Upnor Road, Upper Upnor, Rochester, Kent ME2 4XG
Upnor Castle
Castle
Place photograph
7.0
Wildland
Under 1 hour
Time
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Cost
Atmospheric
Feel
Why it's Wildland
7.0Built to guard the warships at Chatham Dockyard, Upnor Castle failed its defining test in 1667: the Dutch fleet sailed past and attacked the English ships on the Medway.
This is an unusually tangible piece of Medway military history: a purpose-built Elizabethan artillery fort whose strategic failure in 1667 is as compelling as its original design. Visits currently depend on scheduled, bookable guided tours, so check dates before making the journey.
Atmospheric · Historic
Find your way
Open mapUpnor Road, Upper Upnor, Rochester, Kent ME2 4XG
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Know this place a little better?
The experience
A scheduled guided visit to an Elizabethan artillery fort on the Medway. Book ahead, then look closely at how the fort was designed to defend the river and consider why that defence failed in 1667.
Things to do
Trace the fort’s defensive purpose
Use the guided visit to understand how Upnor Castle was intended to protect warships moored at Chatham Dockyard.
Follow the story of the 1667 raid
Learn how the Dutch fleet sailed past the fort and burned or captured English ships at anchor, despite the attempted defence.
Make a day of it
Quick escape · Allow for the scheduled guided tour; duration not stated in the supplied sources.
The fort and the failed defence
- 01
Book a guided tour through English Heritage and confirm the date before travelling.
- 02
Explore the fort with the guide, focusing on its role in defending warships at Chatham Dockyard.
- 03
Hear how the Dutch fleet passed the fort in 1667 and attacked the English fleet.
Half day · Half day, excluding travel; timings and opening arrangements require checking.
Upnor Castle and Rochester Castle
- 01
Book and visit Upnor Castle on a scheduled guided-tour day.
- 02
Continue to Rochester Castle, listed by English Heritage as 1.78 miles away.
- 03
Check opening arrangements and any booking requirements for both sites before setting out.
Verified history
Upnor Castle was begun in 1559 and redeveloped in 1599–1601 to protect warships moored at Chatham Dockyard. In 1667, during the Dutch raid on the Medway, the fort failed to stop the attack: the Dutch sailed past and burned or captured ships in the English fleet. English Heritage describes the site as an Elizabethan artillery fort.
Hidden details
A fort called a castle — The supplied visitor account describes Upnor as an artillery fort rather than a conventional castle; its purpose was to defend warships on the Medway.
When to go
· Tour dates, rather than a particular time of day, determine when a visit is possible. Check the official calendar and book.
The supplied English Heritage information lists guided tours on the last Sunday of each month until October. Confirm current dates and availability before visiting.
Check the forecast before travelling; no site-specific weather guidance was supplied.
Worth pairing with
Rochester Castle
A second English Heritage castle, listed as 1.78 miles from Upnor Castle; check its visitor arrangements separately.
Temple Manor
An English Heritage site listed as 2.09 miles from Upnor Castle. Check current access and opening information before adding it to a day out.
What to look for
Look for the fort’s riverside defensive position and the surviving historic fabric explained during the tour. The supplied sources do not identify particular carvings or architectural details to seek out.
The story
Elizabethan fortifications; the 1667 Dutch raid on the Medway
Best time to go
Check the English Heritage tour calendar; the supplied information lists guided tours on the last Sunday of each month until October.
Plan around an English Heritage guided-tour date and book before travelling. Current tour availability should be checked on the official listing.
How long to spend
Under 1 hour; allow additional time for the guided tour and village approach
Perfect for
History lovers · Photographers
Before you go
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Practical information
Opening & access
English Heritage lists guided tours on the last Sunday of each month until October and asks visitors to book. Check the official page for current tour dates and availability before travelling.
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Parking
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Toilets
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Food & drink
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Dogs
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Accessibility
Check before visiting; accessibility information was not established in the supplied sources.
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Cost
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Water
River
Gallery
Place photographsKeep exploring
Around Upnor Castle
Within 50 km · approximate straight-line distances
