The ultimate guide to castles in Kent, including history and practical information for visiting each site with local tips.

I have counted over 40 castles in Kent, with about 10 completely or nearly lost and quite a few that are private and not open to general public. Over the years I’ve visited most of the castles in Kent that are open to public (some several times over) and really enjoyed learning about their history and the fascinating connections with kings and queens of England.

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It’s difficult to choose just a few of my favourite Kent castles, so I’ve decided that I’ll include all the ones that are open to public. I’m always going back to Dover Castle because it’s so big and there is always something new to explore. I’m also like to visit Scotney Castle every year, because I like the romantic ruins of the old castle and the walks around.

Leeds Castle

Leeds Castle is considered one of the most impressive castles in Kent and possibly in the whole England. Originally built in 1119 as a Norman stronghold, but it became a royal palace in the 13th century when it was purchased by Queen Eleanor of Castile, the wife of King Edward I.

Over the years, it has been home to six medieval queens, including the wife of King Henry VIII, who used it as a residence for his first wife, Catherine of Aragon.

The castle is surrounded by a picturesque moat and set within 500 acres of beautiful parkland and gardens. The gardens are beautiful and include the Culpeper Garden – a very pretty English cottage garden, and the Lady Baillie Mediterranean Garden Terrace, which has stunning views over the lake.

In the castle grounds you will also find a maze and grotto, perfect for families and children. There is also Bird of Prey Centre and rather quirky Dog Collar Museum.

Leeds Castle also puts on lots of different events throughout the year, from historical re- enactments to outdoor concerts and Christmas fairs and Christmas Lights shows, which makes the annual ticket a great value.

• Address: Broomfield, Maidstone, Kent, ME17 1PL
• Opening Times: Grounds and Gardens: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM, Castle: 10:45 AM – 4:30 PM (last entry 3:45 PM)
• Ticket Prices: Adults: £37.00 (online), £42.00 (onsite), Children (3-15 years): £30.00 (online), £32.50 (onsite), Family (1 Adult + up to 3 Children): £79.00 (online), Family (2 Adults + up to 3 Children): £99.00 (online)

Penshurst Castle

Penshurst Place is a historic manor house with an interesting history spanning over six centuries. The original house was built in 1341 for Sir John de Pulteney, a wealthy London merchant and four-time Lord Mayor of London, who wanted to built himself a quiet country retreat.

In the 15th century, it passed through the hands of two of King Henry IV’s sons before being used as a hunting lodge by King Henry VIII, who may have stayed there while secretly courting Anne Boleyn (who was living at a nearby Hever Castle).

In 1552, Penshurst Place came into the possession of the Sidney family, who have owned it ever since.

One of the most famous residents of Penshurst Place was the Elizabethan poet and courtier Sir Philip Sidney (1554-1586), who was born and raised there. His works, including “Astrophel and Stella” and “The Defence of Poesy,” are considered important contributions to English literature.

• Address: Tonbridge, Kent, TN11 8DG
• Opening Times: Open daily during the main season from April to early November, 10am – 5 pm
• Ticket Prices: Adult (16+): House & Gardens: £16.00, Gardens only: £14.00, Child (5-15 years old): £7.80, Family Tickets: 2 adults + 2 children: £42.00, 1 adult + 3 children: £37.50, 2 adults, 1 child: £33.00, 2 adults, 2 children: £40.00

Chiddingstone Castle

Chiddingstone Castle history goes back to early 16th century, when it was built by the Streatfeild family, who owned the castle until the beginning of the 20th century.

The first Chiddingstone Castle was built as a timber-framed house and around 1670 was rebuilt in red brick. More recently in the 19th century, the castle was rebuilt yet again and this time to resemble a medieval castle.

In 1900, the Streatfeild family left Chiddingstone Castle and the village, and in 1938, they sold it to Lord Astor, who never actually lived there. During World War II, Canadian forces used the castle as their headquarters.

The castle was purchased by Denys Eyre Bower, an antiques dealer and collector, in 1955. Upon his death in 1977, he left the castle and its extensive collection of art and artifacts to a charitable trust, which carries on running the estate.

• Address: Chiddingstone, near Edenbridge, Kent, TN8 7AD
• Opening Times: House & Gardens: Main tourist season (May – October): Wed – Sundays (Mondays and Tuesdays closed), 11am to 5pm (last entry to the house 4.15pm), The grounds are open all year with the exception of private functions.
• Ticket Prices: General Admission: Adults: £14, Kids (5-13): £7.50

Rochester Castle

The history of Rochester Castle goes back to the 1080s, which makes it one of the oldest castles in England. It was built in a strategic position at an important river Medway crossing as one of the three royal castles in Kent, along with Dover Castle and Canterbury Castle.

