Explore the Lord Warden's Apartment
Explore the private rooms of the Lord Warden for the first time and see where the Queen Mother stayed during her visits to Walmer Castle.
Added during the tenure of Lord Granville to accommodate his family, the rooms were originally used as spaces for the children, governess and servants. It was separated into an apartment during the tenure of Sir Robert Menzies (Lord Warden 1966-1978) to allow the main part of the castle to remain open to the public while he was in residence. It has since welcomed the two succeeding Lord Wardens; Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother and Admiral of the Fleet Lord Michael Boyce.
Go behind-the-scenes of a private space within the castle and discover stories of the families who lived here.
The Lord Warden’s Apartment can only be accessed via a tight spiral staircase. Queues to enter the apartment may occur during busy times.
Tudor Tours at Walmer Castle
Tours will return in Spring 2025
Join us for daily Tudor Tours at Walmer Castle, guided by our knowledgeable volunteers. Discover the extensive surviving Tudor parts of the castle, including the gloomy and atmospheric 'rounds' beneath the site, which are now open for the first time in many years.
Learn how this castle functioned, who lived here and why it's such an important historical survivor.
The tour lasts for an hour and a half. The tours are free, however they are on a first-come, first-served basis so we recommend arriving early. Eight people can join each tour. Click here for access information.
The Broadwalk Garden at Walmer
Enjoy the replanted herbaceous borders in the Broadwalk Garden at Walmer Castle, unveiled in 2016 following a four-year restoration programme. See the seasonal highlights in the garden.
With the backdrop of the undulating cloud yew hedge, the double borders are full of colour throughout the summer months. The colour and planting scheme is inspired by the influential British horticulturist and garden designer Gertrude Jekyll.
The flat Kent coastline is frequently blasted by salty winds from the English Channel, yet the gardens flourish here as they're protected by the castle and the garden walls.
GARDEN HISTORY TOURS
Tours will return in Spring 2025
Join us every Wednesday at 2pm for a gentle walk around the lovely gardens and grounds of the castle, as their rich history is revealed by a knowledgeable guide.
The tour takes about an hour. It's included in the normal admission fee, and works on a first-come, first-served basis.
The Kitchen Garden at Walmer
Explore our range of fruit and vegetables and maybe pick up some ideas for your own garden or allotment.
The Kitchen Garden at Walmer has grown produce for the castle for nearly 300 years. We use complementary planting methods and grow all the cut flowers here for the castle arrangements. See the seasonal highlights in the garden.
Step inside the adjacent greenhouses bursting with colour in all seasons. The nearby moat garden also provides a great safe space for children to explore and play.
The Queen Mother's Garden at Walmer
Enjoy the tranquil setting of the Queen Mother's Garden as she did while here at Walmer Castle. See the seasonal highlights in the garden.
The Queen Mother was Lord Warden for 23 years, and this contemporary garden was created in honour of her 95th birthday. The Queen Mother declared, "I have been given many presents before, but never a garden."
Nearby, the gardens have plenty more to offer. Explore the mature trees of the woodland walk, a haven for spring snowdrops, and autumn leaves. On the Oval Lawn, take time to read a book, or play with giant garden games in the summer.
RHS Courses at Walmer Castle
Walmer Castle and Gardens is proud to be an RHS Approved Centre, offering RHS Level 2 qualifications in Practical Horticulture and the Principles of Plant Growth and Development.
Our students have the opportunity to gain industry-recognised qualifications in the unique surroundings of Walmer Castle's Grade II-listed gardens, with additional learning taking place in the historic Captain's Garden at Deal Castle.
Our courses are incredibly popular. Join our mailing list to be the first to hear about new opportunitues by emailing RHS.Walmer@english-heritage.org.uk.
The Wellington Room
Feel the Duke of Wellington's spirit living on in his fomer bedroom at Walmer Castle. You can see the armchair in which he died and his campaign bed in this room.
The Duke of Wellington spent 23 years at Walmer Castle and the room looks just like it did when he lived here. The room is refurbished and conserved, taking inspiration from an early painting – the decor is an authentic replica from this time.
See highlights from the collection at Walmer Castle.
Wellbeing at Walmer
At Walmer Castle and Gardens, we offer a wide range of therapeutic wellbeing activities to suit individuals of all ages and abilities. Set against the backdrop of our beautiful gardens and seaside estate, take part in activities such as yoga, meditation, Shinrin Yoku, and mindful walking, among many other activities that can help enrich your life both physically and mentally.
The idea of good health by the English seaside has been longstanding– in the mid-18th century, Walmer Castle was becoming a comfortable and secluded retreat for its Lords Warden, while retaining its role as a fort. William Pitt the Younger, a former prime minister and warden, delighted in the calm of Walmer.
Through Wellbeing at Walmer, English Heritage hopes to bring the restorative peace and beauty of the gardens, as experienced by Pitt more than 200 years ago, to all those who wish to benefit from them.
Tea room and glasshouse café
Enjoy a tasty treat in in the Lord Warden's tea room and Glasshouse Café.
An ever-changing seasonal menu of snacks, lunches and home-made cakes makes the tea room at Walmer Castle the perfect place to recharge after a stroll around the historic gardens.
The Glasshouse Café offers sandwiches, snacks and cream teas in the beautiful setting of the gardens at Walmer.
Second-hand book shop at Walmer Castle
Searching for your next good book to get lost in? We have the perfect solution.
Visit our volunteer-run second-hand book shop in the basement of Walmer Castle. From international bestselling novels to books on horticulture and history, there's something to suit everyone.
Feeling adventurous? Pick up one of our wrapped mystery books and discover whole new worlds of possibility.
All proceeds from the book shop go to the restoration and running of Walmer Castle and Gardens, so you can help us care for this amazing site while indulging your love of books. We've got lots of perfect reading spots in our stunning grounds, so why not pop in and have a browse?
Walk or cycle to Sandown Castle
If you have time why not take a walk or cycle along the seafront to Sandown Castle?
Like Walmer it was built by order of Henry VIII and is one of a chain of 'Device' coastal forts built locally, including Deal Castle, Camber Castle, and Sandgate.
Download our walking map