Facilities

Facilities at Portland Castle

Parking

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Parking charges apply to non-members. Parking free for members. The car park is located 10 meters from the front entrance and has 40 spaces and 10 disabled bays. Disabled parking is 30 meters from entrance with a level tarmac path to the castle. There is no road to cross when walking from the car park to the site entrance.

Please note: Parking for coaches is only available in nearby, off-site car parks. There is an additional pay and display car park located on Chiswell Beach, roughly 5 minutes walk from the site.
Food And Drink

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The Captain's Tearoom is open. Visit to enjoy a selection of light lunches including freshly made sandwiches, soups and refreshing drinks. Indulge in a choice of lovely cakes or cream tea with home-made scones, fruity jam and delicious clotted cream.
Picnic Area

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You are welcome to bring a picnic to eat in the grounds. Picnic benches are situated between the site entrance and the Captain's House, and there is a grass lawn next to the castle that offers excellent views of the grounds.
Shop

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The gift shop sells a wide range of English Heritage souvenirs and gifts, including books, confectionery, magnets, postcards and Tudor and Royal themed items. The gift shop is located inside the Captain's House, and is fully accessible to wheelchair users.
Toilets

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There are separate male, female and disabled toilets, including baby changing facilities.
Dogs

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Dogs are welcome in the grounds of Portland Castle, including the castle, the beach, the shop and the lower section of the tea room. Please note that dogs must be kept on a short lead at all times.
Gardens

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The Governor's Garden contains an impressive circular amphitheatre made from local Portland stone, with two level seating for about 200 people. This perfectly sheltered spot is a great place to enjoy the dramatic sea and harbour views.
Audio Tours

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The free audio tour tells of the castle’s 450 year history and the part it played in the First and Second World Wars (40 minute duration).
Family Friendly

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Baby Changing Facilities
There are separate male, female and disabled toilets, including baby changing facilities.
Bottle / Food Warming
Yes
Child Sized Portions
Yes
High Chairs
One highchair is available for use on the site.
Play Areas / Adventure Playground
There isn't a formal adventure playground, however, there is plenty of room for children to run and play in our large open areas. Please note ball games are not allowed.
Push Chairs Allowed
Yes, however visitors may have some difficulty getting pushchairs to the upper level of the castle (although they can be left in the entrance to the Captain's House or in the alcoves on the ground floor of the castle if this should be the case).
Sling Loan
Yes
Toy / Dressing Up Box
Children can have fun dressing up in outfits that would have been worn by the castle guards.
International

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Foreign Language Audio Tours
The audio tour is only available to listen to in English, however visitors can also request scripts in French and German.
Commercial Photograph And Filming

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English Heritage welcomes all photographers to our sites and we hope you will share your pictures with us on Flickr and Facebook. We do have some restrictions at certain locations, so if photography is your main reason for visiting, please call the site ahead of your visit to check if any parts of the site are restricted. We are keen to promote the use of our sites to location managers. If you are interested please go to (Filming Locations) for more information and contacts. English Heritage does not permit drone flying from or over sites in our care, except by contractors or partners undertaking flights for a specific purpose, who satisfy stringent CAA criteria, have the correct insurances and permissions, and are operating under controlled conditions.