Despite being damaged during three major attacks during it’s history, Rochester Castle remains an impressive structure. The keep, which is the tallest medieval structure in Europe, stands at an impressive 34 metres. One corner of the keep was badly damaged during the siege by King John in 1215.

The outer walls of the castle were not destroyed during battles but were gradually dismantled during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I and the stone was used to build nearby Upnor Castle.

My favourite things about Rochester Castle: The view from the top of the tower, walking around all the levels of the castle whilst listening to the audio guide.

• Address: Castle Hill, Rochester, Kent, ME1 1SW
• Opening Times: Thursday to Monday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM, Closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays
• Ticket Prices: Adults: £8.50, Children (5-17 years): £4.00, Concessions: £6.00, Family (2 adults, 2 children): £22.50, English Heritage Members and Under 5s: Free

Dover Castle

Dover Castle started as a simple Roman hillfort before being transformed into a more formidable structure by the Normans in 1066.

As one of the oldest castles in England, Dover Castle has played a significant role in the defence of the country for over 900 years. The castle’s lighthouse is the oldest part of the structure, dating back to Roman times, and is considered to be the most complete Roman structure in England.

During the Second World War the Dover castle and the tunnels beneath were used as an underground hospital, and it was here that the evacuation of British troops from the beaches of Dunkirk was masterminded.

My favourite things about Dover Castle: You can spend the whole day here, as the site is so big. The Operation Dynamo Tunnels tour is great, the new fire command post buildings are super interesting and the secret lighthouse is a true hidden gem

• Address: Castle Hill, Dover, Kent, CT16 1HU
• Opening Times: Daily: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
• Ticket Prices: Adults: £22.80, Children (5-17 years): £13.70, Concessions: £20.50, Family (2 Adults + up to 3 Children): £59.30, English Heritage Members and Under 5s: Free

Hever Castle

The historic Hever Castle is the most beautiful of Kent castles, which was originally built in 1270. The castle is famous for being the childhood home of Anne Boleyn, King Henry VIII’s second wife. It is said that her ghost still haunts the castle today.

In 1903, William Waldorf Astor purchased the castle and renovated it with the help of Frank Loughborough Pearson, who was a prominent architect of the time.

The castle’s gardens have a beautiful Italian garden with long, sweeping lawns and pergolas, an English rose garden, and a Tudor garden with intricately clipped hedges next to an even more intricate yew maze.

There are also lots of events throughout the year, including Christmas celebrations with decorations and a Santa’s Grotto.

My favourite things about Hever Castle: The water maze is super cool, especially in the summer, gardens are so beautiful and the walk towards the moat and the castle in early morning is just perfection

• Address: Hever Road, Edenbridge, Kent, TN8 7NG
• Opening Times: Gardens: 10:30 AM – 5:00 PM, Castle: 12:00 PM – 4:30 PM
• Ticket Prices: Adults: £19.75, Children (5-15 years): £11.25, Concessions: £17.50, Family (2 Adults + 2 Children): £52.00, Under 5s: Free

Deal Castle

Deal Castle is an impressive Tudor fortress built in 1539 by King Henry VIII as an artillery fort to defend the coast against potential invaders. During the Second World War, the castle was reactivated to protect the Kent coast from German invasion.

You can walk around the whole castle, including the circular-shaped rooms and tunnels underneath. If you have the time, there is a lovely 1 mile path along the beachfront that connects Deal Castle and Walmer Castle, so you can see both castles in one day.

My favourite things about Deal Castle: Amazing views from the top roof terrace and exploring the under tunnels.

• Address: Marine Road, Deal, Kent, CT14 7BA
• Opening Times: Daily: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
• Ticket Prices: Adults: £9.90, Children (5-17 years): £6.00, Concessions: £9.00, Family (2 Adults + up to 3 Children): £25.80, English Heritage Members and Under 5s: Free

Walmer Castle

Walmer Castle is a Tudor artillery fortress built by King Henry VIII in 1539 to defend England from French invasion. In the 18th century, it became a stately home and official residence of the Lord Warden of the Kent Cinque Ports, including Duke of Wellington, William Pitt the Younger, and the Queen Mother.

The Cinque Ports were a collection of coastal towns in Kent, Sussex, and Essex that were established for military and trade purposes, including Hastings, New Romney (later known as Rye), Dover, Hythe, and Sandwich.

My favourite things about Walmer Castle: The spring gardens with different types of tulips, the cafe in the old greenhouse and the views from the castle terrace. The history and the castle rooms are super interesting too.

• Address: Kingsdown Road, Deal, Kent, CT14 7LJ
• Opening Times: Daily: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
• Ticket Prices: Adults: £13.00, Children (5-17 years): £7.80, Concessions: £11.70, Family (2 Adults + up to 3 Children): £33.80, English Heritage Members and Under 5s: Free

Scotney Castle

Despite its name, Scotney Castle it is not a traditional castle but rather a combination of a medieval manor house (Scotney Old Castle) and a Victorian mansion (Scotney New Castle). The castle is surrounded by a moat, which makes it look like from a fairy tale.

