Chatham

Medway Towns

Type:Towns & Villages

Chatham, Kent
Chatham marina

About

Chatham is fascinating maritime destination with a history stretching back over 400 years.  Famous seafarers Hawkins, Drake, Nelson and Gillingham born Will Adams would have known the area well.  Always fearing invasion, Henry VIII constructed a dockyard at Chatham, now a major visitor attraction in Medway known as The Historic Dockyard Chatham.

The great British author, Charles Dickens moved to Chatham at the age of five when his father John Dickens worked in the Royal Navy pay office at the dockyard.  The next seven years of Charles’ life were spent exploring the docks, Georgian Chatham and accompanying his father on long walks in the surrounding countryside. 

Things to do in Chatham

Within a stones throw of The Historic Dockyard Chatham, the town’s military connections are evident. During the Napoleonic times Fort Amherst was built to defend the Royal Dockyard from landward invasion and was used right up to the Second World War.  A military base is still at Brompton Barracks and the stories of heroism and bravery can be discovered at Kent’s only designated museum of national importance The Royal Engineers Museum.

In a picturesque village on the opposite bank of the River Medway stands Upnor Castle.  The castle was built to protect Queen Elizabeth’s 1’s warships and the naval dockyard. Other things to do in Chatham include enjoying the green space of Capstone Country Park or testing your karting skills at Buckmore Park.

The historic, riverside Command House has recently undergone a half a million-pound renovation.
Built in the 1800s, the Grade II listed new-look hostelry steeped in military history, has period features and a panoramic view over the river towards the former Chatham Dockyard and the ongoing regeneration town centre project.
 

For things to do in Chatham this weekend, check out our Kent events guide.

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Map & Directions

What's Nearby

  1. The Central Theatre

    Located in the heart of Chatham town centre, this beautiful 965-seat venue is already…

    0.11 miles away
  2. The Brook Theatre

    Formerly Chatham Town Hall, The Brook Theatre is a hive of entertainment, activity and…

    0.26 miles away
  3. St Peter's Church Sandwich

    St Peter's Church Sandwich

    0.5 miles away
  1. Eastgate House

    Situated in the heart of historic Rochester, Eastgate House featured in the work of…

    0.78 miles away
  2. The Historic Dockyard Chatham

    Explore Chatham's shipbuilding legacy at The Historic Dockyard Chatham. Step back to the…

    0.85 miles away
  3. Royal Engineers Museum

    There is something for all the family. Zulu War items, Boer War, World Wars I and II,…

    0.9 miles away
  4. Rochester Cathedral

    Rochester Cathedral is the second oldest cathedral in England having been founded in AD…

    0.94 miles away
  5. Oare Gunpowder Works County Park

    Oare Gunpowder Works - Gunpowder was manufactured at Oare for several centuries on a site…

    0.97 miles away
  6. Guildhall Museum

    Discover the history of Medway from pre-historic times to the present day at the…

    1.05 miles away
  7. Rochester Castle

    One of the finest keeps in England. Also the tallest, partly built on the Roman city wall…

    1.05 miles away
  8. Upnor Castle

    This attractive, turreted castle is set in a picturesque village area that is backed by…

    1.7 miles away
  9. Temple Manor

    A 13th century great chamber, on a vaulted undercroft, of a manor house of the Knights…

    1.72 miles away
  10. Capstone Farm Country Park

    Capstone Farm Country Park is one of Medway's finest green spaces, offering wonderful…

    2.08 miles away
  11. Chatham Ski & Snowboard Centre

    Chatham Ski Centre has the longest artificial slope in the South East and is the premier…

    2.45 miles away
  12. Riverside Country Park

    Riverside Country Park is an excellent site for Winter birdwatching.
    Situated alongside…

    3.22 miles away
  13. Cobham Hall

    A large house standing in 150 acres of Repton's landscape garden and dating from 1587. It…

    4.55 miles away
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