Chatham Historic Dockyard

About the museum

Chatham was a base of the Royal Navy on the River Medway from the 16th century, and the yard moved to its present site in 1618. In the 18th century it became Britain's main shipbuilding and repair yard, and ships such as HMS Victory were built here. Later it specialised in iron-hulled warships and submarines; it built 57 submarines between 1908 and 1960.

The Royal Navy closed the dockyard in March 1984. The historic core of about 80 acres passed to a charity, the Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust, which runs it as a visitor attraction. The site contains dozens of scheduled monuments and many listed buildings from the Georgian and Victorian periods, including slipways, mast houses and storehouses.

Today the Dockyard displays three historic ships (HMS Gannet, HMS Cavalier and HM Submarine Ocelot), galleries about life and work in the yard, a historic railway and the Ropery, where rope has been made for more than 400 years. It also holds a collection of historic RNLI lifeboats.

Highlights

• Go aboard HMS Cavalier, a Second World War destroyer, and HM Submarine Ocelot, a Cold War submarine
• HMS Gannet, a Victorian sloop
• The Ropery, where ropemakers still work on a historic ropewalk
• RNLI Historic Lifeboat Collection
• Command of the Oceans gallery with a model of HMS Victory and finds from the wreck of HMS Invincible

Permanent exhibitions

• Command of the Oceans – A gallery about the dockyard in the age of sail, with a model of HMS Victory, preserved timbers of the ship Namur and objects recovered from the wreck of HMS Invincible.
• Steam, Steel & Submarines – Shows about 150 years of change from iron-hulled warships to Cold War submarines, with figureheads, photographs and recorded memories of dockyard workers.
• RNLI Historic Lifeboat Collection – The country's largest group of historic lifeboats, with craft from the 1800s to modern boats, touchscreens and archive film.

Operated by

Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust

Admission & discounts

Prices shown are online prices when booked at least one day in advance (adult £29, child £18.50, family £78). On the door the prices are adult £32.50, child £20.50 and family £87. Day tickets are not offered; every admission ticket is valid for 12 months and allows repeat visits. Separately ticketed events are not included.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description

The site is described as wheelchair friendly, but visitors should watch for railway tracks and paved or cobbled areas that can be uneven or slippery when wet; the ground slopes down from east to west, and the furthest gallery is about 800 metres from the entrance. A Changing Places toilet is in the Fitted Rigging House next to Steam, Steel & Submarines; ask a Visitor Assistant to unlock it. Accessible toilets are at several points on the site. A limited number of manual wheelchairs can be borrowed from admissions (advance booking advised), and mobility vehicles are welcome. Free sensory backpacks, free relaxed openings (book ahead), free BSL tours and free audio described tours (book ahead) are offered. Assistance animals are welcome.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations
• Stroller-friendly
• Baby changing facilities
• Playground / play area

Hands-on activities include looking through the periscope of HM Submarine Ocelot, making rope in the Ropery, steering HMS Gannet and dressing up in Steam, Steel & Submarines. There is a free play area with climbing frames near the visitor entrance, a pirate-themed outdoor play area and an indoor soft play area (both need a ticket). Family events are included in the ticket on selected dates. Baby changing is available at several toilet blocks; pushchairs are welcome, although you may be asked to leave one outside some galleries.

Getting there & parking

Use sat nav postcode ME4 4TY and enter through the main visitor entrance on Western Avenue; the Main Gate off Dock Road is for tenants and residents only. Brown tourist signs lead from M2 junctions 1, 3 and 4 and M20 junction 6. Boats can berth at Chatham Maritime Marina, a few minutes' walk away.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Restaurant
• Museum shop

The Mess Deck restaurant serves meals, sandwiches and fish and chips and can be visited without a ticket. The Wagon Stop Canteen serves pizzas, paninis, baked potatoes, cakes and ice cream (ticket needed). Picnics are welcome in outdoor areas such as the Commissioner's Garden. Dogs on a lead are allowed outdoors only.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events
• Weddings / ceremonies

Venues include the Commissioner's House and Gardens, No. 1 Smithery and other historic buildings; some spaces take more than 200 guests. Catering is available.

Plan your visit