Richborough Roman Fort and Amphitheatre is a Roman Saxon Shore fort near Sandwich in Kent — described by English Heritage as the most significant Roman site in Britain. 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. Richborough closes entirely from November to March. There is no public transport to the site — Sandwich station is 2 miles away — and no café.
Quick facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | Richborough Road, Sandwich, Kent CT13 9JW |
| What3words | polar.totally.inhales |
| Opening hours | Daily 10am–5pm (late March to late October only; closed November to March) |
| Adult ticket | £8.50–£10.79 depending on date and day |
| Nearest train | Sandwich station (~2 miles); no bus service to site |
| Parking | Free on-site car park (30–40 spaces) |
| Time needed | 2–3 hours |
Richborough Roman Fort opening hours
Richborough is closed from early November to late March — no winter opening of any kind. The 2026/27 schedule: 28 Mar – 24 Oct, daily 10am–5pm; 25 Oct – 1 Nov, daily 10am–4pm; 2 Nov – 27 Mar 2027, closed. Last admission 30 minutes before closing. Opening hours last updated in May 2026.
Richborough Roman Fort ticket prices
English Heritage members enter free. Concessions apply to visitors aged 65+, students with a valid ID, and jobseekers with relevant ID. A free audio tour (English only) is included with admission.
Super Saver — Mon–Fri, 28 Mar–22 May & 1 Sep–1 Nov; daily, 2 Nov–16 Mar
| Visitor | Price |
|---|---|
| Adult | £8.50 |
| Concession | £7.65 |
| Child | £4.25 |
Saver — Sat–Sun & bank holidays, 28 Mar–22 May & 1 Sep–1 Nov; Mon–Fri, 23 May–31 Aug
| Visitor | Price |
|---|---|
| Adult | £9.26 |
| Concession | £8.50 |
| Child | £4.59 |
Standard — Sat–Sun & bank holidays, 23 May–31 Aug
| Visitor | Price |
|---|---|
| Adult | £10.79 |
| Concession | £10.03 |
| Child | £5.35 |
Groups of 15 or more receive a 10% discount. Ticket prices last updated in May 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 Richborough Roman Fort
Richborough Roman Fort is on Richborough Road, ~2 miles north of Sandwich and ~3 miles south-east of Ramsgate. At the A256/A257 roundabout, head for Sandwich, turn left onto Richborough Road and proceed ~1 mile.
By train: Sandwich station (Southeastern from London Charing Cross ~1 hr 45 min; from Dover ~25 min) is ~2 miles from the fort. No buses serve the site. A taxi from Sandwich is the most practical option; it is also possible to walk from Sandwich town centre in ~45 minutes. Cycling routes at sustrans.org.uk.
By car: Postcode CT13 9JW or what3words polar.totally.inhales.
Parking at Richborough Roman Fort
A free on-site car park for 30–40 cars is available for all visitors including non-members. Cycle parking is also available. No coach access — group operators should contact English Heritage in advance.
How long to spend at Richborough Roman Fort
Most visitors spend 2 to 3 hours. The fort walls, Claudian gateway, museum, and amphitheatre walk can all be seen within this time. The audio tour takes around 45 minutes if followed in full.
Accessibility at Richborough Roman Fort
The visitor centre, museum, and shop are accessible for wheelchair users. The site has compacted gravel, grass, and earthwork terrain; some areas are uneven. The Claudian gateway tower requires steps — not accessible by wheelchair. The amphitheatre is across a public road (take care) and involves grass and uneven earthwork terrain. Toilets with some disabled access are available on site year-round. Dogs on leads welcome in all outdoor areas. Before entering the amphitheatre field with a dog, check for farm animals — if present, English Heritage advises against entering.
Inside Richborough Roman Fort and Amphitheatre: what to see
Richborough — Rutupiae to the Romans — was the principal entry point to Roman Britain. When Emperor Claudius launched his invasion in AD 43, his army landed here at a natural harbour on the Wantsum Channel, a wide sea passage separating the Isle of Thanet from the mainland. Over nearly 400 years, the site grew from a military bridgehead into a major port, trading hub, and Saxon Shore fort. The Wantsum Channel silted up during the medieval period, leaving Richborough 3 kilometres inland today — one of the stranger geographical transformations of any English Heritage site.
