How to Book your Visit

Read our FAQ

Keeping you Safe

What to expect on your visit

Open Daily 10am - 5pm

See full prices and opening times

Address

Kingsdown Road, Deal, Kent, CT14 7LJ

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Welcome to Walmer Castle

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. To book your visit, click here.

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.

Please click here for more information about the safety measures you can expect when visiting as well as our FAQs.

Gardens - The formal gardens, meadow and woodland walk will be open for visitors to enjoy with a new free flow route in place. The Glen is open for visitors to enjoy, with a one way system in place to aid social distancing.
Castle – The castle interiors will remain closed.
Café - The Glasshouse cafe will be open, offering snacks, treats and refreshments via a takeaway service. The cafe will close 15 minutes before our closing time. Our tearoom and glasshouse cafe are taking part in the Eat Out to Help Out scheme. Find out more here.
Shop – The castle shop will be open, with a one way system in place to help guide you.
Playgrounds - The play trail will remain closed.
Toilets - The castle's new toilet facilities will be open. Additional hand sanitising stations will be available in various locations.
Site entrance - The normal visitor entrance is closed. An alternative visitor entrance is in use, accessed via the grass overflow car park.
Face masks - Face coverings must be worn in Walmer Castle's indoor shop, café, tea room and all other indoor spaces. We won’t be able to give you a face covering, so please come prepared so you don’t miss out.

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Things to See and Do

Walmer Timeline

1539–41Invasion threat

Faced with an alliance between Spain, France and the Pope, Henry VIII commissions a chain of defences from Hull to Milford Haven.

1539–40Three Artillery Castles

Henry builds castles on the Kent coast, including three at Sandown, Deal and Walmer. More than 1,400 workmen complete building works in 18 months.

Find out more about the history of Walmer Castle

1540Walmer Garrisoned

A captain, lieutenant, ten gunners, four soldiers and two porters form Walmer’s first garrison.

1642Civil War

With the outbreak of civil war in England, the three castles come under Parliamentarian control.

1648Royalist Uprising

Fear for the future of the monarchy provokes a Royalist uprising. In Kent, Royalists occupy Sandown, Deal and Walmer castles, all of which are recaptured after siege and bloody fighting.

1727–Official Residence

The Duke of Dorset makes Walmer Castle an official residence as Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports and builds a new apartment and a garden.

1792–1806William Pitt

Prime Minister William Pitt is Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports. He makes improvements to the house and, together with his niece Lady Hester Stanhope, creates the framework of today’s extensive gardens and grounds.

1829The Duke of Wellington

The hero of Waterloo is made Lord Warden and frequently stays at the castle in summer. He often entertains and has friends and family to stay.

1842Royal Holiday Home

Queen Victoria stays at the castle for nearly a month with Prince Albert and their children.

1852Frozen in Time

Wellington dies at Walmer. His room is now displayed as it was on the day of his death.

See highlights of the collection at Walmer Castle

1865–91Granville Additions

Earl Granville is Lord Warden. He and his wife improve the grounds and have extra rooms built above the gatehouse.

1891Smith’s Furniture Trust

WH Smith, bookshop owner and politician, Lord Warden for only six months, sets up a trust to ensure the historical furniture remains in the castle forever.

1913–34Beauchamp Socials

As Lord Warden, Earl Beauchamp enjoys Walmer with his family each summer, holding parties, tennis and croquet matches, pageants and dances.

1915Wartime Retreat

Beauchamp lends Walmer to Prime Minister Asquith as a weekend retreat. Guests include Lord Kitchener, poet Rupert Brooke, author Henry James and Winston Churchill, later Lord Warden himself.

1978–2002Royal Favour

Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother stays at the castle every year, as Lord Warden. She takes a close interest in the gardens and grounds.

Learn more about Walmer Castle

Nearby Places
Similar Places

Deal Castle
1.28 miles from Walmer Castle and Gardens
Dover Castle
6.04 miles from Walmer Castle and Gardens
Richborough Roman Fort and Amphitheatre
7 miles from Walmer Castle and Gardens

St Augustine's Cross
9.08 miles from Walmer Castle and Gardens
St John's Commandery
9.73 miles from Walmer Castle and Gardens
Sutton Valence Castle
34.87 miles from Walmer Castle and Gardens

Nearby Places
- Deal Castle
  1.28 miles from Walmer Castle and Gardens
- Dover Castle
  6.04 miles from Walmer Castle and Gardens
- Richborough Roman Fort and Amphitheatre
  7 miles from Walmer Castle and Gardens
Similar Places
- St Augustine's Cross
  9.08 miles from Walmer Castle and Gardens
- St John's Commandery
  9.73 miles from Walmer Castle and Gardens
- Sutton Valence Castle
  34.87 miles from Walmer Castle and Gardens