Our good friends took us for a visit to Upnor Castle, sitting on the banks of the River Medway opposite Chatham Dockyard, in the quaint, pretty village of Upper Upnor, Rochester. Accessed from a picturesque hill leading down to the river, Upnor Castle is situated to the left at the bottom of this hill.

This Tudor castle was built in 1559 as a gun fort to defend the warships of Queen Elizabeth I when anchored in the Medway.

As we entered the castle it became immediately apparent that children were welcome. There were activities going on and groups of children having fun while learning during their educational visits.

Areas inside are used for weddings and there are audio guides for those who require them. Parking areas are available in the village and coach trips are welcome.

The gatehouse and main area of the castle are open to visitors and although it looks small from the entrance, it is quite vast inside and includes picnic areas on the grassy slopes. The many areas inside were fascinating and there was even a mini museum. There are some fabulous views of the River Medway from the castle too.

An enjoyable outing, in a very scenic area of Kent.