Hurst Castle
BEST FOR
Ages 5-17
ENTRY
from £6.50
SETTING
Outdoors
BUGGY FRIENDLY
Yes
What it’s like
You get here by a twenty-minute ferry across the saltmarsh or a two-mile walk along the shingle spit, then there's a whole Tudor fortress to explore.
There's no road to Hurst Castle, which is half the appeal. You either take the ferry from Keyhaven, a leisurely ride past the saltmarshes where you might spot dark-bellied Brent geese, or you walk the two miles along Hurst Spit with the sea on one side. Either way, kids arrive already looking forward to exploring rather than fed up from a car park trudge.
Once you're there, it's proper rambling around castle rooms, nooks and gun casemates, with summer trails that send them hunting for five hidden shields or ten letters spelling a hidden word, prizes and certificates attached. There are themed days too: Tudor Tuesdays for a taste of life in Henry VIII's fortress, Wildlife Wednesdays, and Throwback Thursdays where they can dress as a soldier and read up on garrison life. Under-16s need an adult with them throughout, on the ferry and in the castle, which is fair enough given the sheer drops and deep water around the place.
Worth knowing before you commit a whole afternoon: the east wing is completely closed after a wall collapse in 2021, and some west wing casemates are shut for foundation work too, so you're not seeing the full building. The ground is uneven throughout with no lift above ground level, which makes pushchairs and wheelchairs hard going once you're past the entrance. The site itself reckons on four to five hours for a visit, and once you've factored in the ferry crossing or the walk each way, that feels about right rather than optimistic.
Food-wise, the café does hot and cold drinks, cakes, sandwiches and pastries, but stock is limited since there are no shops on site, so things can sell out by afternoon. There's no running drinking water either, so bring bottles already full. Picnics are fine on the benches outside, and dogs are welcome on the ferry and around the castle grounds.
Facilities
Need to know
- Best for
- 5 to 17, older kids get more from the trails and history
- Booking
- Tickets can be purchased on the day or pre-booked online (except English Heritage members)
- Parking
- Keyhaven pay & display car park (sat nav SO41 0TP) or Milford on Sea seafront car park (SO41 0TY)
- How long to allow
- Allow 4-5 hours
- Food
- Café offers hot and cold drinks, cakes, snacks, sandwiches and hot vegan or pork sausage rolls (subject to availability)
- Picnics
- Allowed. Benches outside café
- Pushchairs
- Foldable pushchairs only on ferry
- Wheelchairs
- Limited access: foldable only on ferry via ramp/steps
- Dogs
- Welcome aboard ferries and throughout castle
- Getting there by bus or train
- Keyhaven car park (sat nav SO41 0TP) for ferry, approximately 20-minute boat ride
- Worth knowing
- Annual pass offers unlimited visits and unlimited return ferry journeys throughout open season
- Under-16s must be accompanied by an adult on both the ferry and in the castle, no exceptions
- Ferry timetables shift with weather and tide, so build in some slack either way
- The castle closes for winter, from 2nd November through to late March
- Bring water bottles already filled as there's no running water to top up on site
- Themed days rotate through the week: Tudor Tuesdays, Wildlife Wednesdays and Throwback Thursdays
Plan your visit
How much does it cost?
£9.50 for an adult, £6.50 for a child aged 5 to 17, or £30 for a family ticket covering two adults and three children. Ferry tickets are separate and charged on top.
Do we need to book ahead?
You can buy tickets on the day at the castle, cash or card. English Heritage members cannot pre-book and need to show a valid card on arrival instead.
How do we actually get there?
Either the ferry from Keyhaven, about a 20-minute ride, or a 2-mile walk along Hurst Spit from Milford on Sea. There's no vehicle access to the castle itself.
Where do we park?
Keyhaven pay and display car park if you're taking the ferry, or the Milford on Sea seafront car park if you're walking the spit.
Is it suitable for a toddler?
The listed ages start at 5, and under-16s must be with an adult at all times because of sheer drops and deep water around the castle. The uneven ground and shingle spit make pushchairs hard work too.
How long should we allow?
The site suggests four to five hours once you count the ferry or walk in both directions plus time to explore the castle.
Is there food on site?
The café does hot and cold drinks, cakes, sandwiches and pastries, with gluten free options, but it can sell out since there are no shops nearby to restock from. There's no running water for refilling bottles, so bring your own.
Can we bring a pushchair or wheelchair?
Pushchairs and wheelchairs need to be foldable for the ferry ramp and steps, and the castle has no lift above ground floor with uneven ground throughout, so access above the entrance level is limited.
Are dogs allowed?
Yes, dogs can come on the ferry and throughout the castle grounds, and there are water bowls at the ticket office, guard room and café.
What parts of the castle are closed right now?
The east wing has been closed completely since a wall collapse in February 2021, and some west wing casemates are shut for foundation stabilisation work.
Can we just visit the café without paying to go into the castle?
The café sits outside the castle itself so you don't need a ticket just to stop there.
Is there anything for repeat visits?
There's an annual pass giving unlimited castle entry and unlimited return ferry journeys for the whole open season, which could work out well if you're local to the area.
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