Fort Amherst
Chatham, North Kent
Image: Fort AmherstFort Amherst is a large Napoleonic fort above Chatham, built to protect the dockyard and used again in both world wars. The grounds, with ramparts, cannons and views over the Medway, are free to wander with the dog, while guided tours take you into the maze of underground tunnels. It is known locally for its long-running Halloween scare events.
Highlights
- Napoleonic fortifications and cannons
- Underground defensive tunnels
- Views over Chatham and the Medway
- Re-enactments and family events
- Café
Good to know
- Dogs are welcome throughout the grounds
- Halloween events in 2026 include a children's experience for ages 5 to 10 and an over-18s scare attraction
Getting there
Fort Amherst, Chatham, Kent, ME4 4UB
Get directionsChecked on 15 October 2026 against fortamherst.com, fortamherst.com. Details change, so please confirm with the venue before you travel. How we check
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What's on at Fort Amherst
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Image: Fort AmherstSanta's Grotto
Santa's Grotto returns to Fort Amherst in Chatham from 1 November to 31 December 2026. Visitors meet Mrs Claus for story time, join activities with the elves, then visit Santa in the grotto. It suits families and young children. Booking is recommended, and times and prices are on the event page.
Image: Fort AmherstTunnel Tours
Tunnel Tours at Fort Amherst in Chatham is a guided look at how the tunnels were used in Napoleonic times for shelter, storage and defence. The tours also cover the tunnels' strategic role as a base of operations during the Second World War. Booking is recommended, and the event runs across December 2026, with times on the event page.
Nearby
Image: Old Brook Pumping StationOld Brook Pumping Station
Old Brook Pumping Station is a preserved 1929 pumping station in Chatham, open as a museum since the early 1980s and run by volunteers from the Medway Industrial Archaeology Group. See the engines and a collection of exhibits on the industrial history of the Medway Towns. It suits engineering fans and curious families and takes about an hour.
Image: Royal Engineers MuseumRoyal Engineers Museum
The Royal Engineers Museum in Gillingham is the UK's largest military engineering museum, covering more than two centuries of sappers' work around the world. The collection includes 25 Victoria Crosses, Wellington's map of Waterloo, a Harrier jump jet, a V2 rocket and a line of bridge-laying tanks. Family activities and a first-floor café make it a solid rainy-day choice in Medway.
Photo: Sunolafjagtenben-hur, CC0Great Lines Heritage Park
A large open green space between Chatham and Gillingham, linking Fort Amherst, the Chatham Naval Memorial and Brompton. It is criss-crossed by walking and cycle routes, with nature walks and wildflower areas.