Key facts
- Operator
- English Heritage
- Condition
- Intact
- Access
- Staffed, ticketed
Pinpoint
Upnor Rd, Upper Upnor, Rochester ME2 4XG
Telephone 01634 718742
Website www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/upnor-castle
An Elizabethan artillery fort built to guard the Royal Navy's ships moored on the Medway, most notable for failing to stop the Dutch fleet's raid up the river in 1667 - an event that reshaped English coastal defences afterwards. It's compact but atmospheric, with old, uneven steps and low headroom in places, set at the bottom of a cobbled slope in the village of Upnor.
Worth the trip
The story of the 1667 Dutch raid - reviewers say it's what makes an otherwise small fort worth the visit.
Before you go
There's free parking a five-minute walk away down a cobbled, sloping road; mind your head and footing inside, as reviewers note some low, uneven areas, though the views over the river from the bottom are worth the walk down.
Reviewers consistently enjoy Upnor Castle's naval history, particularly the story of the Dutch raid on the Medway, and praise the friendly staff and river views. Several mention it's a compact, fairly quick visit of an hour or two, easily combined with the nearby free car park. A few flag that the old steps and passages can be dark, uneven, and low-headed, and that some areas could use a bit of maintenance.
Elizabethan artillery fort; managed by Medway Council
“A compact but atmospheric site, Upnor Castle is a must for anyone interested in naval history, especially the dramatic Dutch raid that reshaped English coastal defences.”— Stefan 020, visitor review
Further reading
Gibsons - Castle Cutaway (1000pc)
Detailed cutaway illustration of a medieval castle's rooms, dungeon to battlements.
Find it on Amazon
