One of a string of forts built by Henry VIII on the south coast, a day out at Hurst Castle with kids is a proper adventure, right from the journey to the historic site, where Charles I was also held prisoner.
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But unlike a lot of other castles in the UK, this isn’t just a piece of history frozen in time – while you can still explore the Tudor heart of the castle, it has been used for defence right from the Napoleonic Wars in the 19th century to the First and Second World Wars.
All helped along by the fact that Hurst Castle sits right at the end of a spit of land by the edge of the New Forest, looking out across the Solent to the Isle of Wight, so the only way to get there is either by ferry, or a walk along the shingle which stretches for around two miles from the mainland.
As we had big plans to go walking elsewhere in the New Forest later in the day, we took the easy option and boarded the little ferry which runs from Keyhaven out to Hurst Castle – although I never say no to a boat ride, and it’s hard to think of a better way to start a gorgeous sunny summer’s day than cruising past the wetlands across the water.
Although I knew there were more than 500 years of history to discover at Hurst Castle with kids, I wasn’t sure how long it would actually keep my daughter entertained. But in the end, it surprised us both, with some fun family activities, some amazing views and a string of quirky displays in the old castle buildings.
The original castle was built between 1541 and 1543, with a 12-sided Tudor tower surrounded by a courtyard and three walls, part of Henry VIII’s plan to keep England safe from possible invasion by the powerful Francis I of France and Holy Roman Emperor Charles V after his divorce from Catherine of Aragon to marry Anne Boleyn.
In the end, the French invaded in 1545, slightly further along the Solent at Portsmouth – the battle where the Mary Rose sank – before attempting to take the Isle of Wight, and eventually cutting their losses and heading back to France three days later.
There’s a great set of information boards in the Tudor tower giving you a potted history of Hurst Castle, so it’s a great place to start – and travel forward chronologically through time too, of course.
During our visit in the summer holidays, the tower was also set up with a string of traditional games, including bean bag toss and giant noughts and crosses, but there are also some brass rubbings to try of creatures which live around Hurst Castle.
And a special flag trail to follow, in case your kids need persuading to explore every inch of the castle – somehow, despite looking high, low and from end to end, we still managed to miss one, but worked out the anagram anyway.
Check out my video of a day at Hurst Castle with kids
Once you’ve explore inside, head up to the nearby battlements for some spectacular views – there are several towers where you can look out back towards Hampshire as well as over to the Isle of Wight, which seemed incredibly close on a sunny day.
Close enough, in fact, to spot the Needles rock formations just off the coast, as well as a string of little sailing ships scudding along the water.
Hurst Castle was renowned as a terrible place to be posted, so bleak in the late 18th century that there was hardly a dry room. I can imagine that in the winter, it’s still freezing, windy and very inhospitable, but on a sunny day, it’s quite simply gorgeous.
For more things to do in the New Forest with kids, check out my top picks, as well as more ideas for family days out in Hampshire and my guide to the Isle of Wight with kids
For around 250 years, not much changed at Hurst Castle – and you can still find plenty of other historic details to spot, including a huge iron studded wooden door, the old portcullis and a very old toilet (basically just a hole inside a stone seat. Very Horrible Histories).
Along the way, Charles I was briefly held prisoner here after his time at Carisbrooke Castle on the Isle of Wight, before being taken to London for execution, while it was also used as a jail for a priest, convicted of promoting or practising Catholicism, which was illegal at the time.
But when war broke out with France in 1793, and especially once Napoleon came to power, Hurst Castle became a vital part of the coastal defences once again.
New gun batteries and heavier cannon were added to the castle, with a bigger garrison housed here too, before even more changes were made in the mid-19th century thanks to the fear of invasion from (once again) France – this time emperor Napoleon III.
Two huge wings were added to either side of the Tudor castle, designed to house as many as 61 guns, before the 20th century saw new smaller quick firing guns added when war broke out.
As you wander, you’ll find different areas set up as they would have been used during the First and Second World War, from communications in a corner of the Tudor Tower, to bunks for First World War troops and even a theatre set up during the Second World War.
It feels like there are endless corners to discover; once you’ve climbed up to the battlements and towers, you can also venture down into basements, through narrow corridors and find little old rooms used for storage, including munitions
As you go, there are a few special displays to look out for too, including one set of 20th century exhibits near the entrance.
Along with uniforms and other First and Second World War artefacts, there are posters warning of everything from sharing information to how to recognise the difference between German and British aircraft.
One of the most unusual areas includes several rooms dedicated to displays on lighthouses, including plenty of chances to get hands on.
There’s a little model of a lightship, where you can make it light up, or discover how special prisms were used for the glass in lighthouses which my daughter helpfully demonstrated with an explanation of how they worked – thanks to her recent physics lessons.
