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Walmer & Deal Castles in Kent: History, Gardens & Visitor Guide

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 10:40:48 GMT

Discover the history, gardens and coastal charm of Walmer and Deal Castles in Kent, two of Henry VIII’s iconic seaside fortresses.

Visitors to Walmer Castle and Deal Castle today might be surprised to learn that these picturesque coastal landmarks were once part of a formidable 16th-century defensive network.

Built during the reign of Henry VIII , the castles formed part of a chain of seven fortifications designed to protect England’s southern coast from invasion. Constructed at a cost of £25,000 (an enormous sum at the time) they were a direct response to political and religious tensions following Henry’s split from the Catholic Church and his divorce from Catherine of Aragon.

Tudor Castles Built for War

Walmer and Deal Castles were constructed using many materials salvaged from dissolved monasteries and religious houses. As a result, visitors can still spot intricate stone carvings more typical of churches than military structures.

Although the threat of invasion diminished soon after construction, the castles remained strategically important. They overlooked the Downs Anchorage, a sheltered stretch of water protected by the Goodwin Sands. As nearby harbours silted up, this anchorage became vital for ships waiting to enter the River Thames en route to London.

Walmer Castle: From Fortress to Seaside Residence

By the 17th century, Walmer Castle began its transformation from fortress to elegant residence. This shift was driven by Duke of Dorset, Lionel Sackville-West, appointed Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports.

Unimpressed by the cold accommodations at Dover Castle , Sackville-West chose to renovate Walmer into a comfortable coastal retreat. He added refined living quarters and improved facilities for the garrison. The surrounding land, known as “the Close”, gradually evolved into the castle’s kitchen garden, now the oldest part of its grounds.

William Pitt the Younger and Garden Design

In the late 18th century, William Pitt the Younger took up residence as Lord Warden. Having been forced to sell his private estate, Pitt used Walmer Castle as a place to host important guests - much like Chequers in Buckinghamshire is used today as a modern prime ministerial retreat.

He commissioned a bridge linking the castle to formal gardens, including the Oval Lawn, still used for events today. One side featured the historic kitchen garden, while the other was planted as an orchard for symmetry.

Pitt’s niece, Hester Stanhope, helped plan further garden expansions. Successive Lord Wardens, including the Earl of Liverpool, Robert Jenkinson and the Earl of Granville, Granville Leveson-Gower , continued these enhancements, adding features such as the Broadwalk.

In 1997, garden designer Penelope Hobhouse revitalised part of the orchard to mark the 97th birthday of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, incorporating a 97-foot pond as a tribute.

A Residence of National Importance

Walmer Castle remains the official residence of the Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports and has hosted notable figures throughout history. These include Duke of Wellington , who died at the castle, and Winston Churchill , who occasionally stayed there (but in reality preferred his own Kent retreat, Chartwell). The Queen Mother was also a regular summer guest.

Today, the castle blends historic architecture with beautifully landscaped gardens, woodland walks, and wildflower meadows that support native wildlife.

Deal Castle and the Lost Fortifications

While Walmer evolved into a refined residence, much of Henry VIII’s original defensive network has disappeared. Sandown Castle has been lost to coastal erosion, and the connecting fortifications between Walmer and Deal are long gone.

However, the scenic coastal path between the two castles remains, and is even linked to a local tradition suggesting it marks the landing site of Julius Caesar in 55 BCE.

Unlike Walmer, Deal Castle retains much of its original military character. Though it too underwent modifications for comfort, it remains closer in appearance to its 16th-century design.

During the Second World War, bombing destroyed the captain’s house. It was never rebuilt, leaving the castle with a more authentic Tudor feel - a striking contrast to Walmer’s evolution into a stately home.

Visiting Walmer & Deal Castles Today

Both castles are managed by English Heritage and are open to the public. Visitors can explore centuries of history, from Tudor military engineering to Georgian garden design, all set against the stunning Kent coastline.

Let a local Blue Badge guide set the scene for you. Whether you’re interested in history, architecture, or simply a scenic day out, Walmer and Deal Castles offer a unique glimpse into England’s past - where fear of invasion gave way to coastal tranquillity. Book your tour today.

Exploring Roman Kent and the Gateway to Roman Britain

Mon, 23 Feb 2026 18:16:56 GMT

If you really want to stand where Roman Britain began, and where it ultimately ended, you need to come to Kent.

When people think of Roman Britain, they often think of Bath or Chester.

However, if you really want to stand where Roman Britain began, and where it ultimately ended, you need to come to Kent.

As the closest point to continental Europe, Kent was the true gateway to Britannia. Roman soldiers, traders, engineers and administrators all passed through here. Today, Dover, Richborough and Canterbury still hold remarkable traces of that world - from towering fort walls to hidden mosaics beneath modern streets.

Whether you're arriving on a cruise ship, visiting from London for the day, or you’re a Kent local wanting to see your county through new eyes, here are three extraordinary Roman sites to explore.

1. Dover – Portus Dubris and the Roman Fleet

Today, Dover is famous for its White Cliffs. In Roman times, it was known as Dubris or Portus Dubrae meaning “the waters.”