The Saxon Shore fort walls of the late 3rd century are the most visible remains, standing to impressive height in regular courses of stone with distinctive tile bonding courses — some of the finest surviving Roman masonry in Britain. Within the walls, foundations of streets, shops, granaries, barracks, a bath house, and domestic buildings are visible.
The most historically significant structure is long gone above ground. Around AD 85, Roman authorities erected a massive triumphal arch sheathed in Carrara marble — its cross-shaped foundations are visible at the centre of the site, representing what would have been one of the grandest structures in Roman Britain, comparable to the Arch of Titus in Rome at around 25 metres high. The Claudian gateway, partially reconstructed, allows visitors to climb 8 metres above ground to the vantage point of a Roman sentry. The defensive ditches of the earlier fort are clearly visible from the tower.
The revamped museum displays pottery, coins, tools, jewellery, and personal items from site excavations — one of the richest Roman collections from a single site in Britain. The site is also on the Bloomberg Connects app; a Folktale Creature Trail is available for children.
The amphitheatre is a 5-minute walk across a public road. The earthwork outline is clearly visible and interpretation panels explain how gladiatorial entertainments were staged here for crowds of up to 5,000 people — one of only a handful of visible Roman amphitheatres in England.
There is no café. A vending machine provides hot drinks; the shop sells snacks, ice cream, and Roman-themed souvenirs. Six picnic benches look out over the Roman remains.
Practical visitor tips
| Tip | Detail |
|---|---|
| Closed November to March | No winter opening of any kind. Check before travelling. |
| No public transport to site | No buses serve the site. Taxi from Sandwich station (2 miles) or walk (~45 min from Sandwich town centre). |
| Cross the road for the amphitheatre | The amphitheatre is a 5-minute walk across a public road from the main fort. Supervise children carefully at the crossing. |
| Check for farm animals before taking a dog to the amphitheatre | If animals are in the amphitheatre field, English Heritage advises not entering with a dog. |
| Audio tour is English only | The included audio tour is available in English only. The Bloomberg Connects app provides additional digital commentary. |
| Sturdy footwear recommended | Much of the site is grass and earthwork terrain. Paths can be muddy after rain. |
Frequently asked questions about Richborough Roman Fort
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is Richborough Roman Fort open in winter? | No. It closes at the start of November and does not reopen until late March. |
| Is there parking at Richborough Roman Fort? | Yes. Free on-site parking for 30–40 cars, available to all visitors including non-members. |
| Is there a café at Richborough Roman Fort? | No. A vending machine provides hot drinks; the shop sells snacks. Six picnic benches are in the grounds. |
| Is Richborough Roman Fort accessible for wheelchair users? | The visitor centre and museum are accessible. The site has uneven and grassed terrain; some areas may be challenging. The Claudian gateway tower requires steps. |
| Are dogs allowed at Richborough Roman Fort? | Yes, in all outdoor areas. Check for farm animals in the amphitheatre field before entering with a dog. |
| Is Richborough Roman Fort free for English Heritage members? | Yes. Members enter free and can bring up to six children free. |
Things to do near Richborough Roman Fort
Sandwich (~2 miles south) is one of England’s best-preserved medieval towns with a walled old town and historic guildhall — free to wander. Deal Castle (English Heritage, ~4 miles south) is Henry VIII’s cloverleaf artillery fort; members free. Walmer Castle and Gardens (English Heritage, ~5 miles south) has eight acres of gardens; members free. Dover Castle (English Heritage, ~12 miles south-west) is one of England’s largest medieval fortresses; members free. Pegwell Bay Country Park (~3 miles north) is a free coastal reserve at the site where the Romans, Vikings, and St Augustine all landed in England.
More Kent travel
Other Kent travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- A practical guide to visiting Canterbury Cathedral (on the list of England’s top Gothic cathedrals) and St Augustine’s Abbey in Canterbury
- A practical guide to visiting Chatham Historic Dockyard.
- A practical guide to visiting Hever Castle.
- A practical guide to visiting Chartwell.
- A practical guide to visiting Leeds Castle.
