Key facts
- Operator
- English Heritage
- Condition
- Intact
- Access
- Staffed, ticketed
- Stays
- Overnight accommodation available
Pinpoint
Castle Hill Rd., Dover CT16 1HU
Telephone 0370 333 1181
Possible Opening hours
Opening times change. Always check the official website before you travel.
| Monday | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Tuesday | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Wednesday | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Thursday | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Friday | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Saturday | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Sunday | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
England's largest castle, refortified in nearly every century since the Normans, run by English Heritage as three sites in one: the medieval keep, the Roman lighthouse still standing in the grounds, and the wartime tunnels cut into the chalk cliff that ran the naval evacuation of Dunkirk. Reviewers consistently rate the tunnels above the castle itself.
Worth the trip
The Secret Wartime Tunnels - the operations room that coordinated Dunkirk, included in the standard ticket.
Before you go
Budget a full day, not an afternoon - reviewers repeatedly say there's more here than fits into a few hours, and it's an exposed clifftop site, so check the forecast.
Visitors consistently rate the wartime tunnels as a highlight, often above the medieval castle itself, and multiple reviewers single out the interactive 'Traitors' show as well worth doing alongside a standard tour. Most feel the site can be seen in around two hours, though a few suggest allowing a full day to take it all in, and the on-site cafe gets busy with school and tour groups. Its exposed clifftop position also means it can be very windy, and one reviewer flags limited car park access for taller vehicles like motorhomes.
Two EH holiday lets within the walls
“It was more impressive than I hoped for and very expansive. You could spend all day if you wanted too.”— Scott Hamilton, visitor review
Further reading
Gibsons - Castle Cutaway (1000pc)
Detailed cutaway illustration of a medieval castle's rooms, dungeon to battlements.
Find it on Amazon
