Dover Castle Planning your Group Visit Please do not hesitate to contact us on: Tel: +44 (0) 1304 211 067 Fax: +44 (0) 1304 214 739 www.english-heritage.org.uk/dovercastle
Timed itineraries Depending on the amount of time you have to explore Dover Castle, here are some suggested itineraries covering over 2000 years of history! If you have 1-2 hours If you have 2-3 hours Visit the Great Tower Visit the Great Tower OR Visit the Secret Underground Hospital tours If you have 3-4 hours Medieval Dover (Theme 1) Dover at War (Theme 2) Combine any of the other areas (below) to make a total of 3-4 hours If you have 5+ hours Enjoy the entire site. All of the sights are listed below so you can plan your day to include all of the sites Accessibility at Dover Castle Dover Castle is an extensive site with many attractions spread across a wide area with some very steep slopes, mainly accessible on tarmac paths. Please discuss your group members abilities with site staff when making a group booking. There is a 500 metre walk uphill/downhill from the coach park through Constable s Gate to the Medieval Underground Works, which is the closest stop for the land train. Disabled visitors arriving by car may park on Palace Green to avoid the steep path from Constable s Gate and the cobbled drawbridge. A limited number of Mobility Scooters and a wheelchair are available from the Great Tower shop. Less mobile visitors can use the land train to get around the site it stops at the Medieval Underground Works, the NAAFI restaurant and Palace Green (for the Great Tower) and circulates approximately every 30 minutes. There is a steep slope to the Secret Wartime Tunnels. There is access to the ground floor level of the Great Tower where the Servery is located, although access to the roof and upper floors is via steps. There is a virtual tour in the Great Tower Introductory exhibition. A Braille guide and disabled orientation map are available.
Timings We recommend that you allow the following guideline timings for each of the castle s sights all of which are included in your admission ticket. Don t forget, the grounds are extensive and there are some very steep slopes, so allow enough time to get from one place to the other. Great Tower Great Tower Introductory Exhibition: 30 minutes Great Tower: 50 minutes Great Tower roof: 20 minutes (for ascent) Secret Wartime Tunnels Operation Dynamo: Rescue from Dunkirk: 60 minutes (includes possible queuing time) Wartime Tunnels Uncovered: 60 minutes (includes possible queuing time) Underground Hospital: 60 minutes (includes possible queuing time) Medieval Underground Works: Admiralty Lookout including Port War Signal Station, Fire Command Post & Viewing Platform: 30 minutes (60 minutes or more if you have a picnic) Eastern Battlements Walk including Avranches Tower external view, Norfolk Towers, Fitzwilliam Gate, Bell Battery and Pencester Tower: Western Battlement Walk including Peverell s Gate: Roman Lighthouse/Pharos: Church of St Mary-in-Castro: 10 minutes 20 minutes Inner Bailey, Palace Gate and King s Gate, Café & Shop: 10 60 minutes allowing for refreshments NAAFI Restaurant and Pocket Pistol: Constable s Gate: Officers new barrack s: 5 60 minutes allowing for refreshments 5 minutes 5 minutes Secret Wartime Tunnel Information All tours in the Secret Wartime Tunnels are operated on a free flow basis and cannot be pre-booked. Queues are likely at peak times. Caution must be taken while queuing as it is near a busy road. Queuing is not covered. Top tip: Arrive at Dover Castle early in the morning, immediately after the site opens, and visit the Secret Wartime Tunnels first, while it is quieter.
Themed Itineraries Theme 1: Medieval Dover (approx 3-4 hours) plus time for refreshments Enter through Constables Gate, turn left and work your way to the Medieval Underground Works. The Medieval Underground works are not staffed; therefore, visits must be self-guided. Continue up the stairs, through King s Gate and into the Inner Bailey, including Shop and Café. Visit the introductory exhibition before entering the Great Tower, followed by an exploration of the Great Tower itself. Then stroll through Palace Gate and join the Eastern Battlement Walk at Avranches Tower; walk past Officers New Barracks down towards NAAFI Restaurant and Pocket Pistol follow the Western Battlement Walk up through Peverell s Gate and back out Constable s Gate to the coach park. Theme 2: Dover at War (approx 3 hours) plus time for refreshments Enter through Constable s Gate, walk along Western Battlement Walk and through Peverell s Gate; continue downhill past the NAAFI Restaurant; continue to the Secret Wartime Tunnels for your tour. Please note that queues can be expected at peak times. Then explore Admiralty Lookout, including the Port War Signal Station and Fire Command Post, before returning to the Eastern Battlement Walk. Finally, explore the Medieval Underground Works and exit via Constable s Gate. Theme 3: Coastal Dover (Approximately 1 ½ - 2 hours) excludes time for refreshments Enter through Constable s Gate walk down the Western Battlement Walk through Peverell s Tower. Stop at the NAAFI Restaurant for refreshments and a look at the Pocket Pistol; go uphill to Admiralty Lookout, the Port War Signal Station and the Fire Command Post; continue past Officers New Barracks to the Roman Lighthouse and St Mary-in-Castro; follow the Eastern Battlement Walk and leave the site via Constable s Gate. Theme 4: Dover Through the Ages a Tour Through England s History: Roman Saxon Medieval Napoleonic World War I and II Nuclear Age (5-6 hours) this excludes time for refreshments. Enter through Constables Gate, turn left and see the Medieval Underground Works. Walk through King s Gate to the Inner Bailey, turn left and see the Great Tower Introductory Exhibition, followed by the Great Tower itself. Leave the Inner Bailey through Palace Gate along Palace Green and see the Roman Lighthouse (Pharos) and church of St-Mary-in-Castro. Then join the Eastern Battlement Walk and follow this round onto Admiralty Lookout. Then make your way down to the Secret Wartime Tunnels. Following your tour, walk up to the NAAFI Restaurant and Pocket Pistol, then onto Peverell s Tower along the Western Battlement Walk leave via Constables Gate. Theme 5: Dover under cover (3-4 hours) Dover Castle sits high on the famous White Cliffs with stunning views across the Channel towards France, but this location means it can be exposed to the elements. However, there are many covered areas at Dover Castle so you ll have a great day out whatever the weather. Here is a suggested itinerary covering areas of the castle in wet weather conditions. If you only have time to visit the Secret Wartime Tunnels or the Great Tower, remain on the land train for the appropriate stop. Enter through Constable s Gate and catch the land train at the Medieval Underground Works and exit at the NAAFI Restaurant and Pocket Pistol for refreshments. Walk downhill to the Secret Wartime Tunnels and Tunnels Café; catch the land train and continue to Admiralty Lookout and visit the Port War Signal Station and Fire Command Post; continue by land train to Palace Green for the Inner Bailey with Shop, Café and Great Tower Introductory Exhibition, followed by the Great Tower. Don t forget, there will still be areas during your visit that will be uncovered so dress appropriately for the weather.
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