Hurst Castle

Om museet

Hurst Castle was built between 1541 and 1544 by Henry VIII as part of a chain of artillery fortresses protecting ports and landing places along the south coast. It stands at the end of a long shingle spit and controls the Needles Passage, the narrow entrance to the western Solent opposite the Isle of Wight. The chain was the first centrally planned system of coastal defence in England since Roman times.

The castle served occasionally as a prison, most famously in 1648 when Charles I was held captive here. In the 19th century it was greatly modernised and extended with armoured wing batteries, forming part of the defences of one of the most heavily protected waters in the world. Unusually for a Tudor castle, it stayed in military use until 1956 and played an active part in both world wars.

Today Hurst Castle is owned by English Heritage and run for it by Hurst Marine. Visitors can climb the Tudor keep for views across the Needles Passage, walk the Victorian batteries and see the castle guns, the Garrison Theatre and the lighthouses on the spit. The sea has undermined parts of the castle: a section of the 19th-century east wing collapsed in 2021, and a major project is under way to protect and stabilise it.

Højdepunkter

• Tudor keep, where Charles I was probably held in 1648
• Roof of the keep with views across the Needles Passage to the Isle of Wight
• Victorian wing batteries and castle guns
• Garrison Theatre
• The 1911 Low Light lighthouse (guided tours on Mondays)
• Ferry ride from Keyhaven or a two-mile walk along Hurst Spit

Permanente udstillinger

• Tudor castle and keep – The Tudor keep with the first-floor room where Charles I was probably held in 1648, and a roof with views over the Needles Passage.
• Victorian wing batteries and castle guns – The 19th-century armoured wing batteries and their guns, which updated the Tudor fortress for the Victorian age.
• Lighthouses on the spit – Guided tours of the 1911 Low Light and its acetylene room run on Mondays, depending on volunteers and weather.

Grundlagt

1541

Ejer

Hurst Marine (on behalf of English Heritage)

Entrépriser & rabatter

Prices are for castle entry only. Ferry fares are extra and apply to all visitors, including English Heritage members; ferry tickets cannot be booked in advance and are sold on board or at the castle ticket office. English Heritage, Historic Scotland and Cadw full members enter the castle free (show a membership card; National Trust and corporate memberships are not accepted). An annual pass covers unlimited castle visits and return ferry journeys in the open season.

Tilgængelighed

• Delvis kørestolsvenlig
• Elevator: findes ikke
• Handicaptoilet: findes ikke
• Handicapparkering: ingen oplysninger
• Servicehunde tilladt
• Taktile tilbud
• Rundvisninger på tegnsprog: findes ikke
• Letlæste tilbud: findes ikke
• Synstolkning: ingen oplysninger

Access is limited. Passengers on the ferry must be able to bear weight to get on and off; foldable wheelchairs and prams are carried and the skippers help. The large ferry has a ramp with handrails followed by three steps without a handrail, and smaller boats have a step down. The walk along the spit is on shingle, which is hard for wheelchairs, pushchairs and bikes. At the castle the paths are gravel with a slight incline and a drawbridge, and the ground floor has uneven paving, loose gravel, old railway tracks and grass. There are no lifts, so there is no wheelchair access above ground level. Not all staircases have handrails and some areas are dimly lit. Most exhibits can be touched. There is no hearing loop or audio guide. Assistance dogs are welcome.

Børn og familie

Velegnet til børn og familier

• Familieomvisninger & workshops
• Opgavehæfte, skattejagt eller audioguide for børn
• Interaktive stationer

Children can explore hidden staircases, nooks and the basement, look at the castle guns and climb the keep. Family trails and craft activities run in the Easter, May half-term, summer and October half-term holidays and are included in the admission price. Pushchairs can be used, but the ground is uneven and there is no lift above the ground floor. Children under 5 enter free and family tickets are available.

Transport & parkering

The ferry from Keyhaven runs daily from 28 March to 1 November, every 20 to 30 minutes between 10:00 and 17:30 (16:00 from 24 October). Fares are £6.00 single and £8.50 return for adults and £4.00 single and £6.00 return for children aged 3–17; infants aged 2 and under travel free. Tickets are bought on board or at the castle. At low tide only small boats can run. The walk along the shingle spit takes in about 2 miles each way, sturdy footwear is advised and prams are difficult to push. Sat nav postcode SO41 0TP (Keyhaven).

Service & spisesteder

• Café
• Museumsbutik

A café outside the castle entrance (open daily in the season) sells hot and cold drinks, cakes, snacks, sandwiches and hot pastries, and can be visited without entering the castle. A small selection of souvenirs, gifts and the guidebook is sold at the ticket office. Toilets are available during opening hours. Picnic benches are inside and outside the castle. There is no running drinking water, so bottles cannot be refilled. Smoking is not permitted anywhere inside the castle.

Arrangementer & udlejning

• Lokaler til leje
• Private fester
• Firmaarrangementer

The Tudor keep and the master gunner's room can be decorated to a theme. Corporate, private, team-building and water-based events are considered, and hire is possible in the open season or from November to March when the castle is closed to visitors. Simple catering is available on site. Photo shoots, film and TV productions are also considered.

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