Tilbury Fort
Tilbury, Essex
England's best 17th century bastioned fortress on the Thames, with moats and grassy ramparts to circuit, though dogs are restricted to certain areas.
Charles II built this after the Dutch sailed up the Medway in 1667 and burned the English fleet at anchor, among the most humiliating days in British naval history. The result is England's best surviving example of a 17th century bastioned artillery fortress, with its complete circuit of moats and outworks substantially intact, laid out to the geometric Dutch pattern that dominated European military engineering. Prisoners were held here after the Jacobite Rising of 1745, and the fort's guns helped shoot down a raiding Zeppelin in 1916.
Whilst you work through the bastions and the powder magazines, your dog gets the moats and grassy ramparts, which give a proper circuit to walk with the Thames and its enormous shipping traffic alongside. The policy is qualified though: dogs on leads are allowed in restricted areas, with assistance dogs welcome, so check on arrival which parts are open to you.
There is free parking in front of the fort and more beside the World's End pub, whose riverside frontage gives your dog somewhere to finish. Café, shop, toilets, exhibition, gardens and picnic seating are on site.
At a Glance
- Dog Access
- On-lead in the grounds
- Dogs on leads allowed (in restricted areas). Assistance dogs welcome.
- Site Type
- Castle & Fort
- Entry
- £9.35 adult
- £4.67 child · £23.37 family
- Members
- Free for English Heritage members
- Facilities
- Café / restaurant, Exhibition, Gardens, Parking, Picnic seating, Shop, Toilets, Wheelchair access
- Telephone
- 01375 858489
- Parking
- Free parking in front of fort. Further parking available adjacent to World's End Pub.
English Heritage Membership
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Planning Your Visit
- 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 Tilbury Fort dog friendly?
Tilbury Fort is partially dog friendly — dogs on leads are permitted in certain areas, including the moats and grassy ramparts, which make for a decent circuit with views of the Thames and its busy shipping traffic. Assistance dogs are welcome throughout. The policy is qualified though, so it's worth checking on arrival which parts of the fort are open to you and your dog.
Are dogs allowed at Tilbury Fort year round?
The listing doesn't specify any seasonal restrictions on dogs at Tilbury Fort, so it's reasonable to expect access throughout the year. That said, it's always worth contacting the site directly before visiting, particularly as the areas open to dogs may vary depending on events or operational decisions on the day.
What should I know before visiting Tilbury Fort with my dog?
Dogs must be kept on leads, and access is restricted to certain areas, so check with staff on arrival about exactly where you can explore together. The moats and grassy ramparts offer a good walk around the fort's perimeter, with the Thames and its enormous shipping traffic alongside. There's free parking in front of the fort, and the nearby World's End pub has a riverside frontage that makes a pleasant spot to round off the visit.
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