Visiting Dover Castle with kids - a fun family day out guide!

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Welcome to my guide for visiting Dover Castle, in Kent, with kids – one of the most iconic historic sites in the UK, it sits perched high above the white cliffs with stunning views across the English Channel. If you’re visiting Kent with the kids for a UK staycation, or a local looking for a unique family day out, then you’ll definitely want to explore Dover Castle. So, here’s everything that you need to know before your visit – what’s there, what’s on offer for the kids, its history, ticket prices, facilities, photos, tips and more!

Visit: July 2025

What is Dover Castle and is it worth visiting with kids?

Without a doubt, Dover Castle is one of the best English Heritage sites for a family day out – yes it’s interesting for adults, but there’s a lot on offer for the kids too. It’s one of the largest and most complete medieval castles in England. The combination of exciting tunnels, the huge tower, grassy fields, activities, play spaces and dramatic views means there’s something for the whole family – from history buffs to those who just love to explore.

What does a family day out at Dover Castle look like – what’s on offer for the kids?

We’ve been to Dover Castle lots of times over the years, as we’re fortunate to live nearby, and it offers something different for kids of all ages. Younger children can enjoy dressing up, re-enactment days, play areas, shows and immersive activities. For older kids, not only will they love all of those elements but it’s educational too and they can venture into the wartime tunnels which are really interesting and engaging. The range of time periods in one place is what makes Dover Castle so unique – whilst the Great Tower is themed around medieval times, the tunnels and the war museum are based around how the site was used in World War 2.

My children particularly love the Great Tower, where the rooms are dressed as they would have been in medieval times – complete with tapestries, royal chambers and a throne room. On the way round you can pick up shields, feel the weight of armour and climb the steps to the very top of the tower. The views over Dover and the Channel are stunning – with each side of the castle offering a different aspect. The medieval kitchen has interactive areas for play, and staff are dotted around if you want to hear more about it all. Over the school holidays, you’ll find scheduled re-enactments and story times too – to tell the tales in an interactive and age appropriate way.

The war museum is great for the older ones, on our last visit with the kids and their cousins they even decided to dress up! The museum is set up to show trenches, weapons and uniforms – and the interactive target shooting went down a treat with our lot. It’s just £1 per child and all four of them loved it! So, for slightly older kids, the war museum is an interesting area to explore – especially as they’ll likely learn about World War Two in school as well. Though little ones can have fun dressing up too!

Near the museum area, you’ll also find a play park and outdoor game space. With tunnels, climbing equipment and a see-saw, the playground is a good spot for little ones to let off steam. Opposite this area they have a great games space too – which is more engaging for older ones with magnetic puzzles and challenges to keep them occupied. For the school summer holidays 2025, the English Heritage are running Taskmaster Challenges as well, so if the kids want a break from the history side of things there are plenty of other things to keep them busy.

When the kids were younger we saw a jousting show on one of our visits – this again was a school holiday perk and it was done in a pantomime sort of style. The kids thought it was brilliant – there was a jester that day too so, even though the history side was a bit beyond them at that age, they were fascinated by all the shows and activities going on. On another visit, they had activities like archery set up for the kids to take part in – so it’s somewhere that you can visit more than once as every school holiday seems to offer something a bit different. Unfortunately, there aren’t any jousting / knight shows at Dover Castle this summer, but check the English Heritage website as they have got those shows elsewhere. Sign up to an English Heritage membership and you can visit as many sites as you like!

With kids from around age 7 and up, one of the most exciting parts of visiting Dover Castle will likely be exploring the Secret Wartime Tunnels, deep inside the cliffs. During World War Two, these tunnels became a top-secret underground command centre. The tunnels include a dramatic sound-and-light tour that brings the war to life through recreated command rooms, radio messages and the echo of footsteps in the dim corridors. The tour is both informative and immersive, helping young visitors understand the scale of the war effort while keeping their attention through multi-sensory storytelling. There’s also a hospital tunnel, which recreates the underground medical centre complete with operating tables and bunk beds, showing the intense pressure faced by doctors and nurses during bombing raids. (Unfortunately you can’t take photos inside, but you can get a glimpse of some bits on the English Heritage website if you’d like a sneaky peak.)