I couldn’t decide whether I was more fascinated by the old control box for Beachy Head lighthouse, or the uniform lighthouse keepers were expected to wear – despite being one of the most isolated jobs around, they still seemed to be in full uniform!
If you keep your eyes open as you go, there’s always something else to discover as you wander too, from huge guns to little decorations on cannons, an old lighthouse now rusted into the old walls (its weathervane is nearby in the grounds).
There’s even a memorial to all those who served at Hurst Castle over the five centuries it operated as a military base.
The east wing of the castle (and parts of the west wing) is currently undergoing renovations too, so there’ll be even more to see in a few years as well.
And once you’ve explored inside, you can also take a wander around the outside the castle – stroll over to the gleamingly white lighthouse building, or even if you’re not walking the whole back along the shingle path, amble a little way alongthe spit of land connecting the castle to the mainland.
In the end, we spent around two hours here, and could have stayed longer if the ferry hadn’t pulled up just as I was planning lunch and our afternoon’s fun!
While we’ve ticked off quite a few of the best castles in the UK, this was definitely one of the most unusual. Whether you’re looking for history, amazing views, some family fun, or a bit of an adventure to get there, there’s something for everyone at Hurst Castle with kids.
Visiting Hurst Castle with kids: Need to know
There are only two ways to get to Hurst Castle, via the little ferry from Keyhaven or on foot – it is not possible to drive there.
The ferry to Hurst Castle
It pays to get there early in summer as the first boat of the day was a small one (12 passengers max) but when it filled up, we actually set off before the official departure time and ended up getting to the castle as it opened at 10am.
By the time we left at lunchtime, the bigger 94-seat ferry was running with more space for lots more passengers, although it can only be used at high tide. It takes around 20 minutes each way and you can buy return tickets. The ferry dock is only a few minutes from a public car park at Keyhaven (you can use the RingGo app to pay, although data is limited) – postcode SO41 0TP.
Ferries run from April 1 to November 2. The first ferry leaves officially at 10am, and they run every 20-30 minutes throughout the day, with the final ferry at 5.30pm (4pm from October 25-November 2), although times can vary depending on the weather and the tide, as well as how full the ferry is.
You can’t prebook tickets, just buy them on board (there’s a card machine) or at the castle for a return trip. They’re dog-friendly (as is Hurst Castle itself) and accessible.
Walking to Hurst Castle with kids
The walk to Hurst Castle is around 1.5-2 miles, but it’s all along shingle which can be hard work, so do wear proper shoes and allow plenty of time – allow at least 40 minutes, and bear in mind that if it’s windy, it’s going to be slow going.
You can scamble down to slightly more protected paths through the wetlands for some of it, and the views are fantastic. While I wouldn’t fancy doing it with a toddler (and you couldn’t easily get a standard buggy along the path), it’s definitely possible with older kids.
The closest car park is at Milford-on-Sea – there are a couple by the seafront, although Sturt Pond and Hurst Road East car park shaves around five minutes off your walk vs Hurst Road, plus some free parking on the roadside.
If you only want to walk one way, it makes most sense to park here, walk over the shingle spit then get the ferry back, with around a 30-minute walk from the ferry dock back to the car park in Milford on Sea. It doesn’t really save much time/effort but is one way to try both.
How long to spend at Hurst Castle
The only limit on your time is the ferry timetable (unless you’re walking) – and Hurst Castle recommends families allow around four to five hours.
Personally, I’d say that’s probably more than you need, although it’s easy to fill longer if you want. Around two hours gives plenty of time to see everything, or allow a bit longer if you’re also stopping for lunch.
As the ferry journey takes another 45-60 minutes, and the walk both ways takes around 90 minutes, you do need at least three if you’re hoping to explore properly.
Tickets to Hurst Castle
Hurst Castle is an English Heritage property, so it’s free to members (the ferry is still paid, even if you are a member). You can’t buy membership at the site, so you’ll need to have it in advance.
The site itself is operated by Hurst Marine, so if you’re buying tickets, you can prebook these through their website or buy them on arrival.
We prebooked and I made sure I had a screengrab of the QR code as I wasn’t sure how much data there’d be given the castle’s location, but I don’t think you need to – you can pay by cash and card on arrival.
The castle is open from April 1 to November 2, from 10am to 5.30pm (except for October 25-November 2, when it closes at 4pm). Last entry is 30 minutes before closing, and the castle is closed entirely from November 3- March 31.
Facilities at Hurst Castle
There are toilets inside the castle (only for visitors) and a small cafe just outside the castle entrance, with picnic benches inside and outside.
There is no running drinking water at the castle (the water for washing hands in the toilets is salt water) so you do need to bring plenty or be prepared to buy it.
For more things to do in the New Forest with kids, check out my top picks, as well as more ideas for family days out in Hampshire and my guide to the Isle of Wight with kids
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links – any purchases you make are unaffected but I may receive a small commission. All opinions on visiting Hurst Castle with kids are my own
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