The grounds and gardens are lovely for walks and the main house tells an interesting story of the last owner – Mrs. Hussey, who lived her until early 2000.

My favourite things about Scotney Castle: The ‘modern’ kitchen at the new house, walled kitchen gardens in late summer and walk around the Old Castle with the mist above the moat water

• Address: Lamberhurst, Tunbridge Wells, TN3 8JN
• Opening Times:, Gardens: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM, House: 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
• Ticket Prices: Adults: £15.00, Children (5-17 years): £7.50, Family (2 Adults + up to 3 Children): £37.50, National Trust Members and Under 5s: Free

Upnor Castle

The historic Upnor Castle is an Elizabethan fort built in 1559 by Queen Elizabeth I to protect the warships docked at Chatham Dockyard. The castle is situated on the banks of the River Medway, opposite the Historic Dockyard Chatham. The castle was constructed using stone from the nearby Rochester Castle that had suffered decline following damage from several sieges.

Despite its initial purpose, the castle was not very effective at defending the naval fleet. In 1667, the Dutch sailed up the Medway and attacked and captured several Royal Naval ships at Chatham. The castle remained in military use until 1945, serving as a naval ammunition depot.

My favourite things about Upnor Castle: No rooms are out of bounds, you can walk around the whole castle, including the tunnels underneath. Great views from the top of the tower and fascinating history of the castle. The Upnor Castle street that you walk down to the castle from the car park is one of the most beautiful and quirky streets I’ve ever seen in Kent.

• Address: Upper Upnor, Rochester, ME2 4XG
• Opening Times: Daily: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM (April to October) Closed: November to March
• Ticket Prices: Adults: £6.40, Children (5-17 years): £4.00, Concessions: £4.80, Family (2 Adults + up to 3 Children): £16.80, Under 5s: Free

Sissinghurst Castle

Sissinghurst Castle was built in the 1530s as a house, but later used as a prison for French sailors in the 1700s, and as a poorhouse in the 19th century. There is not much left from the castle, but you can still see the gate house, tower and also visit the South Cottage, which was once the home of Vita Sackville West.

But, you don’t really come here to see a castle, but to visit the beautiful garden which was created by Vita Sackville West and her husband Harold in the 1930s.

The garden has a series of outdoor “rooms,” each with its own distinct design and purpose, including the White Garden, the Rose Garden and the Cottage Garden.

My favourite things about Sissinghurst Castle: The different garden rooms so beautifully designed and planted with so many pretty flowers. Each season is completely different and you can come here any time of the year and still be surprised by something new.

• Address: Biddenden Road, near Cranbrook, Kent, TN17 2AB
• Opening Times: Gardens: 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Estate: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
• Ticket Prices: Adults: £15.00, Children (5-17 years): £7.50, Family (2 Adults + up to 3 Children): £37.50, National Trust Members and Under 5s: Free

Other Castles in Kent

The following castles are either in ruins and free to visit or private and not usually open to public, but I think they are important to list to make the history of Kent castles complete.

• Lympne Castle – private – wedding venue
• Canterbury Castle – ruins – free to visit
• Chilham Castle – private – open for events and open garden days, but no regular open days
• Tonbridge Castle – tower gate remains – open to public – small charge applies
• Allington Castle – private and wedding venue, but tours are run by a boat company from (Kentish Lady) from Maidstone during summer season (Tuesdays – £38)
• Saltwood Castle – private, but open twice a year for an open garden day and charity events
• Whitstable Castle – open
• Kingsgate Castle – 18th century neo-romantic castle – private
• Eynsford Castle – ruins – free to visit
• Lullingstone Castle – private, but open to public on most bank holidays as part of the Lullingstone Castle & World Garden
• Sandgate Castle – fort
• Starkey Castle – medieval house remains – private
• Stone Castle – medieval tower remains built into manor house from 1825 – private – wedding venue
• Otford Palace – ruins – free to visit
• St. Leonard’s Tower – ruins – free to visit
• Cooling Castle – keep & bailey remains – private
• Leybourne Castle – part ruined and incorporated into 1930s manor house – private
• Sutton Valence Castle – ruins – free to visit
• Westenhanger Castle – 18th century manor house built within the castle grounds (private – wedding venue – no public access)

There are also castles in Kent, that have not survived or there are only a few remains, such as Binbury Castle, Brenchley Castle, Castle Toll (Newended), Folkestone Castle, Newnham Castle, Queenborough Castle, Sandown Castle, Sandwich Castle, Stowting Castle, Thurnham Castle.

This blog post was originally published on 4 January 2025 and last updated on 4 January 2025