The town sits in a natural gap in the cliffs at the mouth of the River Dour, the only break in this stretch of coastline. That sheltered gap made Dover strategically invaluable.

By around 130 CE, Dover was home to the headquarters of the Classis Britannica, the Roman fleet that patrolled the Channel.

What can you see today?

The Roman Pharos at Dover Castle

High on the Eastern Heights stands one of Dover’s greatest treasures: the Roman lighthouse within Dover Castle .

Built in the 1st century CE, this Pharos (lighthouse) originally stood eight storeys tall. Today, four remain, making it one of only three surviving Roman lighthouses in the world.

It was constructed using volcanic stone imported from the continent (Kentish ragstone hadn’t yet been discovered) and later adapted as a bell tower for the adjacent church. Stand beside it and you are literally touching first-century Roman engineering.

The Painted House – “England’s Pompeii”

In Dover town centre lies the extraordinary Roman Painted House .

Dating from the 1st century CE, it contains some of the best-preserved Roman wall paintings in Britain. A 3rd-century Saxon Shore fort was built directly over the top of it, sealing and protecting the murals for centuries.

It’s one of Kent’s most underappreciated Roman gems.

2. Richborough – Where the Roman Invasion Began

If Dover was Rome’s working harbour, then Richborough Roman Fort was the symbolic front door to Britannia.

Known to the Romans as Rutupiae, this is widely believed to be the landing site of Emperor Claudius’ successful invasion in 43 CE.

At the time, this wasn’t inland countryside as you see today. It stood beside the Wantsum Channel - a broad stretch of sheltered water that separated Thanet from the mainland. Thanet was once an island.

A monumental welcome to Britain

Around 85 CE, a colossal 26-metre triumphal arch was built here, clad in gleaming white Italian marble. It was the ceremonial gateway into Roman Britain and the start of Watling Street, the great Roman road leading to London via Canterbury.

Imagine arriving by ship and seeing that arch rise above the shoreline, a statement of imperial power!

Although dismantled by the late 3rd century, the foundations remain, marked by a large cross shape in the centre of the site.

The Saxon Shore Fort

By 275 CE, Richborough had evolved into a massive Saxon Shore Fort, part of a defensive network protecting Britain from seaborne raids.

Today, you can walk beside towering 3rd-century walls that still dominate the landscape. There’s also a reconstructed wooden gate tower offering elevated views across the site, a powerful reminder of its importance.

Richborough is also thought to be where the Romans finally departed Britain around 410–412 CE.

In that sense, Roman Britain both began and ended here.

3. Canterbury – Durovernum Cantiacorum

Drive inland and you reach Canterbury. Known to the Romans as Durovernum Cantiacorum, meaning “Fortress of the Cantiaci (the Men of Kent).”

This was a thriving Roman administrative town, connected directly to Richborough by Watling Street.

Much of Roman Canterbury lies several feet beneath today’s streets but look closely and you’ll see its legacy everywhere.

Roman City Walls

Built around 270 CE, large sections of Canterbury’s Roman walls still survive and shape the city today. Five gates once linked to major Roman roads. The walls endured long after the Romans left, later defended by Anglo-Saxons against Viking raids.

The Canterbury Roman Museum

The highlight for many visitors is the Canterbury Roman Museum .

Beneath the modern city lies an intact Roman townhouse courtyard complete with mosaic floor, discovered after bombing in 1942 during the Second World War.

The museum also houses the Canterbury Treasure, a hoard of 5th-century Roman silver likely hidden during the final turbulent years of Roman rule. Standing underground beside that mosaic, you gain a real sense of Roman daily life. Not just soldiers and forts, but homes, colour and craftsmanship.

Why Explore Roman Kent?

Kent isn’t just home to Roman ruins, it’s home to the Roman story of Britain.

The attempted landing of Julius Caesar in 55 BCE
The successful invasion under Claudius in 43 CE
The headquarters of the Roman fleet
The monumental gateway to Britannia
The administrative heart of Roman Kent

And ultimately, the likely departure point when Roman rule ended.

All within easy reach of London and perfectly suited to a day tour from Dover Cruise Terminal.

Explore Roman Kent with a Local Guide

Roman sites can sometimes feel like “just stones” until you understand the landscape, the waterways that no longer exist, and the stories of the people who lived here.

That’s where a knowledgeable local guide makes all the difference.

At Kent and Sussex Guided Tours, we bring these sites to life, explaining why the Wantsum Channel mattered, how Dover’s natural gap shaped history, and what that huge marble arch at Richborough would have meant to a Roman soldier arriving for the first time.

Whether you’re a cruise passenger with one day ashore, a visitor from London, or a Kent local rediscovering your county, Roman Kent offers a fascinating journey into the beginnings of Britain.

If you’re interested in the sound of a Roman Kent tour, contact us today and let’s start planning your journey into the past.

Folkestone: A Coastal Town with Stories in Every Step

Sat, 07 Feb 2026 09:38:25 GMT

Folkestone is the kind of place that surprises people.