Make sure you grab a map and find out what’s on offer for your visit date – for family days out, I’d recommend visiting Dover Castle over the school holidays as they often offer extra activities and demonstrations for the kids. I think it offers the best value for money and the most fun! Things like trail sheets can be a good way to engage the kids too, so grab what’s on offer at the main reception and in places like the museum to make your day out a bit like a treasure hunt. I’d recommend allowing 4 to 5 hours to explore Dover Castle properly if you’re planning to do the tunnel tours as well.

Who built Dover Castle and why is it so famous?

Although there’s evidence of earlier Roman and Saxon fortifications on the site, the Dover Castle we see today was largely built by King Henry II in the 1180s. Henry was strengthening England’s defences and wanted a powerful royal castle to protect the shortest crossing point to continental Europe. Later monarchs continued to expand and improve the castle. In the 13th century, King John and Henry III added outer walls and towers, transforming it into a massive concentric fortress. Dover Castle has been in military use for over 800 years. Its fame isn’t just due to its size, but also because of how well preserved it is and how many different eras of history it represents – from medieval knights to World War II soldiers. So if the kids loved a bit of history, Dover Castle offers a great family day out.

Where is Dover Castle located and how do I get there?

Dover Castle sits proudly on Castle Hill, overlooking the port town of Dover in Kent, South East England. It’s just minutes from the ferry terminal and offers stunning views across the English Channel – on clear days, you can even see France. If you’re driving, it’s easily reached via the A2 or M20/A20, with free parking available close to the main entrance. For those travelling by train, Dover Priory Station is the nearest stop and roughly a 25 minute walk uphill – though families with younger children may find it easier to catch a taxi or bus from the station.

Dover Castle to the White Cliffs – can you visit both?

Yes – in fact, Dover Castle is just minutes from the White Cliffs of Dover, so you can definitely combine both in a day. If you have the energy after exploring the castle, the National Trust’s White Cliffs site is a short drive or walk away, and you can enjoy an easy clifftop trail with stunning views of the Channel and the iconic cliffs. It’s one of our favourite walking and picnic spots – check out my White Cliffs Guide for all the details. That said, both sites involve a fair bit of walking so, if you have younger children, you might prefer to split them across two days or keep the second visit short and sweet – maybe just for a scenic picnic.

Food, facilities and family tips:

There’s a decent on-site restaurant at Dover Castle (the Naafi), which serves hot meals, kids’ lunch boxes, cakes and coffee. Prices are typical of heritage sites – not cheap, but not outrageous either. We didn’t eat in the restaurant but I jotted down some prices – coffee is around £3.50, snacks like a jumbo sausage rolls or a pasty are around a fiver, and proper meals like a burger or salmon are around £15. Look out for deals for the kids though – for summer 2025 they’re offering ‘kids eat free’ in the restaurant. This comes with a £15 spend, so if you’re buying a couple of snacks and coffees for the adults then the kids can eat free. (Click here to check their website for the terms and current deals.)

Alternatively, there are lots of picnic spots dotted around the grounds with wonderful views, so bringing your own food is a great budget-friendly option. As well as picnic bench areas, there are loads of grassy areas perfect for a picnic blanket, and the kids can play and run around then too – just be careful with little ones as there are some big drops. We brought our lunch with us, and the grassy area near the carpark is perfect for it as you can leave your cool bag in the car rather than lugging it around – we eat in that same spot every time! (And the view is amazing!) Once you’ve got your tickets, or annual membership, you don’t actually need to spend a penny more. All I spent all day was £4 on the shooting game, so the kids could each take a turn, and £2.85 on a box of ice-creams from Lidl after we left! 😂 It’s not far from Kearsney Abbey, so we headed there for the rest of the afternoon.

Toilets and baby changing facilities are available, and there are a few different toilet areas dotted around the site. The site is mostly pushchair-friendly – you can certainly use a buggy to explore the grounds. However, the Great Tower is obviously filled with stairs so you’d need to leave the buggy outside of there. The number of steps might also be a struggle for very young children, they’re fairly steep too, so I’d recommend visiting with school age children to make that a bit easier. If you’re visiting with a baby, a baby carrier might be easier than a buggy. Young children might find the tunnels scary too – so if you’re planning a family visit to Dover Castle, and you’re keen to explore the tunnels, consider visiting when the kids are a little bit older if you have tiny ones.

