Bringing History to life

Rochester Castle

Come to one of Rochester’s most iconic and historic buildings. The castle has been synonymous with the history of Rochester since it’s foundation.

Explore the magnificent Norman Keep and learn about the bloody siege of 1215. Enjoy an ice cream in the tranquil gardens or roll down the grass moat and see the original Roman walls. There is ton to see in this historic site, come and see for yourself.

Upnor Castle

The area of Medway is lucky to have not one but two Castles. In the picturesque village of Upnor is the Castle/Fort founded nearly 500 years ago.

Walk down the cobbled streets, in the dark Fort tunnels or along the serene river pathway. With hidden pieces of history, you can become your own adventurer finding the WW2 shell casings or the forgotten forts.

Fort Amherst

Britain’s largest Napoleonic Fort is no exaggeration, spanning back into the rolling Hills of Chatham and Gillingham, Fort Amherst is a labyrinth of underground tunnels.

Explore the dark and spooky tunnels which have existed as caves before they were even converted into the Fort in the 1700’s. You can also see a variety of cannons and artillery shells on display.

The Historic Dockyard Chatham

A shipyard of national importance, the Historic Dockyard is a sure way to have a fantastic day with the family. Explore Sloops, Submarines and Sea vessels aplenty.

If you’re a fan of the period drama Call the Midwife this is also where they do official tours of the sets! See it all at the Dockyard.

Royal Engineers Museum

Tanks, Jets, Rockets and more. The Royal Engineer’s Museum has artefacts of war from across centuries of history. Journey through time and see how the art of war has advanced from Castle’s to Harrier Jump Jets and Tanks.

The Museum also houses some of the most important pieces of history from the ages, from the map of Waterloo to a massive portion of the Berlin Wall and even one of the remaining v2 Rockets.

Eastgate House & Gardens

Not your ordinary house, Eastgate is immortalised through the works of Charles Dickens inspiring buildings from The Mystery of Edwin Drood and The Pickwick Papers.

Dickens famous Chalet sits in the beautiful garden and many exhibitions are hosted at Eastgate House throughout the year.

To discover more on Charles Dickens, read this blog.

Guildhall Museum

One of Kent’s best preserved 17^th century Civic Buildings the Guildhall Museum epitomises the grandiose and splendour of the era.

With the grand staircase to the majestic main chamber. It also houses some of the Prison Hulks that were moored on the Medway. With the 'Making of Mr Dickens' exhibition you can take a step back in time and walk the path that Dickens chose in life.  

Outdoor Theatre

What better way to embrace history and take in those magnificent surroundings than sitting in them and watch a theatrical performance.

From the Three Musketeers to Othello in 2022 many of Medway’s heritage sites are showing outdoor theatre performances in the Summer with Upnor Castle, Rochester Castle and Fort Amherst being some of those involved. 

Check our What's On section for details on forth coming performances.