The Historic Dockyard Chatham: Everything You Need to Know for Your Visit

Practical guide to the Historic Dockyard in Chatham, including what to see, tickets, how to get there and local tips for first time visitors.

I first visited the Historic Dockyard Chatham back in 2000, so I had the chance to see the different exhibits and new areas being developed over the years. I remember it was a very cold autumn day, but me and my friend wanted to see absolutely everything there was, so we stayed all day ignoring the cold wind and low temperatures. Ever since that day, I know that even in the summer, you should dress warm to visit the dockyard!

I buy the annual ticket to visit 2-3 times a year and it’s one of the first places I usually bring my friends and family when they are visiting and I take them out for a day trip to Kent.

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Is the Historic Dockyard in Chatham worth visiting?

Yes, Chatham Dockyard is definitely worth visiting, especially if you have an interest in maritime history, naval architecture, or British industrial heritage. There is so much to see and you can easily spend the whole day there.

The dockyard is designed to be family-friendly with interactive exhibits, hands-on activities, and educational programs, so it’s great if you are visiting with your little ones.

My only hesitation would be the entry cost, which is rather high, especially if you are coming as a family. The ticket has changed a while back to annual pass, which is incredibly good value, if you can visit more than just once. If you are visiting from abroad or travelling from far, you will need to pay the same entrance fee even if it’s just for one day. To get the best price, it’s worth buying the ticket online before you travel to the site.

The other thing that has changed recently is that the ticket (annual pass) doesn’t cover you on some of the main events such as the Salute to the 40s, where you need to pay another day ticket to enter the festival. It’s a shame, because that was one of the main reason, why I was always happy to pay for such a high priced ticket.

I still think it’s a good value for money as it’s nearly impossible to see absolutely everything in one day, so you need to have at least 2-3 days to explore all the exhibitions, boats and the submarine. There is also new exhibition every few months, so I visit 2-3 times a year to make my ticket worth it.

My local tip

If you want to mainly take the ‘Call the Midwife’ tour, book on the earliest time you can in the day. The ticket (currently about £8 cheaper than the regular ticket for the dockyard, so you have a slight saving there) will give you a permission to see the rest of the dockyard once your tour finishes.

I’m not sure whether people know, but you can actually see all the external ‘Call the Midwife’ locations as you walk through the dockyard and you can do this on your own. I’ve done the tour with my mum as her birthday treat (and the tour was amazing!), but the only thing you get to see extra is a large indoor room with props and clothes from the series. I believe the indoor exhibition was recently expanded, so it’s definitely worth doing the tour.

But for those of you who know the series really well, just walk around the dockyard (including all the way to the end where the ropery buildings are and the end of the dockyard) and you will recognise so many different scenes from the filming. I have done that myself and it’s pretty cool, as you realise that the film crew really didn’t need to change much, just added props at the front of the buildings or walls.

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What to see at the Historic Dockyard

1. Command of the Oceans

This exhibition is the perfect way to start as the introduction to the historic dockyard. This award-winning exhibition explores the dockyard’s pivotal role in naval history. It features the remains of an 18th-century warship, interactive displays, and artefacts that tell the story of shipbuilding and naval warfare.

2. The Ropery

One of the dockyard’s most iconic buildings, The Ropery, is still fully operational today. This exhibition demonstrates the traditional rope-making process, which has been in use since the 18th century. You can see live demonstrations and learn about the importance of rope in naval operations. You need to book a guided tour to visit this part of the dockyard (it’s free as part of your ticket and the booking is done as you walk past the ticket office.

3. No. 1 Smithery: The Gallery

You can find temporary and permanent exhibitions here, including maritime art, ship models, and artefacts. It’s a good place to warm up if you are cold from visiting the outdoor exhibitions.

