Top Things to do in Rochester
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Top 10 Things to do in Rochester, United Kingdom (UK)
Discover the best top things to do in Rochester, United Kingdom (UK) including Rochester Cathedral, Guildhall Museum, Rochester Castle, Playopolis Board Game Cafe, Upnor Castle, Restoration House, Six Poor Travellers House, Huguenot Museum, Rochester Bridge, Medway Visitor Centre & Art Gallery.
Restaurants in Rochester
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 874 reviews
Growing in Christ since AD 604. This is England's second oldest Cathedral. We are home to the Textus Roffensis, the only existing copy of the first code of English Law. Dating from 604 AD, this is the second-oldest Cathedral in England.
Reviewed By Borderer12 - UK
Very welcoming volunteers, supported by informative panels and other interpretative aids dotted at strategic intervals around the building. Highlights for me were the memorial to Chard of Rorke's Drift fame, and the wheel of fortune wall painting. Although they ask for a donation from visitors there is no entry charge as such which I think is as it should be.
2. Guildhall Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 375 reviews
Reviewed By Sandygranny - Sandy, United Kingdom
This was our second visit to the Guildhall Museum in Rochester and it was well worth going again. There is so much to see here and something of interest for all ages.
There was plenty of information on the exhibits and the staff were very friendly and knowledgeable.
One of the highlights for me was the part reconstruction of a Medway prison ship (hulk) on three decks that you can walk through. It was extremely well done and I found it very interesting and thought-provoking as it gives visitors an insight into the horrendous conditions the prisoners had to endure.
This attraction is definitely worth a visit and it’s free!
3. Rochester Castle
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 991 reviews
Built in 1087, this castle is one of England's finest and best preserved examples of Norman architecture.
Reviewed By juliaandadam123 - Ashford, United Kingdom
This is a good example of a castle from its time, however it just cannot compare to Dover Castle in terms of value for money and time spent there. It takes very little time to walk around, and without the audio guide there is not much information on display.
4. Playopolis Board Game Cafe
Overall Ratings
5 based on 61 reviews
Reviewed By CeireBurr - London, United Kingdom
Really enjoyed my visit here with my friends :)! We played the Dark Souls board game and enjoyed some drinks and food while we played. Really glad that we have this place in Rochester :). The staff are lovely. Highly recommend visiting!
5. Upnor Castle
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 303 reviews
Set in tranquil grounds, in the picturesque riverside village of Upnor, stands this rare and wonderfully preserved Elizabethan artillery fortress.Upnor Castle was built in 1559 to defend the navy of Queen Elizabeth I and the nearby Chatham Dockyard. It put up a brave but ineffective fight against the Dutch invasion of the British fleet in 1667 and this dramatic and exciting event is told to today's visitors with an audiovisual experience.After Upnor had served queen and country as a military base it was put to use supplying gunpowder and weapons to the men of war along the river. Open air theatre and battle re-enactments can now be enjoyed during the summer months, and Upnor Castle's ancient and atmospheric halls are proving to be a very popular venue for weddings.New for 2012! Interactive displays and new history boards.
Reviewed By Poppy R - London, United Kingdom
Small but of great historical and strategic interest. Fantastic views. Captivating. Loads to learn. Gorgeous High Street with architectural gems. Free parking BUT short walk along cobbled street might be a challenge for some. Don't wear heels! Lots of steps. No cafe (self service vending machine) but there are toilets. Well worth a visit...or two. Closed now until March - put it in the diary.
6. Restoration House
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 71 reviews
Ancient mansion house in historic Rochester. Just off the High St., this house is like entering into another world. The rooms have an historic ambience, with early surviving paint schemes and original floors, windows and furnished with fine English furniture and portraits. The Gardens are exceptionally well maintained in classic English style, with immaculate lawns, yew hedges, topiary, an astonishing geometric parterre. There is a lush cutting garden which supplies flowers for the arrangements in the house. After 7 years of restoration the so called Tudor garden is emerging as an Italian water garden with statues and Fountains, the water sourced from the aquifer and recycled through a gravity feed system. This private gem is open to the public on a restricted basis, on Thursdays and Fridays from the end of May to the end of September. If you're in the area (on an open day), make sure you don't miss out. This is a real treat!
Reviewed By Mary R - Rochester, United Kingdom
Haven't visited Restoration House for donkeys years. What a lovely surprise .... the House is brimming with interesting furniture and paintings, and the garden is an absolute gem. It is sad so few 'locals' realise what is hidden away.. come and see. The tea room, run by volunteers from the Wisdom Hospice, has a small but delicious menu. And a visit to the loo is a blast from the past!
7. Six Poor Travellers House
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 112 reviews
Reviewed By Lepazz - Rochester, United Kingdom
It's very easy to miss the Six Poor Travellers House as you stroll along Rochester High Street as it's very unassuming on the outside.
However, once you step through the door you are immediately transported back to days gone by.
The Gardens are beautifully kept and the history of the house is intriguing as are the many artefacts on display.
Make sure you take the time to visit this unusual and interesting as well historical house.
8. Huguenot Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 74 reviews
Reviewed By Mike S - Ashford, United Kingdom
First visit to this museum, and very impressed with the standard of information and its presentation. The museum is at first-floor level, and is open when other local attractions such as the Historic Dockyard at Chatham are closed for the winter. The history of French religious persecution of Protestants, and the exodus to Britain especially in the 1680s, is an important topic. The museum building is newly refurbished, and has a very creditable education and outreach programme, with dedicated facilities to match. Helpful staff, good low-key themed shop, and the Tourist Information Centre and café on the ground floor add to a pleasant experience.
9. Rochester Bridge
Overall Ratings
4 based on 129 reviews
Reviewed By Graham U - Liverpool, United Kingdom
LOOKING BOTH DOWN AND UP-RIVER there is plenty of activity on the Medway, always an important river, serving London. Good views of the attractive riverside Gardens, too - and of course, Rochester Castle. The road to Upnor Castle and other attractions.
10. Medway Visitor Centre & Art Gallery
Overall Ratings
4 based on 50 reviews
Reviewed By futtock21 - London, United Kingdom
You'll all be familiar with the model tourist information centre dispensing leaflets about a town's hotels, restaurants and attractions, possibly giving away a free map from a roll, and selling the odd guide book or jar of locally made jam or chutney. But how many also boast an art gallery with high quality changing Exhibitions (currently Of Fireships and Iron, an exhibition by five local printmakers inspired by the 350 year anniversary of the Battle of Medway), a museum telling the history of the Huguenot immigration to England in general and Rochester in particular) as well as a pleasant cafe? Oh and they also advised me where I could find a cashpoint on a busy Saturday without a long queue. Answer: at the railway station.
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