Rochester Castle is one of the best-preserved and tallest medieval structures in England. The 12th-century castle retains its original keep (defensive stone tower) and offers a special, historic atmosphere.
Overlooking the River Medway in Kent, Rochester Castle has helped defend South East England’s coast for centuries, including during various sieges. In fact, its strategic location was first identified by the Romans over 1500 years ago. The Normans, too, knew this and were quick to build on the site when they landed in England during the 11th century. We further explore Rochester’s medieval past with a visit to Rochester Cathedral, which has origins stretching back to the 7th century and embodies a beautiful mix of Romanesque and Gothic architecture. (Guests with an interest in England’s middle ages may also wish to consider our Medieval Canterbury Tour.)
This area of Kent, however, is not just about the castle and its fortifications. In the 1800s, the historic town of Rochester was home to one of the towering figures of English letters, Charles Dickens. It was Rochester that inspired many of Dickens’ literary works and visitors can still get a glimpse of the world as Dickens would have known it! Today Rochester is a vibrant English city, which forms part of a residential and industrial area known as the Medway Towns.
This is an opportunity to add something truly unique to your trip to England! Our Rochester tour may be undertaken as a day tour on its own, or could form part of a tour visiting other historical sites in Kent as one of our Tailor-Made Tours.
#LetLondonBreathe and avoid the stresses of the city centre’s notoriously heavy traffic. John will collect you by car at Bromley South station, in London’s suburbs, where your private tour starts. He will drive you through the English countryside, sharing with you his local knowledge for approximately an hour before arriving in historic Rochester.
