Portland Castle is a Tudor artillery fort built by Henry VIII between 1539 and 1541, overlooking Portland Harbour on the Isle of Portland in Dorset, managed by English Heritage. This guide covers opening hours, ticket prices, transport, parking, accessibility, and practical visitor tips.
This guide was last updated in March 2026 to reflect the 2026/27 admission prices, valid from 28 March 2026. Portland Castle closes entirely from November to March — there is no winter opening at all. The Super Saver rate also applies on Fridays and Saturdays, not Mondays to Fridays as at most English Heritage sites.
Quick facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | Liberty Road, Castletown, Isle of Portland, Dorset DT5 1AZ |
| Opening hours | Daily 10am–5pm (late March to late October only; closed November to March) |
| Adult ticket | £7.65–£9.26 depending on date and day |
| Nearest train | Weymouth (~4.5 miles); bus connection to the castle |
| Parking | On-site car park (~40 spaces, 10 metres from entrance); free for EH members |
| Time needed | 1.5–2 hours |
Portland Castle opening hours
Portland Castle is closed from early November to late March — there is no winter opening of any kind. The 2026/27 schedule is:
- 28 March – 24 October: daily, 10am–5pm
- 25 October – 1 November: daily, 10am–4pm
- 2 November – 27 March 2027: closed
Last admission 30 minutes before closing. Opening hours last checked on the official website and updated in March 2026.
Portland Castle ticket prices
At Portland Castle the Super Saver rate applies on Fridays and Saturdays — the cheapest rate falls on Sundays to Thursdays outside peak summer, the reverse of most English Heritage sites. English Heritage members enter free. Concessions apply to visitors aged 65+, students with a valid ID, and jobseekers with relevant ID.
Super Saver — Fri–Sat, 28 Mar–22 May & 1 Sep–1 Nov; daily, 2 Nov–16 Mar
| Visitor | Price |
|---|---|
| Adult | £7.65 |
| Concession | £6.88 |
| Child | £3.82 |
Saver — Sun–Thu, 28 Mar–22 May & 1 Sep–1 Nov; Fri–Sat, 23 May–31 Aug
| Visitor | Price |
|---|---|
| Adult | £8.50 |
| Concession | £7.65 |
| Child | £4.25 |
Standard — Sun–Thu, 23 May–31 Aug
| Visitor | Price |
|---|---|
| Adult | £9.26 |
| Concession | £8.50 |
| Child | £4.59 |
Groups of 15 or more receive a 10% discount. Guided group tours (introductory 20-min; castle and grounds 40-min; spooky tour 40-min) must be pre-booked by calling 01305 820539. Not included in any city pass scheme. Ticket prices last updated in March 2026.
Is it worth paying for English Heritage membership?
Entry prices for English Heritage sites, including Dover Castle, Stonehenge and Tintagel Castle, can seem extremely expensive. This is clearly a deliberate ploy to push visitors towards taking out annual English Heritage membership.
Membership gives free access to more than 400 sites across the country, and costs £82. That is, unless you get a special deal – there was a 25%-off Black Friday deal in November 2025, for example.
Whether that £82 is worth it depends on how many sites are near you (there are lots in the south of the country, not so many near me in Yorkshire). And, critically, whether you’re going to visit them with children.
Each member can take up to six children with them free of charge. Given the steep one-time entry fees, an adult member with two children is likely to recoup the cost of their membership by visiting just two or three sites within the year.
For an individual without children, I’d say English Heritage membership is worth it only if you’re planning to blitz a few sites in one year. For an individual with children, membership is a smart investment that will likely pay itself back within one school holiday. To me, it’s a no-brainer.
The real question is whether it’s worth renewing English Heritage membership after a year. That’s debatable, as you’re unlikely to go to many of these sites twice. I eventually renewed after I was offered 20% off the price. I’ll probably recoup the membership price visiting two sites in summer next year, even if I’ve ticked off most of the best ones near me.
If you buy membership through this link, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
How to get to Portland Castle
Portland Castle is on Liberty Road, Castletown, at the northern end of the Isle of Portland — a tied island connected to the mainland by the A354 road bridge over the Fleet Lagoon.
By train and bus: The nearest station is Weymouth (South Western Railway from London Waterloo, ~2.5 hours). From Weymouth, bus service 1 (First Wessex) runs to the Isle of Portland and stops at Mereside, a short walk from the castle; journey time approximately 20–25 minutes, services roughly every 30 minutes. Check current timetables at firstbus.co.uk before travelling.
By car: Use postcode DT5 1AZ; follow the A354 across the Chesil Beach causeway and signs to Castletown. No ULEZ charges apply. Bike parking is on site.
