Eastgate House
Rochester, North Kent
Image: Eastgate HouseEastgate House is a Grade I listed Elizabethan townhouse on Rochester's historic High Street, run by Medway Council. Its rooms tell the story of the building as a family home, a Victorian girls' school, a hostel and a museum. In the garden stands the Swiss chalet where Charles Dickens wrote, which links neatly with Rochester's Dickens trail.
Highlights
- Grade I listed 16th and 17th century townhouse
- Charles Dickens' Swiss writing chalet in the garden
- Oak-panelled rooms and restored decorative schemes
- Seasonal family trails and Christmas events
Good to know
- Opening is mainly at weekends, so check the calendar
- Rochester Castle and Cathedral are a short walk along the High Street
Getting there
Eastgate House, High Street, Rochester, Kent, ME1 1EW
Get directionsChecked on 15 October 2026 against visitmedway.org. Details change, so please confirm with the venue before you travel. How we check
Nearby
Image: Restoration HouseRestoration House
Restoration House is a historic city mansion in the heart of Rochester, named after Charles II's stay on the eve of the Restoration and known as the inspiration for Miss Havisham's Satis House in Great Expectations. Tour the rooms and the walled garden during its short summer season. It suits history and Dickens fans and takes an hour or two.
Image: Rochester CathedralRochester Cathedral
Rochester Cathedral stands close to the castle in the heart of historic Rochester and is free to visit. Explore the cathedral and its medieval crypt, where there is a café, and see the Textus Roffensis exhibition. Pair it with the castle for a half day in Rochester.
Image: Rochester CastleRochester Castle
Rochester Castle is an imposing medieval fortress guarding an important crossing of the River Medway, with a complex history of destruction and rebuilding. Climb through the great keep for views over the river and city, then explore the cathedral and historic high street close by. Allow an hour or two.