County guide · The Castle Rolls
Best castles in Kent
17 castles across Kent, from Dover's clifftop fortress guarding the Channel to Leeds Castle's lake-bound royal retreat inland. Beside the cathedral at Rochester stands one of the tallest Norman keeps in England, its undermined corner rebuilt round instead of square after King John's two-month siege of 1215. Near Hythe, Lympne was built in the 1080s for the archdeacons of Canterbury and restored by Sir Robert Lorimer between 1905 and 1912; it works as a private wedding and events venue now, so there is no casual way in.
Map
Every castle on this list - 17 in total, 3 free to enter, 7 you can stay overnight in
Dover Castle
Kent
Two EH holiday lets within the walls
Hever Castle
Kent
B&B in Astor Wing
Leeds Castle
Kent
Maiden's Tower and B&B stays on site
Rochester Castle
Kent
EH property managed day-to-day by council; also listed under English Heritage
Scotney Castle
Kent
Moated medieval Old Castle ruin below Victorian mansion
Sissinghurst Castle Garden
Kent
Elizabethan tower survives; famed Vita Sackville-West garden
Walmer Castle and Gardens
Kent
Lord Warden's residence; two holiday lets
Deal Castle
Kent
Henry VIII Device Fort
Whitstable Castle & Gardens
Kent Free entry
Tonbridge Castle
Kent
Free grounds; ticketed gatehouse experience
Upnor Castle
Kent
Elizabethan artillery fort; managed by Medway Council
Lullingstone Castle
Kent
World Garden; seasonal opening
Chiddingstone Castle
Kent
Houses Denys Eyre Bower collections
Eynsford Castle
Kent Free entry
Lympne Castle
Kent
Built in the 1080s for the Archdeacons of Canterbury and restored 1905-12 by Sir Robert Lorimer; now a private wedding and events venue.
Sutton Valence Castle
Kent Free entry
St Leonard's Tower
Kent
Early Norman tower keep; exterior viewing
Common questions
How many castles are there in Kent?
This roll lists 17 visitable castles, fortresses and tower houses in Kent. Of those, 3 are free to enter and 12 charge admission.
Which castles in Kent are free to visit?
3 of the 17 castles in Kent are open-access sites with no admission charge, namely Whitstable Castle & Gardens, Eynsford Castle and Sutton Valence Castle.
What is the best-rated castle in Kent?
Hever Castle carries the strongest public rating of any castle in Kent on this roll - 4.8/5 from 13,800 Google reviews.
Can you stay overnight in a castle in Kent?
Yes - 7 of the castles listed here offer overnight stays, including Dover Castle, Hever Castle, Leeds Castle and Scotney Castle.
Can you reach any castle in Kent by train?
12 of the 17 sit within 1.5 miles of a railway station, the closest being Rochester Castle (Rochester, 0.2 miles), Deal Castle (Deal, 0.3 miles), Tonbridge Castle (Tonbridge, 0.4 miles) and Whitstable Castle & Gardens (Whitstable, 0.5 miles). Those are straight-line distances from the station to the castle, so the walk on the ground is longer than the figure.
Can you go inside every castle in Kent?
Not all of them on the same terms. 2 of the 17 restrict what a visitor can see. Lympne Castle is a hotel, so there is no way in without booking a room or a table. At St Leonard's Tower you get the grounds or a booked tour rather than free run of the building.