Discover Why England’s Dover Castle is Great for Kids

Kids would have a hard time imagining a more perfect castle. Standing high above the sea, the stone walls and ramparts of Dover Castle conjure up scenes of sieges and medieval knights in armor. This world is re-created inside its walls, and with so much to see and do, families should plan travel to spend an entire day here.

Inside the castle, rooms are decorated and fully furnished as they would have been when it was the home of 12^th-century kings. Surprisingly colorful, these halls give a picture of medieval life for the rich and powerful, and hands-on exhibits encourage kids to try spinning wool, try on a helmet from a suit of armor or learn to play backgammon. They can also watch food being prepared for a medieval feast and have their photos taken sitting on the royal throne.

Costumed interpreters and military reenactments add reality to a day at Dover Castle, and a newly opened imaginative play area encourages younger kids to “defend” the castle from siege. They can enter medieval tunnels, scale walls and try their hand at firing the trebuchet, all while learning about the life of soldiers who defended the castle from French invaders in 1216.

Dover Castle has an important place in more modern history, as it served as the site of a top-secret command post that directed the seemingly impossible rescue of the British Army from the beaches of Dunkirk during World War II. Guided tours of the Secret War Tunnels travel through the narrow passageways and cave-like rooms carved into the stone face of the famous white cliffs of Dover. Original furnishings and artifacts bring those tense days to life, and the scene is made even more realistic with projections, special effects, sound recordings and actual film footage from the evacuation.

Kids won’t want to miss exploring Dover Castle’s battlements, while parents savor sweeping views across the English Channel and the Kent countryside.