4. Commissioner’s House

Built in 1704, this is the oldest intact naval building in England. The house is beautifully preserved and was originally used as living quarters for the senior naval officers. It’s normally closed to regular visitors, but it does sometimes hosts various historical exhibitions and events, where you can visit the house inside.

5. HMS Gannet

A Victorian ship launched in 1878, HMS Gannet is one of the historic ships you can explore from top to bottom. The exhibition on board provides insights into life at sea during the Victorian era, including the ship’s role in anti-slavery operations. There is a free flow entry – no need to pre-book.

6. HMS Cavalier

This WWII destroyer is another historic ship, that you can explore. The exhibition on HMS Cavalier tells the story of the ship and its crew during the war and you can see pretty much all the levels of the ship. No need to book, just walk in any time you like.

7. HM Submarine Ocelot

Launched in 1962, this Cold War-era submarine offers a fascinating look at life beneath the waves. The guided tour is really interesting and you will learn about the submarine’s operations and what it was like to serve on the submarine.

You will need to pre-book your guided tour (at the main reception as you walk in to the complex). I’ve done the tour many times, but if you are a bit anxious about small spaces, you might not want to take this tour. You will also need to be able to climb or lift yourself into 3-4 smaller round doors (hutches), which separate each area of the submarine. There is a replica of these ‘door’s outside in the introduction exhibition, so you can try it before you go down to the submarine.

8. Lifeboat: Heroes of the Sea

This exhibition celebrates the bravery and history of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) and it includes collection of lifeboats, rescue equipment, and stories of daring rescues at sea.

9. Garden, houses & church

Make sure you don’t miss the the garden behind the Commissioner’s House, it’s a true hidden gem, that you’d not expect to find in an industrial dockyard. I also love the row of the houses behind the garden. This is where the large boat sails used to be made by women. The building is now a school and sometimes put on an exhibitions, so it’s always worth walking by. In another row of houses facing the side of the garden you can find an office where Charles Dickens father used to work as a clerk.

There are more houses, where used to be the stables for the naval officers – you can recognise them by a large wooden doors. These are now all private, but you can easily recognise them from the Call the Midwife’ set.

The church at the original entrance to the dockyard (from Chatham side) is usually closed to public, but it’s an impressive building, which again was featured in ‘Cal the Midwife’ series (It’s the scene with Trixie & her future husband walking out of the church after Sunday service).

Call the Midwife tour

The “Call the Midwife” tour is a fantastic way to see some of the show’s filming locations. I’ve done the tour with my mum (as her birthday present) and we had a great time remembering all the scenes from the series as we walked around the dockyard.

The tour is about 90-minute long and takes you around the most important filming locations within the dockyard.

The tour is led by a knowledgeable guide, dressed as a midwife from the series. She always showed us the photos from each filming scene to help us to remember it and also added plenty of behind-the-scenes insights into how the dockyard is transformed for filming.

Visitors can see many of the iconic locations from the show, including the exterior of Nonnatus House, the London streets, and the docks. The guide explains how these areas are adapted for different scenes and episodes.

The tour is mainly outside, but there is one room (much improved and extended in the recent years), that is used as a museum for the series and includes some of the props and costumes used in the series.

• Duration: The tour lasts approximately 90 minutes.
• Availability: Tours are available on select dates and times throughout the year. It’s best to book in advance, especially during peak seasons, as the tours sell out really quickly
• Tickets: £25 adults, £15 children (5-15 years old)
• Ticket’s validity: The tour ticket usually includes access to the rest of the Historic Dockyard Chatham, which means that you can visit the other exhibitions and historic ships after the tour.

Practical Information for visiting Historic Dockyard Chatham

Location

The Historic Dockyard Chatham
Chatham, Kent, ME4 4TZ

Ticket Prices

• Adult Tickets (16+ years): £28.50 online, £32 on the door
• Child Tickets (4 to 15 years): £20 on the door. Children aged 3 and under are free.
• Family Tickets: £85 on the door (valid for 1 year)

Your ticket will be valid for 12 months and you are welcome to visit as many times as you like. The only exception are the special events, such as the Salute to the 40s, which are payable separately.

