Top Things to Do in Rochester During Your Enchanting England Trip

No amount of time spent in Rochester can do justice as there are so many things to do in Rochester. If you are looking for a medieval getaway during a Europe vacation, then Rochester is where you have to be. This medieval city is located in Kent, in the south-east part of England. This historic city is an amalgamation of modern-day lifestyle along with quaint old villages. England is truly an amazing tourist destination, and it is not just the famous cities in England that bring this status. Even the slightly offbeat and not so famous destinations are so beautiful. This vindicates why this is one of the most favourite places to visit for travellers all over the world.

There are so many things to do in Rochester that you could literally be overwhelmed by this city. This cathedral city is located on the River Medway. This place is fortified by a medieval castle, which has withstood the deterioration admirably through all these centuries. It lies at the lowest bridging point of Medway. This city is quite accessible from London and is situated about 30 miles away from the same. Charles Dickens, the famous writer, was very affined to this city. He worked many of the famous buildings of Rochester into his writing, like the Eastgate House. He also owned a house in this city. Hence, there is always a poetic sense that lingers with this place. It also has the Royal Navy Dockyard, housing ships dating back up to 500 years in the past.

Things to do in Rochester

Rochester Castle
Cathedral of Rochester
Guildhall Museum
High Street
Eastgate House

1. Rochester Castle

No trip to this historic town is complete without visiting this castle. This castle is the most prominent and most famous point of attraction. And there is no way this castle could escape the eye of any traveller, hence becoming one of the most recommended things to do in Rochester. This is a stunning landmark of the United Kingdom’s Norman Romanesque architecture. This castle was built from Kentish Ragstone by Henry I in the 1120s. This castle is over 35 metres in height, and the entrance is well protected in case of attacks from enemies. The walls are about 4 metres thick, which could literally withstand about three siege attacks! There is also an open-air theatre in which cinema shows run throughout the summer in this castle!

2. Cathedral of Rochester

The Cathedral of Rochester is one of the key and integral part of tourism in this town. Visiting this place is one of the top things to do in Rochester. The worship in this cathedral happens since the 7th century! Although, the current form of the building belongs back to the 12th and the 13th century. The Cathedral merges the Norman and Early English Gothic styles, which is truly a sight to behold. The first six bays of this Cathedral are Norman, after which you can find a Gothic design. There are also several ruins of the building to the south of the Cathedral, which are quite fascinating. The Gundulf’s tower is located to the east of the North Tower and is now used as the private back door to the Cathedral. Visiting this place is sure to add a spiritual dimension to your vacation!

3. Guildhall Museum

If you want to travel back in time and see the exhibits of tools and accessories used by various cultures, then visiting the Guildhall Museum should be one of the mandatory things to in Rochester for you. The beauty of the museum starts right from its architectural style. It is a Baroque civic monument and is absolutely stunning. It is situated in the High Street and dates back to the 17th century. The bright plaster ceilings over the staircase and entrance hall will make you go all wow about it. You are allowed to touch a Flint axe, which is over 200,000 years old and belongs to the Medway’s human history. Have a look at the domestic utensils used by the Romans from Darenth Roman Villa. You also get an opportunity to see 19th-century prisons and showcases Victorian kitchens in the past.

4. High Street

High Street is the heart and soul of Rochester, and should definitely be in the list of things to do in Rochester. The street is so colourful and lively. Sometimes it gets too pretty for real, that you wonder if you are in a movie set. The street stretches from the north to the southeast and is embedded with gaslights. Quaint cantilevered Tudor houses and weatherboard cottages, dating back to the 17th and 18th century, are well preserved in this place. There is so much life and culture to this place. You can find family-owned pubs, antiques, vintage clothes, authentic English cafes, local businesses, and whatnot. Visiting this place well and truly makes you embrace the culture of Rochester.

5. Eastgate House

This is one of the most treasured places in High Street, and should definitely be in the list of things to do in Rochester. Eastgate House is an Elizabethan Townhouse completed in 1591. This is one of Charles Dickens’ most favourite buildings in this place, and this had also found a way to his writings. He had mentioned this building as Westgate and Nun’s House in two of his best works. The interiors are very well preserved, and you can learn more about the people who have lived in this building. In the garden of this building lies the Swiss Chalet, the writing shed of Charles Dicken. He had written several of his famous works based from here.

A trip to England can be quite fulfilling if you could cover the offbeat locations along with the most visited ones. And when you are talking about offbeat locations, Rochester holds a place there. There are so many things to do in Rochester that it will suit anyone and everyone’s liking. Explore the unknown by curating the perfect itinerary for your vacation through the travel experts of Pickyourtrail. The United Kingdom tour packages offer you all the varieties that travellers seek in a vacation. You could also drop us a Whatsapp enquiry to know more about the other domestic and international tour packages. Get yourself a tailormade itinerary that suits the best interests of you and your travelling group. What are you waiting for? Embark on a trip to Exciting England to have the best time of your life!