I’d also recommend packing layers – it can get windy up on the cliffs. It’s also worth checking the forecast before your visit as they may shut the site on very windy days. Though, when it comes to a bit of rain, it can be quite a good spot for entertaining the kids – the exhibits are all indoors if you’re happy to dash between them with a rain coat. Make sure you wear comfy shoes too – you’ll do a fair bit of walking around the site. Dogs are welcome in the outdoor areas of Dover Castle, provided they’re kept on a lead. However, they aren’t allowed inside the buildings or underground tunnels, so you’d need to take turns going inside, if possible it’s probably easiest to leave your furry friends at home.

How much does it cost to visit Dover Castle? (And money-saving tips!)

To book a family ticket for Dover Castle online is £75 (accurate July 2025 – based on up to 2 adults and 3 children). However, with an English Heritage membership you can visit all of their sites at no extra cost – so that might be a good money saver if you like to explore. It’s definitely the best way to get good value for money. (If you’ve already got an English Heritage membership then you can visit Dover Castle for free!) There are lots of child-friendly English Heritage attractions too – check out my article: The 10 best English Heritage sites to visit with kids for more info.

Check out the English Heritage website for more info, as well as up-to-date prices and opening times. A family membership is around £10 each month, so you only need to use it a few times to make it worthwhile. They often run discounts too – so keep your eyes peeled! Dover Castle is also one of the attractions that children can visit for free with a Blue Peter Badge – so that can be a great money-saver as you’ll just pay for the adults. Over 200 UK attractions are included with the Blue Peter Badge Scheme, we’ve used ours to save money on loads of days out so they’re well worth having. Though, if you’ll be visiting multiple English Heritage sites, their annual membership may still work out to be better value in the long run. Home-educating families can also visit for free on term-time weekdays, but you’ll need to contact them a few weeks ahead to organise a permit.

Where are the best places to stay with kids near Dover Castle?

Your best option for a holiday park getaway with the kids near Dover Castle is a Parkdean Resorts stay, as there are 3 popular ones nearby. If you don’t want to travel far at all – St Margaret’s Bay Holiday Park is just a 7 minute drive from Dover Castle and it has great reviews on TripAdvisor! Slightly further afield you’ll find Parkdean Resorts Romney Sands (40 minutes away) and their Camber Sands Holiday Park (50 minutes away). With swimming pools, kids’ clubs, activities and budget-friendly accommodation options, they’re perfect for a family-friendly holiday in the Kent / East Sussex area.

Final thoughts

In short, Dover Castle is absolutely worth visiting with kids – it’s one of the best castles in the UK and a unique family day out. It combines fascinating history with hands-on experiences and plenty of fresh air. Whether your little ones are climbing towers, exploring the tunnels or simply enjoying the views there’s plenty to see and do. Make sure you check out my other articles: The 15 best FREE family days out in Kent for lots of budget-friendly fun, and Kent with Kids: The 10 best rainy day attractions if the weather isn’t on your side. For even more fun, you might also want to visit the other English Heritage sites in the area.

Both Deal Castle and Walmer Castle are nearby, as well as the Battle of Hastings site (make sure you visit on a re-enactment day for that one – the next one is the weekend of October 11th 2025). Walmer Castle is particularly great for kids all year round as they have brilliant grounds and play areas for the kids – it’s a fantastic picnic spot and the site we visit most often for a chilled sunny afternoon. If you have an English Heritage membership, and can then visit for free, Walmer Castle is a great place to let the kids play whilst you chill with a coffee at the weekends. But, anyway, back to Dover Castle – I hope you have a fabulous visit with the kids and if you’re in the area it’s a really interesting family day out! Check out the English Heritage website for more info, as well as up-to-date prices and opening times.

Useful Information for your visit:

- Website: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/dover-castle/
- Pets: Dogs allowed on lead in the grounds only
- Parking: Yes, free
- Facilities: Restaurant, toilets, picnic areas
- Address: Castle Hill Rd, Dover, CT16 1HU
- For up-to-date opening times and prices, please check their website.