Chatham combines more than 400 years of maritime history with places that tell different chapters of that story: from a shipyard dating back to the age of sail to fortifications and industrial heritage. There are also theatres and leisure activities on the water and on land. For your trip, you can therefore choose what to focus on rather than giving equal weight to every theme.
Maritime history at the Historic Dockyard Chatham
The Historic Dockyard Chatham is now the world’s most complete surviving dockyard from the age of sail. The site includes 47 legally protected Scheduled Ancient Monuments. Its long maritime history is also brought to life through the award-winning interactive gallery Command of the Oceans and the largest collection of historic RNLI lifeboats in the United Kingdom. These offer different ways to explore seafaring history: an interactive gallery and a collection of lifeboats.
The season is important when planning your visit: the Historic Dockyard welcomes visitors every year from February to November. Exact dates may change, so check them before you travel. This helps you plan when to visit the Dockyard without assuming that the same dates apply every day throughout this period.
Forts and their different stories
Fort Pitt was an important part of Chatham Dockyard’s defences in the early 19th century. It also temporarily housed the first Army Medical School, whose site was selected by Florence Nightingale. This place brings military history together with the history of medical education.
Fort Amherst offers a different perspective on military history: it is a restored Napoleonic fort with a history spanning more than 300 years. The site includes more than 20 acres of green space, and guided tours of the formerly secret tunnel system are offered daily. The green spaces and tunnel tours each give a visit its own focus. If you want to plan around the tours, check the opening times in advance.
Industrial history and current closures
Old Brook Pumping Station is currently closed. It opened in 1929 to pump sewage from the lowest part of Chatham up to the level of the main sewer on New Road, and is designated an Ancient Monument. Its history reveals a technical side of the town that differs from its maritime and military history. If you are considering a visit, check its closure status before travelling.
The Brook Theatre is also temporarily closed for extensive renovation work. The auditorium has 400 seats; its programme includes professional theatre, community events, jazz and folk evenings, a Christmas show for children, and the Medway Comedy Club. Take the closure into account when planning and check whether it has reopened before arranging a visit.
Theatre and leisure activities
The Central Theatre is in Chatham town centre and has 965 seats. Its programme includes comedy, live music and entertainment for children. As the programme changes, check event dates for your travel period. This lets you plan the theatre as a specific event rather than assuming a particular show will be on.
There are also several options on the water: Chatham Maritime Watersports Centre offers stand-up paddleboarding, kayaking, sailing, windsurfing and improvised rafting. Chatham Snowsports Centre has a 200-metre artificial main slope. The activities are quite different: one offers a choice of water sports, while the other has an artificial slope for snow sports. Which activity suits your trip depends on what you would like to focus on.
Getting around and choosing a hotel
Chatham railway station is an easy walk from the High Street area. For your visit, it also matters which of the different attractions you plan to see; check the address and dates for each place individually.
Chatham Intra adds another dimension to trip planning, with numerous small independent shops and places to eat and drink. This complements the historic sights with opportunities to shop and dine. It is best to decide which places to combine based on their specific locations and your plans.
Explore more destinations
Explore more destinations: Chattenden, Allhallows, Gillingham, Isle of Grain, Rochester, High Halstow, Strood
Return to the main travel overview: Medway.
