This guide links three of Chatham’s naval and military heritage sites: the Historic Dockyard, Fort Amherst and the Great Lines Heritage Park, with a riverside gallery for a break. They are separate sites with separate entrances, so decide which one is the main event. The cards below link to each place’s InKent page.
Check the season first
The Historic Dockyard closes for the winter. When we checked on 29 October 2026, its website listed opening from 10am to 5pm until 1 November and from 10am to 4pm between 2 and 15 November 2026, with the site closed on 9 and 10 November. A winter closure follows from 16 November, apart from Mission Christmas dates, with reopening in February 2027. Fort Amherst’s grounds and the Great Lines are open through the winter, which makes them the better winter choices.
The Historic Dockyard
Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust describes the former Royal Dockyard as supporting the Royal Navy over a 400-year period. The Trust says the dockyard closed on 30 March 1984 and that it was set up that year as a registered charity to preserve the site. The site now has three historic warships, the Ropery, museum galleries and locations used for filming Call the Midwife.
- Where: the main visitor entrance is via Western Avenue.
- Cost: an adult ticket was £29 online or £32.50 on the door when we checked, and each ticket is valid for a year from your first visit. The Dockyard does not list a separate single-visit ticket. Check its page for current prices.
- Access: disabled visitors pay the normal price and one carer enters free. AccessAble guides are published for each space, and assistance dogs are welcome.
Fort Amherst
Fort Amherst grew out of earthwork defences first built in 1756 to protect Chatham Dockyard from attack by land, and it was strengthened into the early 1800s. After a local campaign against plans to sell the land for development, a trust bought the main site in 1982 and opened it to visitors in 1983. The Fort Amherst Heritage Trust, a registered charity, runs it today.
- Where: Dock Road.
- Cost: entry to the grounds is free and parking is charged. Tunnel tours cost extra and are booked online in advance. Visit Medway lists them from £10, and the Trust’s what’s on page says they return in December 2026.
- Opening: the grounds are open daily, 8am to 4pm from October to March and 8am to 6pm from April to September. Tunnel tour dates change, so check the Trust’s what’s on page.
The Great Lines Heritage Park
The Great Lines is about 70 hectares of open grassland between Chatham and Gillingham. It is home to the Chatham Naval Memorial and looks out over Fort Amherst. It has nature and walking routes, cycle routes and a wildflower area, but no play area. The park holds a Green Flag award and Green Heritage Site accreditation, and Medway parkrun starts near the Brompton Road entrance at 9am every Saturday. It is free and open every day of the year.
Kent’s Historic Environment Record also has an entry for the Great Lines, if you want the history behind the earthworks.
A break by the river: Sun Pier House
Sun Pier House on Medway Street is a not-for-profit arts space beside the River Medway, with artist studios, an exhibition gallery and a cafe. Visit Medway says the gallery’s hours vary with its exhibitions and events programme, so check Sun Pier House’s website before you go.
Getting there
Chatham station is served by Southeastern. Journey times to London depend on the service and the London station, so use Southeastern’s journey planner for current times and fares.
Medway Council’s Find a car park directory lists each Chatham car park with its location, charging hours and ways to pay. Check the car park’s own page for tariffs and any closures before you travel, and check Fort Amherst’s page for its parking charges.
Frequently asked questions
Is Fort Amherst free?
Entry to the grounds is free. Parking is charged, and tunnel tours are charged separately.
Is Chatham Historic Dockyard open all year?
No. It has a seasonal winter closure, so check its opening times page for the dates before you go.
How do the three sites relate?
Fort Amherst sits beside the Great Lines, and Kent’s Historic Environment Record describes the park’s views over the fort, so the two can be visited together. The Dockyard has its own entrance and its own opening times, so plan it as a separate visit.