Historic Dockyard Chatham
Chatham
Get ready to take the family on a fun and educational journey into Chatham's legendary, centuries-long shipbuilding heritage with a visit to the award-winning Historic Dockyard Chatham. Tickets are valid for one year, giving you plenty of time to explore unique exhibitions and collections and take part in exciting events and seasonal activities throughout the year, and with Picniq you save up to 33%.
The Historic Dockyard Chatham is on an 80-acre site with over 100 historic buildings and structures and 3 mighty warships. Learn how ships such as HMS Victory were built and explore the four Command of the Oceans interactive galleries which reveal long-hidden objects for the first time. Walk the decks of 3 historic warships and discover what life was like for those who worked on board a Second World War Destroyer, Cold War submarine, and Victorian Sloop.
Visit the Ropery, one of the only remaining Royal Navy Ropeyards in operation today, and learn how rope has been made at Chatham for almost four centuries. Explore the UK's largest collection of historic RNLI Lifeboats to learn how these remarkable vessels have changed over the last 100 years.
The Steam, Steel, and Submarines gallery includes interactive exhibits re-telling the history of Chatham Dockyard, and the No. 1 Smithery with its rugged industrial feel and vast anchor pits encourage guests to uncover incredible stories through play, objects, and paintings. When built in 1838, the huge No. 3 Covered Slip was the largest wide-span timber structure in Europe. Today it houses a vast array of vehicles and objects from the Royal Engineers Museum and Imperial War Museums.
There are three exciting tours included with your entry ticket. These include:
- The Ropery tour where you'll 'learn the ropes' with hands-on ropemaking.
- The HM Submarine Ocelot tour where visitors can swing through the hatches and learn what life was like onboard one of the last Royal Navy warships to be built at Chatham.
- The Hearts of Oak tour - an audio-visual tour through a walking cinema telling the story of a real dockyard worker.
Plus! The Historic Dockyard Chatham plays host to an impressive array of events and seasonal activities throughout the year, including special workshops and pop-up talks. Several play areas and exciting events are designed to keep little ones entertained.
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Tickets are sent by email within minutes of booking
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Gate-ready e-ticket, simply scan on your mobile
Your ticket includes:
- Access to galleries and exhibitions - including temporary exhibitions
- Access to the 3 warships: HMS Gannet, HMS Cavalier, HM Submarine Ocelot
- Guided tours - The Ropery & HM Submarine Ocelot
General Information
- Children 3 and under enter free but do require a ticket.
- Visitors 16 years and over require an adult ticket.
- Free covered parking is available in one of Europe's oldest widespan metal structures or at the South Mast Pond car park.
Accessibility:
- A ticket-holding disabled guest can be issued a free carer ticket upon presentation of relevant documentation.
- Galleries and attractions are generally accessible to all visitors.
- The Historic Ships have been preserved in their original form and both HMS Cavalier and the submarine Ocelot have restricted access for visitors with mobility difficulties. Alternative virtual tours are available.
- Wheelchair accessible restrooms are available on site.
Baby Facilities
- Baby changing facilities are available at several locations on site.
Other Facilities
- The Wagon Stop Canteen and Mess Deck serve a wide range of hot and cold meals, snacks and drinks.
- The well-stocked on-site gift shop offers souvenirs and mementos of your visit.
Booking and Ticket Information
- When you buy online you will receive an email containing your ticket. Please present on your smart phone at The Historic Dockyard Chatham on the day of your visit, alternatively you can print and bring with you.
- Please note that all annual tickets purchased to The Historic Dockyard Chatham entitle you to 12 months access to the site throughout the opening period (please check Plan Your Visit on attraction website for dates). Annual tickets exclude access to separately ticketed events including Salute to the 40s', Christmas and Call The Midwife Official Location Tours.
- Please note, to enable the processing of your 12 month ticket, a picture of the ticket holder will be taken to ensure the validity of your non-transferable annual ticket. This image will be stored securely (electronically) will not be shared, and will only be stored for the duration of the annual ticket.
- Picniq accept all debit cards, Maestro, Visa and Mastercard as methods of payment. There is no credit card charge or booking fee.
- Online bookings are limited to a maximum of 12 visitors.
- Tickets purchased through Picniq are not refundable. The date of the visit can be amended for a fee of £10 per booking. Terms and conditions apply.
- Picniq Ltd acts as agent for all tickets/bookings on behalf of the supplier/principle ('the attraction'). For Picniq booking termsclick here
Directions
Address: The Historic Dockyard Chatham, Western Avenue, Chatham, Kent, ME4 4TY.
By Car: Follow the anchor signs from J1, 3 and 4 of the M2 and J6 of the M20.
By Train: The Historic Dockyard is within 20-30 minutes' walking distance from Chatham railway station.
10 FEBRUARY – 31 MARCH 2024 - 10AM – 4PM (Closed Mondays and Tuesdays from 19 February to 19 March 2024)
1 APRIL – 27 OCTOBER 2024 - 10AM – 5PM Open Daily
28 OCTOBER – 17 NOVEMBER 2024 - 10AM – 4PM (Closed Mondays and Tuesdays in November 2024.)
Galleries start to close 30 minutes before the site closes.
Please note, we recommend arriving before 15:00 to experience a full Dockyard day out.
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