Rochester Castle is one of the best preserved and finest examples of Norman architecture in England. The castle has had a chequered Perched above the River Medway on Castle Hill in Rochester, Rochester Castle is one of England’s finest surviving medieval fortresses. Built in the late 11th-century by Bishop Gundulf and with its iconic Norman keep added in 1127, it stands 113 feet high, dominating the skyline. The castle has endured epic sieges—including King John’s assault in 1215 where the keep was undermined using the fat of 40 pigs—and though partly ruined, its architecture remains impressively intact.
Visitors can roam the massive stone keep, wander the castle gardens (once the bailey), enjoy views across Rochester and down the Medway, explore ancient walls and towers, and learn about its role in the power struggles of medieval England. Open from 10 am, Tuesday to Sunday (10-6 in summer, 10-4 in winter; last admission ~45 mins before closing), with a café and shop to round off the visit.
