AttractionEnglish Heritage

Dover Castle

Dover, Kent

England's mightiest fortress on the White Cliffs, with huge clifftop earthworks for your dog, though the Great Tower and wartime tunnels are grounds-only.

Dover is the biggest day out English Heritage offer and the ticket price reflects it. The castle crowns the White Cliffs and covers everything from Roman lighthouse to Cold War bunker. Henry II's Medieval Great Tower has lavish recreated interiors, and underneath, the Secret Wartime Tunnels tell the story of the Dunkirk evacuation, directed from inside this cliff.

While you climb the Great Tower for views across the Channel to France and work through the tunnels, your dog has the outer grounds, which are extensive: huge earthworks, curtain walls and open clifftop grass with the sea below and constant ferry traffic in and out of the harbour.

Dogs on leads are welcome in the grounds only, with assistance dogs welcome across the site. That is a real limitation here, because the Great Tower and the tunnels are the main event and no dog can go into either. At £29.75 an adult, think carefully about whether a grounds-only visit is worth it or whether you bring someone to swap with. Free parking for up to 200 cars. The Operation Dynamo tunnel experience is currently closed for maintenance.

At a Glance

Dog Access: On-lead in the grounds; Dogs on leads are welcome in the grounds only. Assistance dogs welcome across the site.
Site Type: Castle & Fort
Entry: £29.75 adult; £14.87 child · £74.37 family
Members: Free for English Heritage members
Facilities: Café / restaurant, Exhibition, Gardens, Museum, Parking, Picnic seating, Shop, Toilets, Wheelchair access
Telephone: 0370 333 1181
Parking: Free parking for up to 200 cars, plus peak time and events off-site parking a 5 minute walk from the castle and can be found at Broadlees - CT16 1HW. Please note, our car park is located on-site, and so opens at the same time as the castle. Parking for Dover Castle visitors only. There is a free car park for Blue Badge holders, situated by the Great Tower.

English Heritage Membership

Planning Your Visit

Opening times

Monday: Closed
Tuesday: Closed
Wednesday: 10:00 - 17:00
Thursday: 10:00 - 17:00
Friday: 10:00 - 17:00
Saturday: 10:00 - 17:00
Sunday: 10:00 - 17:00

Opening times and prices were checked on 26 August 2026 and are subject to change, and some sites close for events or over winter. Confirm on the English Heritage site page before you travel.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Dover Castle dog friendly?
Dogs on leads are welcome in the grounds at Dover Castle, which are genuinely extensive — think sweeping earthworks, curtain walls and open clifftop grass with views across the Channel. However, the main indoor attractions, including the Medieval Great Tower and the Secret Wartime Tunnels, are off-limits to dogs, with the exception of assistance dogs who are welcome across the whole site.
Are dogs allowed at Dover Castle year round?
The data available doesn't specify any seasonal restrictions on dogs, so grounds access appears to be available whenever the castle is open. It's always worth checking with English Heritage directly before your visit, particularly as some facilities like the Operation Dynamo tunnel experience are currently closed for maintenance.
What should I know before visiting Dover Castle with my dog?
The big thing to weigh up is the cost — at £29.75 per adult, you're paying full price for a ticket when your dog will limit you to the grounds only, missing the Great Tower and tunnels that are really the heart of the experience. If you're set on visiting, bringing someone along to swap dog duties while others explore inside is a practical solution. On the plus side, parking is free for up to 200 cars on-site, and the clifftop grounds are genuinely impressive, with big open spaces and constant ferry traffic in and out of the harbour below.