Opening Times

The Historic Dockyard Chatham is open daily from February 13 2025 to November 27 2025, from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM (in the winter season and 5 pm during the main season – March – October).

The site is also closed on 24 &25 February 2025 and 3 & 4 March 2025. Late autumn – september and october, the site is also closed on Mondays (excluding school holidays).

Parking

There is plenty of free parking in front of the dockyard and sometimes they also navigate you to park in the large covered boat dockyard, which is rather fun as the cars echo through the building.

How long to allocate for your visit

In all honesty, you need at least 2 days to see absolutely everything and not to feel like you are rushing (and still have some time to have a lunch or cup of tea!) Your ticket will be valid for 12 months, so you can visit as many times as you like.

If you don’t plan to visit more than just once, do arrive as early as you possibly can, so that you have plenty of time to see at least the main exhibitions.

I’d also suggest that you prioritise what you’d like to see in advance and book on the submarine and the ropery tour if you want to do these. Sometimes the tours (which are free as part of your entry ticket) get booked up pretty quickly and you can see it without the tour. The Ropery tour is at least 60 minutes long, but the Submarine tour is slightly shorter, about 30 minutes.

The main exhibition is paced by a narration audio (a story of a boy that is visiting the dockyard with his grandfather), so you can’t really skip anything once you are inside. This part is about 45 minutes plus there are two large exhibitions afterwards (each about 15 minutes).

The ‘Call the Midwife’ tour also need to be booked in advance and it’s payable separately (£25) and take about 90 minutes to do.

The dockyard is also set on a quite a large area, so you need to add walking time to the visiting time in each area and it can easily ad up to quite a few kilometres!

How to get to the Dockyard Chatham

By Train

• From London: Take a Southeastern train from London Victoria, London St Pancras, or London Bridge to Chatham Station. The journey takes about 40-50 minutes. From Chatham Station, you can take a bus or taxi to the dockyard.

By Bus

• From Chatham Station: Take bus number 101 from Chatham Station to The Historic Dockyard Chatham. The bus ride takes approximately 10-15 minutes.

By Car

• From the A2/M2: Follow the signs to Chatham. Once in Chatham, continue along the A231, then follow Dock Road down the hill, turn left at Western Avenue, and left again at Main Gate Road to arrive at the dockyard.

Facilities

There is a large self-service restaurant at the entrance to the dockyard and also tea and snacks at the engine shed). Toilets are in tree different locations through the main dockyard area.

History of Chatham Dockyard

Chatham Dockyard was established in the mid-16th century during the reign of Henry VIII to build, repair, and maintain ships for the Royal Navy.

In the 17th century, Chatham Dockyard became one of the Royal Navy’s main dockyards and was heavily involved in the Anglo-Dutch Wars. During the raid on the Medway in 1667 when the dockyard was attacked by the Dutch Navy and sadly it was one of the worst defeats in British naval history.

The 18th century the dockyard was significantly expanded. During this time, Chatham built several famous ships, including HMS Victory, which was Admiral Nelson’s flagship at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805.

The dockyard continued to grow and adapt to new technologies during the Industrial Revolution in the 19th century, including the introduction of steam power and iron shipbuilding. Famous people, such as Sir Marc Isambard Brunel, a renowned engineer, worked on innovative projects at Chatham during this period.

The work at Chatham Dockyard carried on to the 20th century and the dockyard played an important role in both World War I and World War II by building and repairing many warships.

Towards the end of the cold war, there was less and less need for building large ships and the dockyard’s closure was announced in 1981, with the dockyard finally closing in 1984. After its closure, part of the site was transformed into a maritime museum and heritage site, now known as the Historic Dockyard Chatham.

This blog post was originally published on 6 February 2025 and last updated on 6 February 2025