At first glance, it’s a charming seaside town on the Kent coast with sea air, clifftop walks, and fish and chips by the harbour. Yet if you look a little closer (or better yet, explore it with a local guide), Folkestone reveals itself as a town shaped by Victorian ambition, wartime resilience, and creative reinvention.

Whether you’re visiting from London for the day, arriving on a cruise, or you’re a local keen to see Folkestone through fresh eyes, this is a town with layers, and plenty of stories to tell.

A Victorian Playground by the Sea

In the mid-1800s, Folkestone was the place to be seen.

The Leas, the elegant clifftop promenade, was laid out by Decimus Burton - the same architect behind Regent’s Park in London. Owned by Lord Radnor, it was designed for “promenading”: a fashionable pastime where people would stroll, socialise, and enjoy sweeping sea views all the way to France on a clear day.

Two grand hotels soon followed: The Grand and The Metropole, built in the late Victorian period and competing to outdo one another in luxury. The Grand, built second, boasted cutting-edge features for its time, including cavity wall insulation and one of the first sprung ballroom floors.

Folkestone quickly became the most fashionable of seaside towns, regularly visited by the Prince of Wales (later King Edward VII). It was glamour with a sea breeze and business was booming.

When Folkestone Became the Front Line

That golden era came to an abrupt halt in 1914.

During the First World War, Folkestone played a crucial role as Britain’s main departure point for the Western Front. An estimated 10 million people passed through the town during WWI with many never to return.

The Grand Hotel became accommodation for officers and a field hospital for the wounded. The Metropole was used to train women for the war effort. Poet Wilfred Owen stayed there, famously describing it as “a place with carpets as deep as the mud of the front line.”

As you walk along The Leas today, it’s impossible not to feel the weight of that history… especially when you reach the Folk Stones .

Created by artist Mark Wallinger in 2011, this powerful artwork consists of over 19,000 stones, each representing a British soldier killed on the first day of the Battle of the Somme. Collected from local beaches, they symbolise the last sight of home for so many men who left from Folkestone.

Heroes, Innovators and Quiet Legends

Folkestone’s story isn’t just about war, it’s also about people who quietly changed the world.

Take William Harvey, born here in the 16th century. He was the physician to Queen Elizabeth I and he discovered the circulation of blood, which was a breakthrough in medical science that still underpins modern medicine today. His statue stands proudly on The Leas, and both the local hospital and school carry his name.

Nearby, you’ll find the memorial to Walter Tull, one of the first mixed-heritage officers in the British Army and a professional footballer for Tottenham Hotspur. Born in Folkestone, Tull broke barriers at a time when the army explicitly excluded non-white soldiers from leadership roles. His story is one of courage, talent, and quiet defiance.

These aren’t just plaques on a wall, they’re reminders that Folkestone has always punched above its weight.

From Ruins to Reinvention

The Second World War hit Folkestone hard. Due to its proximity to France, almost the entire population was evacuated. Bombing raids damaged key buildings, including Christ Church, of which only the tower remains today, standing in a peaceful Garden of Remembrance.

For decades after the war, Folkestone struggled to regain its footing as a seaside resort.

…then came reinvention.

The once run-down Old High Street is now at the heart of the town’s Creative Quarter - a thriving hub of independent shops, studios, cafés and galleries. Backed by long-term regeneration projects and events like the Folkestone Triennial (one of the UK’s most ambitious outdoor art festivals), the town has embraced creativity as a way forward.

Add to that the Harbour Arm which was once a derelict ferry terminal, now a lively space filled with food stalls, events and sea views, and Folkestone feels very much alive again.

Why Folkestone Is Best Discovered on Foot

Folkestone is a walking town.

Its stories live in the spaces between landmarks: under the Step Short Arch , where soldiers were ordered to shorten their stride as they marched to war; along Albion Villas, where Charles Dickens once stayed; or through the Bayle, the site of a long-lost Norman castle overlooking the harbour.

This is why guided walking tours work so beautifully here. You don’t just see Folkestone, you understand it.

Explore Folkestone with Kent & Sussex Guided Tours

At Kent & Sussex Guided Tours, our Folkestone walks are led by knowledgeable local guides who bring the town’s history to life with insight, warmth and a few surprises along the way.

Whether you’re a visitor looking for a meaningful coastal experience, a cruise passenger with limited time ashore, or a local keen to rediscover your town, Folkestone has more to say than you might expect, and we’d love to show you.

Make the most of the season by following these simple guidelines

ogudmundsson@tripadvisor.com (Sindri Traustason) — Wed, 25 Sep 2019 12:54:22 GMT

The new season is a great reason to make and keep resolutions. Whether it’s eating right or cleaning out the garage, here are some tips for making and keeping resolutions.

Make a list

Lists are great ways to stay on track. Write down some big things you want to accomplish and some smaller things, too.

Check the list regularly

Don’t forget to check in and see how you’re doing. Just because you don’t achieve the big goals right away doesn’t mean you’re not making progress.

Reward yourself

When you succeed in achieving a goal, be it a big one or a small one, make sure to pat yourself on the back.

Think positively

Positive thinking is a major factor in success. So instead of mulling over things that didn’t go quite right, remind yourself of things that did.