Parking at Portland Castle
An on-site car park with approximately 40 spaces is 10 metres from the entrance. Parking is free for English Heritage members; non-members pay a charge. Note: the charge amount is not clearly displayed on site — feed the machine until it confirms payment is complete, or ask at the ticket desk. Ten accessible bays are approximately 30 metres from the entrance on a level tarmac path; disabled visitors may also be set down at the castle entrance. Overflow parking is at Chesil Beach, a five-minute walk away.
How long to spend at Portland Castle
Most visitors spend 1.5 to 2 hours at Portland Castle. The compact castle — keep, gun room, Captain’s Chamber, Tudor kitchen, armoury, and Governor’s Garden — can be explored within this time. Allow additional time for the tearoom, group tours, or the Folktale Creature Trail if visiting with children.
Accessibility at Portland Castle
Wheelchair access is available to the Captain’s House, the ground floor of the castle, the gift shop, and the Governor’s Garden. There is no access to the first floor or the outer gun deck. Accessible bays are 30 metres from the entrance on a level path; disabled visitors can be set down at the entrance.
Toilets including accessible toilets with baby-changing are on site. A tactile model of the whole castle is in the main hall. Braille plaques are available on request; large-print panels are displayed throughout. The Tudor kitchen has touchable exhibits. An induction loop is in the shop. Dogs on leads are welcome in the grounds, castle, shop, and lower tearoom. Dog bowls are provided. The audio tour is in English only; French and German scripts can be requested.
Inside Portland Castle: what to see
Portland Castle is one of the best-preserved of Henry VIII’s Device Forts — built from local Portland stone with an unusual fan-shaped plan: a curved central keep and two angled wings flanking the harbour-facing gun battery. It remained in continuous military use for over 400 years.
The Gun Room, now open to the sky, retains five gun casements with original wall ports. The Captain’s Chamber traces the castle’s Governors, most famously Sir Walter Raleigh, appointed Captain in 1588; a 16th-century inscription from his time survives. The Tudor kitchen has been refurnished with touchable displays of food and cooking equipment around a large original fireplace. The Armoury allows visitors to try on Tudor soldier and Royalist Gunner outfits and armour.
The castle’s history extends beyond the Tudor period. During the Civil War (1642–46) it changed hands repeatedly, with Royalists capturing it in 1643 by disguising themselves as Parliamentary soldiers. In the Second World War it was used as a training base for combined operations, including exercises directly preparatory to the D-Day landings in 1944.
The Governor’s Garden contains a circular amphitheatre built from Portland stone, seating approximately 200, and a herb garden. The Captain’s Tearoom serves cream teas with homemade scones and clotted cream, hot and cold drinks, cakes, and light lunches; vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free options are available. Indoor and outdoor seating overlooks the garden. A Folktale Creature Trail for children is included in admission. A gift shop is on site.
Practical visitor tips
| Tip | Detail |
|---|---|
| Closed November to March | No winter opening of any kind. Check dates before travelling. |
| Super Saver is Fri–Sat here | The cheapest rate falls Sun–Thu outside peak summer — the reverse of most English Heritage sites. |
| Parking charge is unclear | The amount is not clearly displayed. Feed the machine until it confirms; ask at the ticket desk if unsure. |
| Book group tours in advance | Guided tours (20–40 minutes) must be pre-booked by calling 01305 820539. |
| Dogs welcome inside | Dogs on leads are permitted in the grounds, castle, shop, and lower tearoom — unusually broad for English Heritage. |
Frequently asked questions about Portland Castle
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is Portland Castle open in winter? | No. The castle closes at the start of November and does not reopen until late March. There is no winter, half-term, or Christmas opening. |
| Is Portland Castle suitable for children? | Yes. Dressing-up in the Armoury, the touchable Tudor kitchen, the Folktale Creature Trail, and the open grounds all suit children. |
| Are dogs allowed at Portland Castle? | Yes. Dogs on leads are welcome in the grounds, castle, shop, and lower tearoom. Dog bowls are provided. |
| Is Portland Castle accessible for wheelchair users? | Partially. Ground floor, Captain’s House, gift shop, and Governor’s Garden are accessible. The first floor and outer gun deck are not. |
| Is Portland Castle free for English Heritage members? | Yes. Members enter free, park free, and can bring up to six children free. |
Things to do near Portland Castle
Chesil Beach and the Fleet Lagoon form part of the Jurassic Coast UNESCO World Heritage Site, immediately accessible from the Isle of Portland; walking and wildlife watching are free. Portland Bill Lighthouse (~4 miles south) sits at the island’s tip above the Portland Race tidal race. Tout Quarry Sculpture Park (free) is an open-air sculpture park in a former Portland stone quarry. Sandsfoot Castle (free ruins, managed by Weymouth and Portland Borough Council), directly across Portland Harbour, is the sister fort built by Henry VIII at the same time. Weymouth town centre (~4.5 miles north) has a beach, esplanade, and independent shops.
