Hurst Castle

About

Situated on the south coast, in the New Forest, Hurst Castle offers a fascinating day out. With plenty of open spaces for children to explore and fantastic views of the Isle of Wight, it is a must for visitors to Hampshire. 

Getting to the castle is part of the adventure, choose either a leisurely ferry ride which children will love (plus, it’s a great chance to spot the abundance of wildlife) or work off some energy with a 2-mile walk with fantastic views.

Explore a rich history

Come and discover this artillery fortress, built by King Henry VIII, at the seaward end of a coastal spit offering one of the best views in England. Commanding the entrance to the Solent, its strategic location has developed the castle into a powerful fortress, steeped in centuries of military history.

From its beginnings in 1544, as one of Henry VIII's chain of artillery defences, Hurst Castle, unusually for a Tudor castle, remained in military use until 1956, playing an active role through both world wars. On occasion it was also used as a prison, most famously in the imprisonment of King Charles I in the 17th century, during the Civil War. Hurst Castle defended England from invasion threats in the 19th and 20th centuries. 

A great day out for all the family

With plenty of open spaces, different rooms, nooks and crannies for children to explore, it's a great day out for the whole family.  

The spectacular views from the top of the Tudor keep offers one of the best views in England and is a fantastic photograph hot spot - make sure to get a selfie shot!

During school holidays from Easter-October half term, look out for special activities for children and families including Tudor events, children’s trails, arts and crafts and lots more family fun. Guided tours and free educational trips are also available if pre-booked, please email for more information.

Hurst Castle is very dog-friendly too. Dogs on leads are welcome to visit the castle, are allowed on the ferry and will love the 2-mile walk along the shingle spit.

The small café located outside of the castle walls has a small seating area inside and plenty of benches in the picnic area.  Here you can pick up hot drinks, cakes and light refreshments while enjoying the view back down the Keyhaven river.

Castle highlights

Highlights of a visit to Hurst Castle include:
- Step inside the heart of Hurst Castle to its Tudor fort, which retains much of its 16th-century appearance.
- Follow the steps to the first floor of the Tudor keep, where it was probably here that King Charles I was kept prisoner in 1648.
- Enjoy the spectacular views from the roof of the Tudor keep across the Needles Passage to the Isle of Wight.
- Head down to the basement of the Tudor keep, used for storage of food, fuel, weapons and gunpowder.
- Take a visit to the Garrison Theatre, possibly the last theatre remaining constructed by the garrison to survive from the Second World War.
- Uncover the history of the lighthouses on the spit within the Lighthouse exhibitions.
- Don’t miss the portcullis positioned above the Tudor entrance to the castle. 
- Discover the two casemates, closest to the Tudor castle, which contain 12.5-inch RML guns of the 1860s.
How to get to Hurst Castle
Access to Hurst Castle, is a leisurely ferry ride from Keyhaven (charges apply) or a 2-mile walk along Hurst Spit (please note this is a shingle spit).

To find out more about visiting Hurst Castle, please visit the Hurst Castle website.